"Ask everyone on campus if they would be interested in volunteering for this event, even people that you do not know. You might be surprised how many people are interested in gaming and eager to volunteer their time and share their equipment.

~Kelly Lambert

(photo, left to right: Dede Elrobeh,
Michelle Dyer-Hurdon, Kelly Lambert)
Phoenix College Library
Phoenix, AZ

Videogame Career Night & Freeplay Event

Phoenix College Library, Phoenix AZ

Phoenix College is the flagship college of the Maricopa Community College District, the nation’s largest community college system and the largest provider of higher education and career training in Arizona, graduating 18,000 students a year.

In the fall of 2007, librarian Kelly Lambert noticed that students were playing games on the library computers. Rather than banning the activity, the library sought an academic spin: career exploration. With the help of her colleagues Michelle Dyer-Hurdon and Dede Elrobeh, Kelly put together a videogame night featuring open game play along with presentations and discussion with videogame designers and artists from local game studio Rainbow Studios.

Game consoles (Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii) were hooked up to projectors in three computer classrooms as well at to 6 mobile television units. The event also had over 100 PCs in the space for students to play freely available online games.

While videogames can sometimes be viewed isolating and a waste of time, library faculty chose to focus on perceived benefits such as increasing collaboration among students in gaming groups and an opportunity for career exploration. At this event, students would be able to meet and engage with the real people creating the games that they love. The educational component brought a higher level of academic credibility to an event that would also be fun. Further, this event was able to attract students that might not otherwise come to the library as well as allow the library to serve as a dynamic center for group activity.

Running the Videogame Designer Career Night

The first event was a videogame designer career night. Library faculty contacted Rainbow Studios in Phoenix, an independent subcontractor owned by game publisher THQ. Many large videogame publishers use small independent houses for much of their development. Rainbow Studios worked on racing simulation games such asMX v. ATV Untamed and Cars Maternational.

Game studios recognize that it is good PR to work with others in their community. Eager to build relationships with the local community, Rainbow Studios sent volunteer employees to be part of the presentation and donated numerous door prizes for the event. Each of the volunteers had just finished working on the MX v. ATV Untamed that would be released the following week.

They discussed the game cycle from idea to production, the various departments within studio, using assets in game (assets are pieces of the game, for example, if the in-game character rides a bike, bike+ride = 1 asset, road = another, etc.), and skills needed in the workplace.

The game designers and artists provided very realistic feedback about 60-70 hour workweeks. Sometimes they will work for a long time on concepts that never made the cut. For example, one artist shared that he created 200-250 helmets that took 300 hours of work, only to have the project get scrapped.

After discussing the ins and outs of the industry, the presenters specified classes offered at Phoenix College that would prepare aspiring game designers to get into the field. The dialogue went on for two hours and had to be cut off; there were more questions than time.

If you aren't sure if there is a school with a game design program, or game design studio in your local area, consult Gamasutra, the professional organization for game designers.

Get Your Game On, Again

In November 2008, the library hosted Get Your Game on Again: Video Game Night II in the Library, coinciding with Homecoming week at the PC campus. For the second event, the Library worked with Student Life and held the event as a part of Homecoming Week festivities. Rainbow Studios was again generous with their time and sent volunteer speakers working as game designers, artists and animators. These volunteers were finishing production on the Deadly Creatures game that would be released in spring 2009.

Other games featured for students to play at this event were several new releases including Rock Band II and Little Big Planet, as well as old school games like the original Mario Bros. and Street Fighter I. The Library also got a copy of Gears of War II, which had coincidentally been released on the day of the event.

Participants registered online. Over 150 registered, but only 80 showed up. Many told staff later that they forgot. For future events, staff will send a reminder to see how many were coming.

Equipment

Game consoles, games, extra controllers (at least 4 per system, depending on game), and computers (if using online games) are required. The event also welcomed the addition of 6 mobile plasma units lent to the Library by the Media Department.

Check with your institution about insurance of the gaming equipment lent to you for the event. Phoenix College's school insurance will not cover breakage or theft of the equipment since it is not owned by the district. It is important that everyone who lends equipment is aware that they are doing so at their own risk. Be prepared to replace items if needed.

