With the development of virtual and augmented reality technologies, as well as the rapid growth of the video game industry, there is a need to create specialised platforms for teaching students in these fields. The Department of Virtual Reality Systems, Lviv Polytechnic National University, has significant potential for implementing such a project – a game development club. That is why, in the new academic year, schoolchildren and students will have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of video game development, learn the basics of game creation, develop their creative and technical skills, and get acquainted with the industry’s advanced tools.
Andrii Mykhailiv, a postgraduate student of the Department of Artificial Intelligence Systems, who is a representative of Global Game Jam Ukraine, came up with the idea of organising such a club. Global Game Jam is the largest international computer game development hackathon founded in San Francisco (USA), which has already covered 113 countries since 2008. Every year, tens of thousands of game development enthusiasts and professionals come together to spend a weekend in an atmosphere of creativity and cooperation.
On 9 January, the Institute of Computer Science and Information Technologies hosted the first meeting organised by Uliana Marikutsa, Head of the Department of Virtual Reality Systems. Associate Professors of the Department Yurii Petiak and Oleh Lytovchenko, a representative of Global Game Jam Andrii Mykhailiv and a representative of the public organisation Dice Con Anton Smilevskyi attended the meeting.
Since the interest in games among consumers is determined not only by the plot but also by the style and artistic design, Mykola Lohoyda, Associate Professor at the Department of Publishing Information Technologies, got involved in the discussion as his expertise will ensure the quality of game design as part of the educational process of the club.
Special attention was paid to the possibilities of using augmented reality technologies in educational role-playing games and in the educational process, so Anton Smilevskyi, a representative of the Dice Con NGO, shared his experience of using game mechanics in educational and entertainment projects.
The aim of the class is not only to teach students the basics of game development, but also to give them the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice. The main tasks include:
- mastering modern game development tools such as Unity and Unreal Engine;
- learning 3D graphics, animation and sound design;
- working on real projects in the field of video games, VR and AR;
- interacting with experts and representatives of the IT industry.
Club participants will learn to program, create graphics and animation, as well as work in teams to develop their own projects. With the help of experienced mentors, they will gain practical knowledge that will open up new horizons in the world of technology.
Classes will be held once a week. Each participant will have access to appropriate software and resources to develop their skills.
We invite everyone to join our group! Whether you have experience in game development or are just starting out, this course will help you to realise your ideas and develop in an exciting field.
To learn more, please contact the organisers at vrs.dept@lpnu.ua.