TUS inspires young developers with gaming camp
The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone campus recently became a hub of creativity and innovation for the next generation of video game developers.
TUS hosted a gaming camp in its state-of-the-art Engineering Building from August 12 to 17.
This involved students immersing themselves in the world of 2D game creation during the week-long camp. The participants came from a number of local secondary schools including Banagher College, Coláiste Chiarán, Marist College, Our Lady's Bower, Tullamore College, and Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan.
The camp was designed for secondary students from 2nd to 6th year who were interested in ICT. It required no prior experience, making it accessible to all who were curious about game development.
It was more than just a crash course in coding; it offered an all-encompassing venture into game design, testing, and deployment, giving students hands-on experience with the software used to make popular games like 'Hotline Miami' and 'Undertale'.
The students were guided by TUS Athlone lecturer Denis McCarthy and PhD student Samantha O’Sullivan, who were thrilled with the progress made by the participants.
“This camp was an incredible opportunity for students to step into the shoes of a game developer,” said Denis.
He added: “It’s been amazing to watch them grow and see their ideas come to life through coding and design. We hope the camp has left a lasting impression on these young developers, equipping them with the tools and confidence to continue their journey in game development.”
On the last day of the camp, every student proudly deployed their fully functional 2D shooter games onto their phones and PCs - a testament to their hard work and creativity.
Samantha, who holds a BSc in Software Design from TUS Athlone and is now pursuing a PhD in ICT, echoed the same sentiment as her colleague Denis.
She said: “The creativity and technical skills these students have displayed are remarkable. They’ve not only learned how to code but also how to think like game developers, considering every aspect from design to deployment. The future of gaming is bright, and it’s starting right here in Athlone!”