CANTON — Groups of SUNY Canton students from Game Design and Development are building new original video games as part of their senior-level capstone experience course.

"These students have made incredible leaps in applying programming insights and understanding the complex intricacies specific to the modern professional game development industry," said Ryan S. Hewer, an adjunct instructor in the program who oversees the class. "As an educator, there's nothing more inspiring than seeing students work efficiently and productively identifying how they can improve their games."

About 22 students in the class broke off into two teams with the goal of creating a video game from concept to prototype. Hewer explained that the students were tasked with creating at least one level of their creations that could serve as a vertical slice or proof of concept for future development.

Students don't just build games in the course. Instruction also includes presentation and negotiation skills to help prepare for the competitive, and highly lucrative, careers in game design.