PlayStation, Xbox, Wii — these video game systems are the hobbies of choice for many teens. Omaha South has turned the hobby into an educational opportunity through its Video Game Design Academy, the only program of its kind in Nebraska.
"Video games are everywhere. The military even uses them for recruiting," said Ryan Desch, South's information technology teacher. "The video game design program helps entice students to look at the IT (information technology) field as a career possibility."
After completing a couple of introductory IT classes to learn the basics of programming, South students can enroll in Intro to Game Design and explore 2-D game programming using Visual Studio software.
"They're creating keyboard-controlled games with graphics similar to the games you'd see on a smartphone like 'Angry Birds,'" said Desch.
For a final project, students create their own video game and let their classmates try it.
Junior Lane Chapman is designing her own version of the "Joust" arcade game from the 1980s.
Senior Luis Rodriguez is creating a rendition of "Pac-Man" "It's a backwards Pac-Man game, where Pac-Man is chasing the ghosts."
The students said they have learned there's a lot more to producing a game than they anticipated.
"It kind of reminds me of learning another language," said Chapman. "There's a lot of trial and error."
"I like the challenge of it," added Rodriguez. "It teaches you a different way of thinking."
Desch said the Video Game Design Academy will offer a more advanced class, including film and music technology, next school year.
— Omaha Public Schools
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