Page 14 October 2008

ENTERTAINMENT

UPEI Cadre

B.C. students launch video

game muSIC

about scene

Class project allows gamers to virtual- ly scout and sign bands to indie label

By Canadian University Press

LANGLEY (CUP) — Label: Rise of Band was one group project that could not be thrown together in the wee hours of the morning it was due.

Since summer 2007, Trinity Western University professors Kevin Schut and Alma _ Barranco-Mendoza have been working with stu- dents from a range of disci- plines to conceptualize and create Label: Rise of Band, a turn-based strategy comput- er game.

The game allows players, who are heads of an inde- pendent music label, to scout and sign bands to reclaim the city’s music scene from The Corporation, which dictates the industry.

Launched on June 26, the game is available for free download at www. labelrise- ofband.com.

During the launch, each of the 24 Trinity Western stu- dents who produced the game received a certificate in game development foun-

dations.

For the students, however, the project was about more than earning credits — it was an opportunity to gain a real- istic perspective on the chal- lenges and opportunities within the larger, corporate setting of visual game devel-

opment. Winston Ewert, a fourth- year computer sciences

major who acted as the head of the programming team, says he was able to use his programming skills in a set- ting not previously offered in any of his other classes.

“It was fun to work on a project of that scope,” he said.

Schut praised called the product a “massive achieve- ment” and “really over-the- top good,” particularly when considering that no one on the team had undertaken a project like it before.

Although the completed product exceeded many of the group’s initial expecta- tions, there is consensus that Label: Rise of Band can be improved.

“T think the quality of the program is superior to what

‘Mays’

an evil force which trans- forms him into a ravenous werewolf. In his humanoid state fellow bandmembers notice Mays' peculiar behav- iour but remain defenceless as a Hyde-like alter ego emerges anathematizing his comrades.

The final scene leaves room for an_ inevitable sequel but you can view this cinematic gem on the Matt

we had expected in the beginning,” said Barranco- Mendoza.

“It has a good infrastruc- ture, but the [artificial intel- ligence] is not particularly challenging.”

This fall; Barranco- Mendoza’s artificial intelli- gence class will be working to improve the balance of the game so the artificial opponents offer gamers fair, but more challenging, play.

from page 10

Mays and El Torpedo web- site or Youtube.

This wasn't Mays' first foray into the world of film A Dartmouth Werewolf in Dover was a project com- piled out of pure enjoyment and no intentions yet was featured recently at the Atlantic Film Festival in

Halifax. Although the film didn't garner any rewards Patil

Barranco-Mendoza and Schut are also each working with students through direct- ed studies to implement new features and explore the pos- sibilities for e-commerce.

Following these modifica- tions, the group plans to market an updated version of the game.

Due to the success of this pilot project there are plans to offer the course every other year.

muses the band “Hopes to do more things like it” as they “use the internet to show off cheesily charming acting skills.” This Mays and El Torpedo original may be the last you see of the band for awhile as they vacate the east coast for their first headlining American tour but keep an eye and ear out for their subsequent sin- gle Building A Boat.

Matt Mays plays at his September concert at the Wave. Cadre Photo

While students may not be thinking ahead to the cours- es they will take in the 2009- 10 school year, Schut recog- nizes the importance of cre- ating excitement early on: “We need people to be inter- ested in this.”

And, like Ewert, students do not have to play comput- er games to find an opportu- nity like this appealing.

“T’m not much of a gamer,” he said.