DePaul's game design programs in the College of Computing and Digital Media are nationally recognized. Over the years, Blue Demon Athletics has utilized the talents of students from both CDM and The Art School at DePaul to enhance marketing materials for students and fans.
The tradition continues in 2021. The past two quarters, DePaul Athletics has worked with two students from CDM as game design interns. An introduction from Brother Mark Elder, C.M., a muralist and professor in The Art School, brought senior game design major Quinn Davis to Athletics as part of her ART 383 internship with the purpose of developing a game for children ages 12 and under.
“A number of students in gaming and animation take classes within The Art School to sharpen their art skills before utilizing it in a technological way," Elder says. “Athletics was a natural fit for Quinn to enhance her skills and create a project that others could enjoy."
Davis recruited fellow senior and computer science major, Michael Vanderwerf, to help with the coding. Together, they formed a team that created two DePaul Athletics-themed computer games for the DIBS Kids Club, gaining invaluable experience throughout the process.
“It was great to see these projects all the way through from the initial concept to the final product," Davis says. “It gave us the opportunity to work with a client for the first time and shifted our mindsets to ensure we met their standards and completed everything in a timely manner."
Vanderwerf echoes these sentiments.
“This internship challenged both of us to learn on our own," he says. “It was such a valuable experience for us. We're excited to see how this area grows within the Athletics department."
The DIBS Kids Club re-launched in fall 2020 and was the perfect audience for the games, especially given COVID-19 restrictions. Kids Club members had a chance to play both games as they were introduced in their exclusive monthly e-newsletter. Members could play the games to win prizes, such as DIBS bobbleheads or mini DePaul Basketballs.
The first game called “Buzzer Beater," allows young gamers to play as DIBS the Blue Demon and try to score as many baskets as possible in thirty seconds. As a participant's score increases, the basket moves up or down and the shooting arrow speeds up.
“DIBSmoji Memory Match" is DePaul's take on a classic matching game and features twenty different DIBSmojis. The game includes three different levels and can be enjoyed by all ages.
Think you can beat a 5th grader? Check out the games below and challenge your younger Blue Demon!
Buzzer Beater and
DIBSmoji Memory Match must be played on a desktop computer or laptop.