Derby College Students Design Seasonal Video Game

Games Development students at Derby College have designed a high quality video game as part of a project to give them real-life industry experience.

The students are based at the Joseph Wright Centre – the post-16 Academic and Arts college – and designed ‘Drive By Santa’ in just seven weeks.

Led by Games Design lecturers Bob Fordi and Nathan Rogers, the game involves players launching baubles from Santa’s open top low rider sleigh as he drives around neighbourhoods on Christmas Eve.  If the baubles hit a house, it lights up with decorations and the player earns valuable points.

‘Drive By Santa’ was trialled by students at the Joseph Wright Centre and at the Roundhouse Technical and Professional Skills college in Pride Park.

Student Kyle Johnson (18) from Derby was lead programmer on the project.  He said: “This has given us a real insight into how developers work together in teams to produce a video game.

“We are really pleased with the results and I personally hope that this will increase my chances of securing an internship at a local company as the first step in my career as a games developer.”

Kathryn Law (18) from Swadlincote, who plans to study Games Development at university after College, added: “The feedback from other students who have had the chance to play the game has been great and we are very proud of what we have achieved.”

Lecturer Bob Fordi concluded: “The games development industry continues to grow with a wide range of career opportunities available locally, nationally and internationally.

“Projects such as these are designed to reflect how the industry works and I know that many of our students will now be far more equipped to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and carve an exciting and fulfilling career for themselves in future years.”