Camp Game offers students chance to develop games

February 28, 2011

Teens who want to learn how to develop those video games they and their peers play will have an outlet for their creative side at Camp Game, an intensive video game creation, visualization and production course offered this summer. <separator></separator>Camp Game, sponsored by the <a href="http://technology.asu.edu">College of Technology and Innovation (CTI)</a> at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus, is currently taking registrations for summer classes for middle and high school students.<separator></separator>“Camp Game now in its fifth year is one of the most comprehensive summer program offerings in video games and truly maximizes each student’s potential while fostering teamwork,” says <a href="mailto:Ashish.Amresh@asu.edu">Ashish Amresh</a>, assistant professor and Camp Game director. “When students realize the importance of understanding technology and learning the underlying science and math concepts everybody comes out winning.”<separator></separator>Over the last five years, camp gamers have created successful award-winning games such as "Shadows of Windsor," "Becca’s Tale" and "Oxidation Invaders."<separator></separator>Middle school students, entering grades 6-8 in fall 2011, will be able to take one-week classes during June at ASU’s Polytechnic campus in Mesa. High school students will be able to choose from three class offerings, lasting two to four weeks during June and July at SkySong in Scottsdale.<separator></separator>Students will work with a faculty experienced in the game industry to understand concepts and create game prototypes using the latest software, hardware and development tools. The faculty who run the program have more than 30 years of professional game design and programming experience among them.<separator></separator>Their expertise will be helpful in laying the foundation in preparing these future game programmers and developers as the need for talent appears to be positive, according to recent studies. In August 2010, the Phoenix Business Journal reported that the entertainment software industry added about $60 million to Arizona’s economy, according to a study released by the Entertainment Software Association. The study also found the Arizona game industry has grown by an annual rate of more than 22 percent since 2005.<separator></separator>“Camp Game dispels the common notion that playing a game is the same as developing one; students realize the importance of building a strong foundation in technology if they are to succeed in the video game industry,” says Amresh.<separator></separator>At the end of the course, students will be able to share what they created with their family and friends at an open house.<separator></separator>For information about classes, schedules and/or to register visit: <a href="http://gaming.asu.edu/campgame/index.php">http://gaming.asu.edu/campgam…; or call <a href="mailto:Suzan.Braun@asu.edu">Suzan Braun</a> at 480-727-1516.  Space is limited -- 20 students per camp -- and available on a first-come-first-serve basis.<separator></separator>For information about additional course offerings for middle and high school students through the College of Technology and Innovation’s Summer Academy, visit <a href="http://technology.asu.edu/ctiacademy">http://technology.asu.edu/ctiacad… CONTACT(S): Christine Lambrakis, <a href="mailto:lambrakis@asu.edu">lambrakis@asu.edu </a>(480) 727-1173, (602) 316-5616

Engineering College of Technology and Innovation