Get into the game

BE THE BRAINS BEHIND THE HOTTEST NEW GAMES

This summer, a select group of them the opportunity to
Edmonton students will spend explore gaming areas they
their evenings doing something may never experience
that many of us just dream about otherwise such as Artificial
– they’ll learn how to take their Intelligence and Animation.”
ideas for the ultimate game and NAIT’s gaming certificate
bring them to life. equips students with the
NAIT’s new evening Game skills necessary for
Development Certificate positions within game
program launched this May will development industry.
have another intake in January Instructor Brampton states,
2010. The program teaches “With this certificate, an
students the latest in game employer can be reasonably
development techniques and sure that students under-
technologies. “It’s a great way to stands the main principles
learn about a very diverse field,” of game design, a wide
says Mark Zubis, program range of programming areas
manager says, “We’ve zeroed in such as 2D / 3D graphics,
on the essential skills that the artificial intelligence, and
gaming industry is looking for in data structures. In addition,
future employees, and kept they will have concrete
classes small to allow for lots of knowledge of concepts such
interaction.” This is a good thing as game budgets, design
for gaming student Grahame documents and game
Allen who says, “I really enjoy the hands on game development in production.” The instructors are key in motivating students in the
the classroom.” Allen admits, “I find I am playing games less and program by giving them insight into the real industry of gaming.
spending more time on creating games. I feel motivated to do Classes begin with foundational education in logic and program-
homework, probably because of the passion I have for video ming and then branch out to include game design across a variety
games.” of platforms, including the (Xbox) and new realms like the Apple
According to Zubis, students attending this program are very iPod touch and Microsoft Zune. Students can expect to be
committed to their game development studies. He says, “Our learning and working in languages like C# and Microsoft XNA,
students work full-time day jobs and attend classes in the and learning the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, portable
evenings. This shows a real commitment to learning and enthusi- games and 2D-3D math.
asm for game development. It’s that kind of commitment that Will the ultimate game be created in a NAIT classroom? The final
industry professionals are looking for in employees. course in the program is a capstone project where students
Right now, the NAIT program is the only certificate-level training collaborate in teams and use their creative and technical skills to
available in Canada that focuses on the technical skills needed to build an original game from start to finish. “This is a great way to
design games. NAIT’s high caliber instructors bring real-world wrap up,” say Zubis. “Students take everything they’ve learned,
knowledge to the classroom, as many of them work as developers and create a showpiece they can present to a prospective
during the day. Instructor Korin Brampton brings invaluable employer.” Allen is certainly excited about this aspect of the
experience to the classroom as a former Xbox Developer/ program and says, “This project is giving me the chance to
Programmer at Bioware – creators of Baldur’s Gate™, and as showcase my creativity.”
current Computer Consultant and CEO of Stormfront Technolo- Think you want to try your hand at this fascinating new program?
gies, inc. Brampton agrees that the instructors’ experiences are Put down your controller and register online at
helpful for students and says, “students know that when I speak www.nait.ca/game. If you’ve got more questions, contact the
on issues or items to consider when doing game programming NAIT Game Development program office. Email conniec@nait.ca,
they know that I’m talking from real world experience.” He adds, or call 780.378.5306. And who knows? The hottest new game on
“The program benefits students by exposing the them to the kind the market just might be your game.
of work that would be required of them on a daily basis, and gives