This year computer science majors (Left to Right) Justin Dobbs, Alten Adair, Chris Dickson, Dakota Jantz, Austin Mount, Jacob Marr and Jackson Gardner all went home with awards from the Heartland Gaming Expo.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Game Programming teams participated for the fifth time in the University of Tulsa’s annual Heartland Gaming Exposition in early April, placing in several categories.
Students from across Oklahoma compete in high school, collegiate and independent developer categories along with competition for the Code Jam Challenge.
Computer science majors who attended included Alten Adair, Waynoka freshman; Chris Dickson, Marrero, Louisiana, senior; Justin Dobbs, Aline sophomore; Jackson Gardner, Lawton sophomore; Dakota Jantz, Helena junior; Jacob Marr, Laverne junior; and Austin Mount, Garber senior.
Northwestern instructor of computer science Evan Vaverka attended the event as a sponsor.
Dickson got first place in the Game Showcase Virtual Reality category.
Dickson would like to work for a video game studio as a developer in the future and continues to develop his own ideas while pursuing work in the IT field.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at the Heartland Gaming Expo; I’m always surrounded by like-minded people who want to put their skills to the test in a friendly competition,” he said. “My project was a two-year project in the making, with last year being a concept that didn’t place, so to upgrade my concept into a playable version and take home first place really meant a lot to me.”
Dickson, with his group partner Adair, also got third place in the 168-hour Code Jam. Mount, Gardner, Jantz and Dobbs got second place in the 168-hour Code Jam. Marr got second place in the Scoring and Sound Design category.
The Code Jam Challenge gives participants five days, before the expo, to complete their interpretation of the given topic by designing, developing and implementing an original game.
Gardner enjoys being a computer science major and looks forward to the gaming expo and other work that fuels his passion and interests.
“Having the chance to do something like [the expo], to get your mind off of the craziness that is college sometimes, is nice to me,” he said.
Vaverka was impressed with all of his students’ abilities to not only create the games but to market and promote the games to others.
“I am incredibly proud of all four teams that competed and ultimately placed in their divisions,” Vaverka said. “I know they worked hard, and I am happy that they were rewarded for their hard work.”
For more information on Northwestern’s Computer Science program contact Vaverka at (580) 327-8587 or epvaverka@nwosu.edu.
-NW-
Contact For Release:
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu, 580-327-8480