Serious Games students from the University of the Sunshine Coast will demonstrate the innovative games they have developed this year during a free interactive event at USC on Friday 18 November.
 
The second annual Serious Games Showcase from 5.30-9.30pm will give the public a chance to try out games that the students hope will help inspire social change and make the world a better place, while at the same time provide entertainment.

On show will be a variety of mobile, computer and virtual reality games, with purposes as diverse as promoting rhinoceros conservation, teaching Japanese and reducing the stigma around mental health.

Associate Lecturer in Serious Games Colleen Stieler-Hunt said teams of her students would deliver short pitches of their games on the night, after having spent up to a year developing the concepts, storylines and technology.
 
“As well as being a major part of their assessment, this showcase is a chance for the students to display their work to the public and show potential employers what they can do,” she said.

“We’ll have three blocks of game pitches during the evening, with three different themes: cause and marketing, learning and skills, and mental health. In between, guests can walk around the booths and try their hand at the games.

“There’s an incredible diversity of games, in both the themes and media used, with our students utilising technology like interactive videos and the Vive virtual reality headset.”

The showcase will be held on the first floor of Building E, near USC’s Engage Research Lab, and visitors are welcome to stay for part or all of the evening.

Ms Stieler-Hunt said the event would allow people to delve deeper into the idea of producing games with a higher purpose than just entertainment.

“We’d love for teachers, people from local companies and organisations, and anyone with an interest in games, the arts or digital technologies to attend and find out what’s being developed here at USC,” she said.
 
“It’s also a great chance for people considering studying Serious Games to see some of the work they could be doing. USC is the only university in Australia to offer a Bachelor of Serious Games.”

The event is free and light refreshments are provided, but attendees should register at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016seriousrsvp. For more information, email cstieler@usc.edu.au or visit tinyurl.com/uscshowcase.

— Gen Kennedy