CSC News

April 20, 2004

Chris Franklin wins first Game Developer's Club competition

Chris Franklin, freshman in computer science, won the first Game Boy Advantage competition held by The Game Developers’ Club at NC State University.

The Game Developers Club called upon professionals in the Triangle chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), as well as Michael Young, assistant professor of computer science, to judge the competition. Although 17 games had initially been registered for the competition, only two were entered.

The goal of the competition, says Michael Daly, club president, was to motivate students to make games on their own.

He told the gathering of about 30 students and professionals that it was difficult for students to develop a game in addition to carrying a full academic credit load. He and Franklin were the two who took on the challenge, and received feedback from the panel of judges for their efforts. Franklin, who worked on his entry from February through the day of the competition, also came away with a $100 prize.

They also received encouragement. Ismini Roby, chief editor and co-founder of WomenGamers.com, based in Raleigh, was one of the judges. She encouraged Franklin to continue refining his game as a start for building his portfolio. Having a portfolio, she says, will help him when begins his job search.

Photo of Chris Franklin, left, receiving some game development pointers from Chris Roby, Red Storm.Her husband, Chris Roby with Red Storm and also a judge, spent time discussing game development with Franklin after the competition.

In addition to the competition, participants heard from professors Christopher Healey and Michael Young about the latest new courses related to game development available at NC State’s Department of Computer Science.

- rzewnicki -

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