Interactive Programming and Game Design as a Recruiting Tool

1. Interactive Programming and Game Design as a Recruiting Tool  Carlotta EatonProfessor of Information TechnologyNew River Community College IT Peer Conference - October 2006 New River Community College

2. Session Description Learn how to leverage the game industry to recruit students. The game industry revenue exceeds $30 billion per year worldwide and has surpassed movie box office revenues in the U.S., making games the fastest growing segment of the entertainment market and an excellent field for career advancement.  We will explore Game Maker as one way to teach object oriented programming in a very visual exciting way.   Students love to create computer games and learn OOP at the same time. New River Community College

3. Agenda • Information Gathering • Game Design at NRCC • ITP xxx – Introduction to Game Design & Development • Game Maker • Game Development Essentials New River Community College

4. Information Gathering • Last 4 years – various conferences • Working Connections 2006 – May 06 • Digital Game Xpo - June 06 • IGDA Chapter in Raleigh – 2006 • Austin Game Conference – Sept 06 New River Community College

5. Working Connection @ RU • Intro to Game Design & Development • Farhad Javidi, Program ChairSimulation & Gaming • Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC • Spent $500K and 2 years on Game Research www.javidi.com/sgd New River Community College

6. Digital Game Xpo • Walter Rotenberry Lead Instructor—Simulation and Game Developmentemail: wdrotenb@waketech.edu • Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC • June 2006www.dgxpo.com New River Community College

7. IGDA Triangle Chapter • Dana Crowley, Coordinator • Scott Johnson, Emergent Game Technologies • Attend meetings in Raleigh, NC www.igda.org/nctriangle/ New River Community College

8. Austin Game Conference • September 2006 • Over 2400 attendees • 3 tracks • Game Writers • Casual Games • Game Audio www.gameconference.com New River Community College

9. Austin Game Conference • Microsoft CasualGames • Austin Community College • CMP Game Developer’s Conference • Emergent Game Technologies • XEO Design New River Community College

10. ITP 1xx – Introduction to Game Design & Development • Fall 06 for pilot class • VCCS Course proposal • Course site at www.nr.edu/itp195 • 3 textbooks • Intro to game • Gamemaker • Alice New River Community College

11. Game Maker software • Free software – developed under a grant • Easy to use for beginners • Get the book (see next slide) www.gamemaker.nl New River Community College

12. The Game Maker’s Apprentice • By Jacob HabgoodMark Overmars • ISBN: 1-59059-615-3 • 336 pp. • Published: Jun 2006 • Price: $39.99 New River Community College

13. Game Development Essentials • By Jeannie Novak • Publisher: Thomson Delmar Learning; 1 edition • ISBN: 1401862713 • Currently used by • NRCC • WTCC in NC • CPCC in NC New River Community College

14. Game Maker demo New River Community College

15. 2 Degrees with Game specializations Information Technology CAD 15 credit hours Cross-discipline approach Core Courses ITP xx Intro to Game Design & Development DRF 238/239 Computer Aided Modeling I & II ITD 112 Creating Web Graphics ITD 212 Interactive Web Design Game Design at NRCC New River Community College

16. Press • Roanoke Times • Wall Street Journal • … New River Community College

17. Join the Fun • Programming games is a great way to teach object oriented programming • Planning • Design • Development • Testing • Game Maker is • easy to use and free • used by Microsoft Casual Games division • Learn from your students New River Community College

18. For More Information Carlotta Eaton Professor of Information Technology Director, Game Technology Programs www.nr.edu/eaton or www.nr.edu/itp195 (540) 674-3600 x4250 nreatoc@nr.edu New River Community College