Panola College Launches Video Game Development Lab

Panola College Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Lillian Cook, recently approved a plan for a new Video Game Development Lab to be located in the Gullette Technology Building on the Carthage campus.  One goal of the new lab is to foster cooperation between students across academic disciplines.  Students interested in art, music, creative writing, and computer programming will be working on video game development projects.  One of the projects is a new video game that will simulate the Panola College campus allowing game players to explore the “virtual” campus. 

Plans call for the lab to contain an Xbox 360, state-of-the-art game computers with large screen LCD monitors, along with work stations equipped with the latest software for the creation of art, graphics, and music.

According to Dr. Bob Wilkins, Computer Science Professor at the college, “Game development is a multimedia endeavor and an ideal format for bringing together students from various fields of study.  In developing a video game it is necessary to have students skilled in music, art, writing, and computer programming.  The process of game development fosters collaborative work between students and gives new appreciation for academic fields about which they may not otherwise become familiar.” 

Wilkins recently attended the Independent Game Developers Conference in Austin. He reports, “The Texas legislature has encouraged game industry growth this past year by including game companies in a $22 million incentive package for the film and television industry. According to the Texas governor’s office, game companies added $395 million to the state economy in 2006--up 17% from the previous year.  The state ranks third in terms of computer and video game personnel with average compensation per employee of $91,879.

Wilkins recommends a course, GAME 2342 Game Development, to anyone interested in learning the basics of video game development. This course uses easy to learn rapid application development software allowing users to create sophisticated video games using a simple drag and drop interface.  The class will be offered as a distance learning class this spring and enrollment is underway.  A face-to-face lab will be available for students who want to work in the college labs as well as online.

For information about this and other game development courses at Panola College, visit Dr. Wilkins’ website: http://www.panola.edu/users/bwilkins, email him at bwilkins@panola.edu  or call 903-693-2057.