Video games and controllers
are available for a 4-hour checkout, within the library, from the Learning
Commons Service Desk, first floor, East Wing, D. H. Hill Library.
The Learning Commons at the D. H. Hill Library is the result of an intensive
planning process that invited and implemented numerous recommendations from
university faculty and students. Those recommendations included support for
digital games to accompany the other varieties of multimedia support offered
in the library. The library also considered research findings about the study
habits of the current generation of students (“Millennials” or “Y Gen”) and
the educational benefits of gaming; the experiences of other libraries that
have created Learning Commons; and the fact that gaming is a growing part of
the curriculum and research at NC State (for example, see the NCSU Digital Games Research Center).
The D. H. Hill Library operates on a 24-hour schedule during the fall and spring semesters, and students have often expressed their desire to be able to spend long periods of time in the library with the opportunity to take breaks and play (chess, checkers, Cranium, and other board games are also available) and to be able to have something to eat and drink while studying. The majority of feedback that we continue to receive about access to games from students who use the Learning Commons has been extremely positive, both formally from students on the University Library Committee and Student Advisory Board and informally through comments to library staff.
Serious games and virtual online environments are being used for a growing range of educational purposes in many disciplines, such as those where three-dimensional visualization enables new kinds of computer-mediated learning experiences. Faculty and students at NC State are investigating the scientific, design, social, and educational challenges of creating games and game technologies. North Carolina is home to a cluster of leading game companies that offer excellent employment opportunities to graduates in these areas. The Libraries seeks to showcase this leading-edge research being done at NC State while helping to make students aware of the related educational and career opportunities.
The Learning Commons is a busy, interactive space. Of course, students also need space in the library for quiet study. There are many areas in the library that remain quiet throughout the day. For example, the new Special Collections Reading Room offers comfortable and attractive study tables and functions as a quieter area. There are also hundreds of quiet study seats in the bookstacks towers, many of which are equipped with computers offering the full suite of software applications that are available in the Commons.
3D
Online Learning Environments (3D-OLE)
The 3D-OLE project develops, explores and researches
various online 3D virtual environments for NCSU faculty, staff, and students.
Included in this exploration of technology are game development applications
that can support multi-user online environments for distance education courses,
demonstrations, collaboration, or interaction. Paticipants include faculty
and staff from NCSU DELTA, College of Management, Dept.
of Computer Science, NCSU
Libraries,
and the National eXtension Initiative.
Digital Games Research Center
The center is a multi-disciplinary center whose focus investigates the scientific,
engineering, social, and educational challenges of digital entertainment. Housed
in the Department of Computer Science, the center's faculty include colleagues
from the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Design and Humanities
and Social Sciences who collaborate on a wide range of research and
educational initiatives that focus on new modes of entertainment and interaction
in digital media.
HI FIVES
Highly Interactive Fun Internet Virtual Environments in Science (HI FIVES)
is a partnership between the Kenan Fellows Program and researchers
in Science Education, Computer Science,
NCSU DELTA, and the NC Department of
Public Instruction. The partnership
works toward "improving
the science achievement and IT skills of NC’s grade 5-9 students" by
integrating computer games with curriculum to teach students science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
Liquid
Narrative Group
The Liquid Narrative group at NCSU conducts research on "procedural
content generation in games and other interactive virtual environments." The
research includes creating stories and telling these stories via models and
techniques from "Artificial Intelligence, Computer Gaming, Human-Computer
Interaction, Virtual Reality and Cognitive Psychology to model narrative
aspects of human interaction with computer systems." Collaborators and
Members include faculty from the Departments of Computer Science, English, Communication, and College
of Design.
Additionally, noted speakers are brought in to discuss their ideas on games.
A schedule is provided on their site.
Mobile
Gaming Research Lab (MGRL)
The MGRL “promotes interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research
on games in general and on mobile games in particular.” Additionally,
the lab “focuses on the conceptualization and development of games that
mix physical and digital spaces.” The site lists courses offered that
may be of interest to students, researchers and developers.
Courses from various NCSU departments include: Art, Anthropology, Architecture,
Business Management, Communication, Computer
Science, and Design.
Carolina
Games Summit
The Carolina Games Summit is a hybrid festival of industry speakers, video
game tournaments, product promotions, exhibition booths, student recruitment
and family fun!
Digital
Games Xpo The Expo is hosted annually by Wake Technical Community College, and
offers classes, tournaments, speakers, a career fair, and a regional showcase
of student games.
International
Game Developers Association (IGDA),Triangle Chapter
IGDA is a community of game developers who share their knowledge, insight,
and connections within the Triangle community. Opportunities for participation
include local chapter meetings, online discussions, and the sharing of information
and resources.
NC
State Multiplayer Gaming Club The Multiplayer Gaming Club (MGC) is dedicated to multiplayer video
games, such as Halo, Counterstrike, Starcraft, and other such games. The club
also hosts occasional LAN parties on campus for NCSU students, staff, and
faculty. LAN parties are get-togethers with other players in console and computer
games for play in a local and fun setting.
North
Carolina Advanced Learning Technologies Association (NCALTA)
The North Carolina Advanced Learning Technologies Association (NC ALTA) is
a non-profit organization created to provide a network among educators,
legislators, and technology developers regarding the use and creation of
Advanced Learning Technologies. The mission of NC ALTA is "to provide
long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina through fostering
the statewide growth of research, development and education in the creation
of Advanced Learning Technologies for workforce development."
Triangle
Computer Science Distinguished Lecturer Series
The computer science departments at North Carolina State University, Duke
University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill created
this lecture series. Speakers visit the host school on Monday and spend
Tuesday mornings and afternoons on the campuses of the other schools.
