The Gaming Club is hosting a game development contest from March 1 to April 30.
“The contest was originally my idea, and I’ve been the primary organizer for it,” Ellie Mullinax, game club member and event organizer said. “Josh, as an officer of our club, has been a huge support in understanding the logistics of hosting an event at Highlands, such as getting food [and] booking the ballroom.”
Mullinax’s computer displays the RPG Maker program being used to create “Haunting Henry.”
The contest, exclusive to GHC students, invites teams of one to four members to create games across various formats.
Mullinax’s team is working on a web game called “Henry’s Haunting.” In this game, players help Henry navigate spooky encounters with spirits.
Along with video games, students are encouraged to create trading cards, tabletop RPGs and board games.
“We’ve opened up the contest to all genres of games, not just video games, to help students of all majors see that the game industry isn’t just for comp-sci majors,” Mullinax said.
Blank board games, cards and clay that is available for contest participants to use in the creation of their game.
To support contest participants, the gaming club is providing resources like blank board games, blank cards and clay. Each team can request up to 50 cards and one blank board game for their project development.
The judging panel consists of Kartikay Kini, award-winning game developer and co-founder of Finite Reflection Studio, and Eric Cook, senior game producer at Warner Bros. Games and lead developer of Finite Reflection Studio.
With the inclusion of industry professionals and game studios, Mullinax hopes the contest “can act as a way for students to catapult themselves into the gaming industry.”
Game club’s contest advertisement slide plays on TV on Cartersville campus.
The contest features a $500 total prize pool. The first-place team will receive a $250 budget, the second-place team will receive a $150 budget and the third-place team will receive a $100 prize.
Winners can use the prize money to choose from Bookstore Credit, Game Maker Studio 2 License, RPG Maker MV License, Aseprite and Marmoset Hexels.
Participants are encouraged to direct message gaming club officer and secretary Josh Chastain (@Doctor_Twelfth) or Ellie Mullinax (@Ellie) on Discord for future prize suggestions.
The gaming club is also searching for sponsors to assist in offering cash prizes or scholarships for future contests.
In addition to the contest, the gaming club is launching the Highlands Adventurers’ Guild, a Dungeons and Dragons campaign open to all students. A Character Creation Workshop will be held on April 10, with the first session scheduled for April 17, offering an exciting opportunity for storytelling and adventure.
Students interested in more information about the contest, including the full set of rules, details on membership and announcements for events and meetings, are encouraged to join the gaming club’s Discord.
The gaming club meets weekly on Mondays in the Cartersville student center’s game room from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
“Meetings usually go longer than the advertised times just because we enjoy it,” Chastain said.
