Game development is one of the hottest areas for career opportunities. The field has come a long way since “Pong” and other video game ancestors. For this reason, Illinois State University has its own game development club.
The club unveiled its first game in the spring of 2020. Since then, 14 games have been published across the main and challenge project teams. Although the members are one unified group, there are multiple teams within the club.
President Gian Garnica spoke about what the club does on a day-to-day basis and how it operates.
“The ISU Game Dev Club is a semester-long club focused on working together as a team to create a video game from scratch. No experience necessary,” Garnica said. “The average meeting usually turns quickly into business, with members breaking into tables and joining the teams they want to join.”
We have a music team, art team, level design team, programming team, and challenge team. Challenge teams are focused on more experienced members and projects.
Challenge team leader Joseph Whitlock spoke about the members' activities.
“Challenge projects are part of the club and are an alternative to the main project where experienced members can pursue more specific projects to fill out their portfolio,” Whitlock said. “Unlike the main project, members work individually or in small teams on projects of their choice. This gives students the space to work on more technical projects that are less suited to a large main project setting. You can get it.”
One of the current Challenge Team projects is a game with “planetary physics inspired by Mario Galaxy,” according to Whitlock.
Although game development may seem complicated, Garnica emphasizes that anyone can get involved.
“We always welcome members to come and contribute to the project. We will settle you down, give you an overview of the project and its current progress, and give you an overview of the project based on the team you want to work with. Assign different tasks,” Garnica said. “No experience is necessary at all; we are always happy to help teach others the tools of our trade.”
Anyone interested in joining the Game Development Club can sign up online.
Ryan Nolasco is a news and features reporter for The Vidette. Contact Nolasco at rcnolas@ilstu.edu.
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