The Impact News

Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: News

Media Credit: B.J. Harring Playing video games is a popular way for dorming students to pass the time and relax.

Students of Mercy College's Computer Arts and Design classes have something very interesting to put in their portfolio for the time when they enter the real world. Eight students from the program were able to put their skills to the test by using the program Power Game Factory to design two video games that would count as their final exam. Unknown to them, the company that developed the program was going to feature both of the games on Sawblade Software's Web site.
The class was divided into two groups of four over a four week period to come up with and develop a semi non-violent game. The first group consisting of Kamil Durzynski, Randi O'Niell, Vanessa Silva, and Rosanna Rodriguez created "Blazing Bananas." The second group consisting of Dan Horne, Shawne Lampley, Mark Minei, and Leilani Oliden created "Fridge Raider."
"The class was put into groups because they had to get used to working in teams for when they leave and pursue their future careers," said Professor James Pannafino.
"The assignment was fun even though we had some technical difficulties along the way. It was a really good learning experience and was fun to come up with," said Rosanna Rodriguez, senior, Computer Art Technology major.
The making of the game, the commercial, and packaging for the game is the final project for everyone who takes the class. Pannafino thought both games turned out so well that he emailed Sawblade Software and asked them if they would feature the games, and they did.
The game "Blazing Bananas" is about a rooky firefighter monkey, Locke, who is left all alone at the fire station after he fell asleep during a fire alarm that sounded for a fire in another town. All alone, he receives a call from the mayor of his town, because a fire has broken out and has taken on a mind of its own. Locke, being the only fireman left at the station, is now the only one who can save his town. He begins the game with a water pistol, but the more fires he puts out, the more advanced he and his weapons get.
The game "Fridge Raider" is about a young boy who was sent to his room for not eating his vegetables. While asleep, he dreams that he is in the fridge and he has to destroy all the evil vegetables with a bubble gun. On the way he has to collect life points that are bottle caps. On the last level, the boy has to battle the Master Salad Monster. Most of the artwork done for the game was done by Leilani Oliden, who Pannafino said did an outstanding job in creating the characters.
There were three main points of the assignment. One was to create an understanding of sequence, time, and space gaming. Second was to analyze and compare the games to others, and answer questions such as "What makes the Mario Brothers games so great that they are still popular today?" The last point was to problem-solve during development.
They accomplished all of these goals, and that was why Pannafino emailed Sawblade Software to feature the games. This assignment is given to each class at the end of the semester. At the end of the spring semester, there are open exhibitions at the White Plains Campus where all of the students' work will be displayed.

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