Video games are slowly moving out of the monitor and into the real world. And this next stage of development in the world of gaming will be shared with Computer Science students during a special workshop.
‘Real-world’ or Mixed Reality gaming is fast becoming the next big thing in computer games advancement.
Students will be learning how to create games set in real environments during a special two-week workshop led by Richard Wetzel, a PhD student from the University of Nottingham.
Richard said: “These Mixed Reality location-based games are interesting because, unlike when you play traditional video games, you are moving around using your whole body and senses to explore the real-world environment. For example, they give people the opportunity to see the city they live in through new eyes.
“The main difficulty when designing games like this, which also is an advantage, is that you cannot completely control the real world. You obviously have other people and situations, such as the weather, that will change what is happening. Although you cannot foresee these complications, this is what makes the game a much richer experience. The serendipity of the real world influences players’ actions. I will be teaching the students about these problems and how to overcome them.”
The workshop at the University of Lincoln runs from Sunday, 27th October to Saturday, 9th November and involves students from all year groups.
For an example of Richard’s previous work in this area go to http://youtu.be/WjjHMqSGPpE