Schedules, biographies, and abstracts are posted on the web site.
The Research Triangle Park-area is home to a very large concentration
of gaming companies — potential employers for NCSU
graduates. Below are links to some of the companies currently working in the
Triangle.
3D
Learning Solutions (3DLS)
3D Learning Solutions creates simulation-based learning solutions which
include multi-media, software engineering, digital artwork, and instructional
design. Formerly 3DSolve, Inc., it was recently acquired by Lockheed
Martin Corporation and has a regional office in Cary.
Adveractive, Inc.
Adveractive is a developer of entertainment content specializing
in internet games. The company is located in Chapel Hill.
CDV
Software
CDV Software is a developer and publisher of games. With their knowledge of
local markets they partner with others to enter and compete in the North
American video game market. The company is based in Cary.
Destineer
Destineer is a developer and publisher of videogames for consoles,
handheld game players, and personal computers. They also develop
training simulations for military and intelligence organizations.
They have offices in Raleigh and are headquartered in Minneapolis.
Emergent
Game Technologies
Emergent Game Technologies provides the technological tools
needed by game developers for building and testing games.
Their goal is "innovation in game development." They
have offices in Chapel Hill.
iEntertainment
Network iEntertainment Network, Inc. develops, operates, and publishes Internet
games and services. The company offers online multiplayer games, including
simulation, strategy, role playing, and action games. It offers the Total Sims
Series, which includes WarBirds, Armored Assault, and Dawn of Aces. The company
is based in Cary.
Epic
Games
Based in Cary, Epic Games, Inc., develops games for personal computers and
consoles. According to their website, the company has created multiple
million-selling, award-winning titles in their Unreal series. Their
latest game, Gears of War, broke sales records for Xbox 360 selling more
than 3 million copies worldwide in the first ten weeks and was awarded overall
Game of the Year for 2006 by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences,
Game Developers Choice Awards, GameSpot, GamePro, and many others.
Funcom
Funcom is a developer and publisher of computer and console games with a
focus on Action Adventure and Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG).
They have offices located around the world including one in Durham.
GLIPS Entertainment, Inc.
In addition to building and conceiving "stuff," GLIPS Entertainment,
Inc., is a game development studio that, in their own words, "creates
and sells cheesy entertainment software." They are located in Fuquay-Varina.
Icarus
Studios
With their comprehensive technology and services, Icarus helps clients "launch
online virtual worlds, MMOGs, simulators and 3D collaborative and educational
products." They are located in Cary.
Media Sunshine, Inc. is a consultant, partner, and contractor
to various video game publishers, developers, and vendors. Services include
game production, creative direction, and business development. The company
is based in Cary.
Merscom
LLC
Merscom LLC is a publisher and producer of PC and console games for casual
and core gamers. The company is based in Chapel Hill.
Neogence Studios is a developer of Massively Multiplayer
Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG), worlds, and entertainment for the global
market. The company works on projects that "catalyze
an evolution and redefine cybersociology, community, and social gaming." The
company is based in Raleigh.
NVIDIA leads the market in visual computing technologies.
It is the inventor of the GPU, a high-performance processor which generates
breathtaking, interactive graphics on workstations, personal computers, game
consoles, and mobile devices. NVIDIA serves the entertainment and consumer
market with its GeForce products, the professional design and visualization
market with its NVIDIA Quadro products, and the high-performance computing
market with its Tesla products. The company has a regional office
in Durham.
OC3
Entertainment
OC3 Entertainment provides facial animation technology, which serves as
the gateway for human-computer and human-human interaction in 3D environments.
The company is located in Research Triangle Park.
Octagon Entertainment
Located in Chapel Hill, Octagon Entertainment is a developer of computer
and video games ranging from next-generation console projects to downloadable
games.
Psyonix Studios develops game software for major
gaming platforms including PC and next-generation consoles. Psyonix also
provides outsourcing services for licensees and publishers of Unreal Engine-based
game software. The company is located in Raleigh.
Rednote Audio is an award-winning team that composes music
and sound design for video games, film, broadcast, and corporate marketing.
The company is located in Raleigh.
The company mission is to develop and publish stimulating
entertainment for multiple media. It specializes in CD-ROM games, console games,
and related merchandise. Red Storm
Entertainment is located in Morrisville.
Themis Group, Inc. publishes interactive media and
provides a variety of services to game developers and publishers. The company's
publishing division includes WarCry Network and the Escapist, as well as
a network of websites, blogs, and digital magazines. The company's southeast
regional office is located in Durham.
United Minds Games are the creators of 2D games for
the PC, various consoles, and eventually mobile phones. Their mission is
to preserve the spirit of the "golden
age" of
video games — the fun, graphically fresh, easy to play 2D games. United
Minds Games is based in Durham.
Vicious Cycle Software is a developer of software for
all major platforms. Their award-winning team of artists, programmers, and
designers has developed titles such as Flushed Away, Puzzle Quest, and
Dead Head Fred. The company is located in Chapel Hill.
Virtual
Heroes Inc. Virtual Heroes Inc. develops advanced learning technology software for
government, health care, and commercial use. Their expertise facilitates
learning in a simulated digital environment. "Virtual Heroes is perhaps
best known for its work with the America’s Army Training Platform architecture
and the 3DiTeams application developed for the Human Patient Simulation Center
at Duke Medical Center." The company is located in Research Triangle
Park.
The following are just a few
sources for industry news, trends, careers, education,
company profiles, game reviews, and coverage on
gaming conferences.
