Events
Game On! Students Reimagine Lost Games
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 21,2025) – Wake Tech Simulation & Game Development (SGD) students brought new life to forgotten digital worlds during the annual Student Showcase held Monday night on Southern Wake Campus.
More than 50 students took part in the capstone project, presenting original video games they developed over the past eight weeks. Friends, family and representatives from local game companies filled the room to see the students' creations come to life.
This year's theme, Abandonware, challenged students to build video games inspired by discontinued software. The theme inspired teams to think creatively, blending retro game elements with modern design tools and storytelling.
Nine student teams worked together to plan, design and present their own games using game development engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.
One team created "Beta Breakers," a fast-paced fighting game brought to life using motion capture software. With this advanced technology, the team was able to capture realistic movement, blending smooth animation with classic combat mechanics.
Meanwhile, the creators of "Corrupted Castle" drew attention with their matching capes – an homage to their game's hero. Their story-centered game followed a forgotten character stuck inside a game on the edge of deletion. As the character explores the broken world, he discovers hidden powers and tries to prove the game still has value – cleverly playing on this year's theme.
"This is the largest group of students we've ever had participate," said Brad Swearingen, SGD senior professor. "They have gone above and beyond in their game-making this year."
Each team took the audience behind the scenes, explaining their creative process and the roles they filled, from programming and animation to art style and project management.
"Wake Tech and the SGD program have been so amazing," said Bryson Jones, who will soon be graduating from the program. "I have been able to get hands-on experience in programming and game develop while still having a true college experience."
With more than 400 students enrolled, the SGD program has become one of the college's fastest-growing areas of study.
Wake Tech offers two Associate in Applied Science degrees and a variety of certificates in SGD. Graduates qualify for employment as testers, quality assurance analysts, artists, animators, programmers, designers, engineers and administrators. Jobs are available in the entertainment industry, health care, education, corporate training and government organizations.
Wake Tech also offers esports as part of its competitive athletics programs.
