Rogers State University

12/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/16/2024 11:06

RSU Technology Students Create Virtual Nature Reserve, Baseball Field

  • RSU students involved in the creation of the virtual Nature Reserve and baseball field include Matthew Kirkham of Fairfax (front, from left); LiDeon Her of Ozark, Missouri; and Jacob Martin of Newcastle; Jack Wells of Claremore (back, from left); Ezekiel Nieves of Broken Arrow; and Cameron Rogers of Stillwater.

Rogers State University's presence in the digital world got a little bit bigger with the continuation of a passion project by members of the game design program to create virtual renditions of key university locations.

In the spring 2024 semester, technology students completed the first stage of the project, creating a virtual Herrington Hall, which was an interactive game that allowed the user to navigate through the building, learning about university life while playing various games and informative activities.

Building upon that foundation, that project continued, with the recent expansion of two other areas of the RSU campus: the Nature Reserve and the baseball field.

The Nature Reserve captures the beauty of the campus's natural environment, offering players a chance to explore its peaceful scenery and discover interactive elements that reflect the area's unique charm. The baseball field brings the energy of campus sports to life, featuring detailed visuals and activities that showcase the vibrant athletic spirit of the RSU campus.

Similar to the virtual Herrington Hall, these new virtual locations are immersive and allow the user to interact with the respective environments of the Nature Reserve and baseball field, go through an obstacle course, play a baseball game, and solve challenges while having fun along the way.

According to RSU Technology and Justice Studies Instructor Abhilash Minukuri, the goal is to continue to expand upon the game each semester until the entire university has become part of the digital landscape.

View the trailer created for this project.

RSU began its game development curriculum in 2006 and was one of the first universities in the state to offer this unique focus. RSU offers a bachelor's degree in information technology with a game design option.

RSU's game design option provides students with the highest quality education in the areas of game development and general education. The program blends skill in art, computer science, mathematics, physics and writing to provide students with the opportunity to pursue a career in computer gaming development, including possible careers in game development for entertainment, training and education.

For more information about RSU's technology programs, including game development, visit www.rsu.edu/TJS.