The world of interactive entertainment is all fun and games until you get involved with the creative process. The students in Algonquin’s Game Development program spending more time stressing over making games than playing them.
“I don’t have time for playing games” said third-year game development student Ryan Gainford, unswayed by the lack of recreational video games around him. “I love that we actually make a game in the final year. It’s extremely stressful and you will be tired constantly for about eight months, but it’s worth it.”
The demanding schedule is par for the course for students working on their final project, titled Coral Thief. The punny title gives away the light-hearted nature of the underwater adventure game which draws inspiration from the adventure titles of days gone by like Spyro 2, Gainford’s favourite game. While difficult, the program allows its participants to translate their love for playing games into a love for creating them.
It’s an affection that seems to spring from the students’ fondness for the program. “I definitely like the program because it’s practical help from teachers who are actually in the industry,” said Rachel Joannis, project manager of Coral Thief, “The project itself, we’ve been told, is the most accurate representation of the industry from within a school setting.”
In addition to mirroring real-world industry conditions, the game development program also gives students a chance to attend the Montreal International Games Summit each year. This year, MIGS ran from Nov. 15th to 17th at Palais de Congrès.
“Next year we’re going to showcase our game so this year we’re just attending the conference,” said Joannis, “There’s talks where you can meet industry professionals and just hang out.”
For those interested in playing Coral Thief, there is a playable alpha build which students can test out. The third-years can be found in room 316 in the J-building and will boot up the alpha build for those who ask in order to get feedback.
They actively encourage people to drop by and test the game because that sort of communication is important. But Gainford warns people to be careful about when in the day they arrive.
“Early morning is not so great,” said Gainford. “About noon to 6 o’clock is when it’s really full and easy to find a third-year.”