Students create computer game
This was one group project that could not be thrown together in the wee hours of the morning it was due.
Since summer 2007, Trinity Western University professors Kevin Schut and Alma Barranco-Mendoza have been working with students from a range of disciplines to conceptualize and create Label: Rise of Band, a turn-based strategy computer game.
The game allows players, who are the head of an independent music label, to scout and sign bands to reclaim the city’s music scene from “The Corporation,” who dictates the industry.
Launched on June 26 of this year, the game is available for free download at labelriseofband.com. During the launch, each of the 24 TWU students who produced the game received a certificate in game development foundations.
For the students, however, the project was about more than earning credits – it was an opportunity to gain a realistic perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the larger, corporate setting of visual game development.
Winston Ewert, a fourth-year computer sciences major who acted as the head of the programming team, notes he was able to use his programming skills in a setting not previously offered in any of his other classes.
“It was fun to work on a project of that scope,” he said.
But the work is not over.
Schut praised the product saying it is a “massive achievement” and “really over-the-top good,” particularly when considering that no one on the team had undertaken such a project before.
Although the completed product exceeded many of the group’s initial expectations, there is consensus that Label: Rise of Band can be improved.
“I think the quality of the program is superior to what we had expected in the beginning,” said Barranco-Mendoza. “It has a good infrastructure, but the AI [artificial intelligence] is not particularly challenging.”
This fall Barranco-Mendoza’s Artificial Intelligence class (CMPT 380) will be working to improve the balance of the game so the artificial opponents offer gamers fair, but more challenging play. Barranco-Mendoza and Schut are also each working with students through directed studies to implement new features and explore the possibilities for e-commerce. Following these modifications the group plans to market an updated version of the game.
Due to the success of this pilot project there are plans to offer the course every other year.
While students may not be thinking ahead to the courses they will take in the 2009-10 school year, Schut recognizes the importance of creating excitement early on: “We need people to be interested in this.”
And, like Ewert, you do not have to play computer games to find an opportunity like this appealing: “I’m not much of a gamer,” he said.
Schut advises that any students who are interested in taking the course in the 2009-10 school year should start thinking about fitting it in their program of study now. Interested students are welcome to attend an information session to be announced within the next month.
Label: Rise of Band is available for free download at labelriseofband.com
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