Marketing

In order to gain even more exposure for the event across the district, the Library invited the campus television station, MCTV, to attend the event and do a story on it. The story aired on cable television for several weeks as well as online.

The event won the Innovation of the Year 2008 award for Phoenix College. One winner named from each of 10 MCCCD campuses and the District Office. All winners presented to the governing board members and the chancellor of the district, lending exposure for the event across the whole district.

In January 2009, Phoenix College held an event for all employees before the semester started. Next time staff and faculty see event publicity, they can share with their students.

Media release forms were used so that staff could take photpgraphs of students and use them in presentations. All underage students had to have their media release forms signed by their parent/guardian.

Literacy Connections

The Rainbow Studio employees made ties to current classes at Phoenix College, and stressed the kinds of skills needed for design work. Students think critically about game designs, and take classes in this subject area. Not only are the students applying visual literacy skills during the gameplay, but by connecting games to their curriculum and ultimately their careers, this event creates additional motivation for the students to strengthen the print, visual, and information literacy skills necessary for success in higher education. Connecting personal interests with academic pursuits provides students with a strong connection to the multiple literacy skills applied in their games and required in their education.

Facility

Space is the number one requirement for either event.You will need a space large enough to hold the event and house multiple televisions and computers.

Funding $350.00

Refreshments: $200.00
(pizza, water and soda, paid for from the book sale fund

Security guard: $150.00

Staff and facility were provided in kind, except for a hired security guard. While both of events were free from incident, it was nice to have an authority figure in uniform present.

Tapping into the campus population produced volunteers to staff the event, bring in games and consoles, and prepare in advance of the presentation. Lambert advises, "Ask everyone on campus if they would be interested in volunteering for this event, even people that you do not know. You might be surprised how many people are interested in gaming and eager to volunteer their time and share their equipment." Partnering with others on campus is strongly recommended.

The speakers volunteered their time, and games and game consoles for the videogame night were lent by employees and student workers. Once they got approval for the event, employees asked “how can I help?"

Raffle prizes were a result of three months of outreach to the local community. We contacted local business, restaurants, video game sellers and game locals that had a technology aspect to them. We sent letters, emails, and made phone calls. In October, they followed up by driving around for appointments with managers. It was difficult for the managers to say no when we arrived in person with big smiles! Best Buy, GameWorks, Dave & Busters and Target donated over $400 in prizes. This was in addition to the numerous prizes generously donated by Rainbow Studios.

Impact

Attendance was strictly Phoenix College students, no sibs, chums, etc. The audience was 95% 16-20 year old males, of various ethnicities. The Library had planned for about an hour of presentations, but the students were so excited that they just kept asking questions and the presentations went on for almost two hours. Students asked esoteric, specific questions about the work and the designers responded.

As a result of the success, the library continues to get requests for more events. Students saw the library and librarians in a different light. The session drew students into the library that had not been regular library users. Those who had been intimidated by libraries and librarians increased their comfort level. This is very important for all students, but especially for those dealing with developmental education issues. For example, students now feel more comfortable approaching library staff with questions about the library but also other things such as how to contact instructors or where to get tutoring assistance.

Retention of students is a major issue for all campuses. Studies have shown that students who have selected a career are more likely to stick with school. This event has given them the opportunity to meet real people in the video game industry and explore the career on a deeper level.

In the future, the planners will send formal invitations will be issued to administrators. We were excited when one administrator did attend our second event. The library will keep the excitement going with an event once a year; but students want it monthly.

Resources:

For more information, please contact Kelly Lambert at kelly.lambert@pcmail.maricopa.edu.

Media Release Form

Game Night Poster

Acquafredda, Lisa. "Phoenix College Game Night." Maricopa Now. MCTV, November 2008. www.maricopa.edu/mctv/MN/Media/Videogame.wmv. February 28, 2009.

"Get Your Game On: Videogame Night in the Academic Library." Gamings Learning & Libraries, July 2008. http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/images/2/26/Get_Your_Game_On.pdf. February 27, 2009.

Gamasutra

Phoenix College Library

Rainbow Studios