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SUNY Canton students creating video games for class

Posted 12/21/16

CANTON – SUNY Canton Assistant Professor Alainya Kavaloski's students don't get in trouble for playing video games during her media writing and digital graphic storytelling class. In fact, she's …

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SUNY Canton students creating video games for class

Posted

CANTON – SUNY Canton Assistant Professor Alainya Kavaloski's students don't get in trouble for playing video games during her media writing and digital graphic storytelling class.

In fact, she's found a new way to tap into their obsession with gaming.

Her students used “augmented reality platforms” to develop first-person digital adventures this semester.

"Our students analyze videos, animations and interactive fiction for inspiration for this project," Kavaloski said. "Today is game test day, but the groups had to role-play as design teams. They had to create marketing materials to support their proposals."

A group of students huddled over their devices with GPS photographs of the campus. Detailed objectives popped up as they navigated characters through virtual maps.

"Our game is based on hacking," said Devin Breckenridge, a graphic and multimedia design student from Gouverneur. "It starts when the character has their identity stolen, which leads them to take on adventures to determine who hacked their accounts."

The protagonist in the game becomes a hacker-activist as the adventure leads to uncovering secrets and hidden mysteries.

Another group re-imagined the Steam game "This War of Mine" where a group of civilians try to survive in a besieged city. In addition to redesigning the game objectives and missions, the students create a team website, an illustrated proposal and a video trailer to outline their project.

Kavaloski's two courses are offered through the college's two-year liberal arts program, but are very popular with students from four-year programs.

Previously, she has orchestrated a game jam event that challenged students to design a game alongside other players from around the world.