Students at the University of Szeged (SZTE) can learn how to develop two-dimensional computer games similar to the great classics such as Mario, Prince of Persia, or Earthworm Jim. The Department of Image Processing and Computer Graphics of SZTE’s Faculty of Science and Informatics launched the course, where anyone can create computer games similar to the games they used to play to kill time when they were children. No prior knowledge is necessary to enrol in the course, but an object-oriented approach is a requirement.
Former and current students of the Faculty of Science and Informatics of SZTE created their own Facebook group, where Bálint Biró, senior engineer of Epam, threw in an idea: he volunteered to design online video learning material for 2D game development in Unity. The idea was picked up by László Varga and Antal Nagy of the Department of Image Processing and Computer Graphics of SZTE’s Faculty of Science and Informatics, and the course was announced at the university. The course is so popular that, in this term, five times as many students applied as the course can take.
Unity is a video game engine that can be used to develop two- and three-dimensional video games. It is being increasingly adopted in industries, hence the immense interest from students who wish to acquire competitive knowledge, László Varga explains.
The course combines theory and practice. Starting from fundamentals, students learn the various steps of game development. They can fully use their creativity as they have a free choice of what kind of game they would like to build. In the previous term, students created logic games, shooting games, card games or revisited classic games.
Old dreams come true for students as they are free to build games that they used to pass time with when they were young. They learn the concept that can be applied in any other type of two-dimensional game development, says the initiator Bálint Biró. He also highlights that game development is still in its infancy in Hungary, so encouragement to creative and talented students is all the more important.