Special Interest Group in Computer Games: a pilot project for In-depth-Learning and training

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Special Interest Group in Computer Games a pilot
project for In-depth-Learning and training

• Professor LIU Zhi-Qiang
• Mr. Morgan Aasdam, PhD candidate
• Media Computing Group (MCG),
• School of Creative Media
• TDG Sharing on December 15, 2009

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Aims of the Project

• To establish a Computer Games Project Group for
  students of BScCM in the School of Creative
  Media.
• In this group the students will participate in
  supervised extracurricular, professional research
  and development activities.
• Through this project the students will gain
  first-hand experience in developing media sharing
  products.

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Enhancement of Teaching and Learning

• The general Idea
• In order for students to effectively learn the
  subjects and become successful professionals they
  should be given opportunities to learn and
  practice in addition to rigorous and disciplined
  curricula for a degree and the usual internship
  practice. To achieve this it requires motivation
  and passion from the learner.

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Learning Outcomes

• Deeper understanding of the game development
  process
• Difficulties in developing a computer game
• The importance of doing proper research for
  design
• The importance of good project management
• The importance of communication and team work
• How they should prepare themselves for the game
  industry

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What has been achieved

• Ninja Fighter - a 2D arcade style fighting game
• Fight with Tele-Viv - an interactive motion
  tracking game
• Draw Attention - interactive drawing system that
  uses game as a way to teach basic drawing.
• Received excellent response for the public and
  the university.

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Project Title Ninja Fighter
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Prof. Richard Ho was obviously jolly taking off.
Project Title Fight with Tele-Viv
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The CEO of Cyberport, now, EVP of PolyU, Mr.
Nick Yang was full engaged.
The President was playing with a full attention
Project Title Draw Attention
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Prof. Lilian Vrijmoed was playing really hard!
well, not without some helpful nudge from the
students.
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Thanks to Professor Paul Lam, Professor Lilian
Vrijmoed, Dr Eva Wong, and TDG for making this
learning experience possible!
Im Crying Out Loud To go high, Our
undergraduate students deserve more attention and
funding too!!!
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Introduction to Special Interest Groups for BScCM
students

• Complementary slides by Morgan Aasdam

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What is SIG

• Enable in-depth learning and training
• Supervised extra-curricular, professional
  research and development activities
• First-hand experience in developing digital media
  products

• Groups
• SIGani - animation
• SIGfoto - photography
• SIGga - games
• SIGgd - graphic design
• SIGinxt - installation
• SIGwr - webradio

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Our shows so far

• PlayfulMedia 2007
• PlayfulMedia 2008
• PlayfulMedia 2009
• PlayfulMedia² 2009

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Activities

• Workshops
• Projects
• Exhibitions

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Prizes received by our students

• HKICT
• A few of our works got prizes
• International I.T. exchanges
• Tokyo Game Show in 2007 (Japan)
• Ars Electronica in 2008
• (Austria)
• Wellington in 2009 (New Zealand)

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Rough Conclusions

• Beneficial for the students
• Complement class-room teaching
• Leadership skills
• Independence
• For the students by the students
• Stepping stone before work-life
• Platform for their projects
• Present their work to the public