Chapman University will host the Fourth Annual Intercollegiate Computer Game Showcase Saturday, May 9, representing colleges and universities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Blending industry with academia, the event will give students the opportunity to network with professionals and exhibit their skills in a positive, entertaining forum.

Approximately 50 student teams with three members per team are expected to submit games, however only 10 teams will be selected to present their games at the showcase in front of a panel of esteemed judges: Bill Fisher, president of Quicksilver Software; Brandii Grace, co-founder Versus Gaming Network and ‘Fargo’ Kosak, World of Warcraft lead narrative designer are some examples of the many notable industry leaders serving as judges this year.  Phil Adam, co-founder of Spectrum HoloByte will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Dr. Michael Fahy, Associate Dean of Schmid College of Science and Technology, says that the gaming industry is bigger than the film industry in terms of budget, sales and anticipation of release, making the competition an exciting opportunity for participants.

“Working in a collaborative environment to develop a game gives the students valuable preparation for a STEM career, and these showcases can serve as a stepping stone to that career,” Fahy says. “Often the winners at this showcase go on to open their own game studio or get a job with a gaming company.”

The event will occur in Sandhu Conference Center and is open to the public, but seating will be limited. The games will be presented to the judges from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendees will then be able to demo the games and enjoy refreshments for the remainder of the time.

The event is put on by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Orange County Computer Society’s Game Special Interest Group, and is judged by industry leaders, with Phil Adam, co-founder of Spectrum HoloByte serving as Master of Ceremonies.

The Chapman organizers expressed special thanks to Microsemi, who is a major sponsor of the event and has continued to be a partner and supporter of Chapman University and its Computational Science programs.

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