Gatlin International

Playing computer games and video games is a popular form of entertainment for many people of all ages.  While some may think of playing video games as simply a hobby or pastime, there is at least one computer game that reaches beyond just fun by contributing to the greater good of mankind.  The game we are talking about is called Phylo.

Dr. Jérôme Waldispuhl of the McGill School of Computer Science and collaborator Mathieu Blanchette designed a computer game called Phylo as a method to assist scientists in decoding human DNA sequences.  Phylo has about 17,000 registered users who have helped decode various genetic diseases over the past year since the game’s release in November of 2010.  These video game players have assisted scientists in making significant advancements in the understanding of the genetic basis for several diseases including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, epilepsy, and certain types of cancer.  Phylo has assisted scientists in decoding the behavior of over 500 genes in a variety of diseases.

The puzzle-like game asks players to find solutions to arranging a sequence of colored blocks.  Game designer, Waldispuhl, explains “computers are best at handling large amounts of messy data, but where we require high accuracy, we need humans. In this case, the genomes we’re analyzing have already been pre-aligned by computers, but there are parts of it that are misaligned. Our goal is to identify these parts and transform the task of aligning them into a puzzle people will want to sort out.” So Phylo is his solution to solving these sequence alignment problems.  Players must enjoy the game and helping medical advancement because researchers have received over 350,000 sequence alignment solutions over the past year.  Developers hope to release an upgraded version of Phylo for use on tablet devices some time in the near future.

If the thought of making medical and scientific advancements through computer games appeals to you, perhaps you should investigate a career in the computer game design industry.  Gatlin International has an eLearning course, Video Game Design course and Virtual Internship Experience , to help you reach this goal.  This award winning online course and training program is an appropriate starting point for students who seek a professional career as a game designer and developer. It is also well suited for enthusiastic amateurs and gamers looking to explore this exciting field as a recreational endeavor.  Combining concepts in computer graphics, computer aided instruction and marketing, Gatlin International’s Video Game Design course is easy to use.  There is no prior game or graphics programming background required to enroll in this course; students will acquire the skills needed through Gatlin’s project centered Virtual Internship.  Your daily work in a game design job will depend largely on the specific job path you take. You can choose to focus your work on any phase of the computer game design process, from the initial planning, to designing characters and environments, to programming.  To register for this course or to view more details, visit the Gatlin International website today.

If you are interested in designing video games, you may want to put your talents to the test by entering the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Game Design Challenge. The STEM challenge is partnering with an initiative called Digital Promise to promote interest in and awareness of the academic and career fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math are said to be some of the fastest growing job sectors worldwide.  Yet, the number of students who choose to pursue studies or a career in one of these sectors is notoriously low worldwide.  The STEM challenge hopes to draw attention to these areas.

The 2012 STEM Video Game Design Challenge is accepting design entries now through March 12, 2012.  There are several categories for this competition:  Late-Primary (years six through eight), Secondary, Post-Secondary, and Educator.  Within each category, there are several sub-challenges to choose from such as designing a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math based learning video or designing a video game using specific platforms such as Kodu, Scratch, or Gamestar Mechanic.  Prizes offered in the STEM challenge do not disappoint.  From laptop computers, to tens of thousands of dollars for video game marketing and distribution, to professional assistance in the research and development of your video game, not to mention press and publicity, this challenge is sure to attract many talented competitors.

Those of you who have a passion for designing video games and are thinking about entering a design in the STEM challenge should also take a look at a new eLearning course recently launched by Gatlin International.  In this new course called called Video Game Design and Virtual Internship Experience, students will gain the technical skills needed to go from game concept to finished product. Digital videos and interactive multi-media elements allow students to experience the demands of working for a “real” company. Students who take this course will also acquire the programming knowledge needed to design video games at the same time as developing interpersonal skills in communication, project coordination, deadline management, and critical thinking. By enrolling in this course, students will experience the life of a new employee as they develop and manage the complex environments for games and related visualization applications.

Gatlin International’s Video Game Design and Virtual Internship Experience curriculum covers: game design, creation and integration; programming skills; storytelling, game play scripting and character development; art and animation; audio production techniques; project management techniques; an overview of the game development industry; and much more. Upon completion of this course students will receive a Certificate in The Basics of Programming and Video Game Design. Students will also experience two complete game production projects, create a portfolio documenting their creative process, and gain personal experience working within an industry setting that will showcase the technical and soft skills employers are looking for. With Gatlin International’s unparalleled comprehensive training program, students will master the skills to open doors in the growing video game industry.