Norco College to Host Video Game Development Open House

Jan. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Norco College’s video game development program is holding an open house Feb. 5 to talk about its free summer boot camp and its degree programs.

The open house, which is open to high school juniors and seniors and their parents, runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Center for Student Success Room 217 on the campus. Guests will learn about game design, game programming, game audio and game art, which includes 3D animation, character modeling and environments.

There will also be mini-workshops in game audio, game programming and game art. Space is limited for workshops. For more information, contact Gustavo Oceguera, Associate Dean, Grants & College Support Programs, at Gustavo.oceguera@norcocollege.edu or call 951-372-7045 to reserve a spot.

The free four-day summer boot camp program will be held in June. Enrollment is capped at 25 students. Priority will be given to current juniors.  If slots are available, current seniors and Norco College students interested in game development programs may also apply. Call 951-372-7045 for information.

Eighteen-year-old Angel Torres is among the students who took part in last year’s summer boot camp. Now, the Etiwanda High School graduate is student in the game development program.

“I loved it,” Torres, who lives in Eastvale, said of the boot camp. “My only complaint is that it was only a week. I’d really like to go again.”

Torres started playing video games when he was seven. He began with Nintendo 64, moved on to PlayStation 2 and now plays Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. At times he played up to 12 hours per day.

During those hours he decided making video games seemed like fun. But he didn’t know what went into making them.

Enter the summer boot camp where students receive an overview of the video game development process and introductions to video game audio, art and programming.

Norco College simulation and game development instructor James Finley said he and the other faculty were blown away by how well the students handled advanced concepts.

“It was a great self-examination and self-exploration for the students,” said Finley, who is also creative director of Broken Circle Studios, a video game development company in Riverside. “All of them were really able to advance themselves and figure out if this was right for them.”

Torres is among those that found it was right.

He particularly liked the day devoted to video game programming and hopes to pursue that as a career. Meanwhile, he is taking a class about the history of video games that Finley teaches.

“The class is really cool,” Torres said. “I love learning about the different companies and how they started. It’s really inspiring.”

The Simulation and Game Development program at Norco College offers state of the art facilities with industry-driven curriculum. Game industry professionals routinely visit Norco College to meet with faculty and students and to assist in the development of curriculum. This ensures that Norco College graduates are equipped to work in game studios or transfer to 4-year institutions to complete their education. Our new Industrial Technology building houses the innovative Game Lab and state-of-the-art gaming classrooms where students learn and perfect their skills. The Student Game Creation Club is one of the most active clubs on campus and holds bi-annual game tournaments.

About the RCCD CTE Community Collaborative: The Riverside Community College District CTE Community Collaborative is a grant funded effort to strengthen California’s workforce development efforts by linking the State’s investment in economic development with its investment in public instruction and other significant public investments.  CTE Community Collaboratives can be found throughout the State.  The role of the collaborative is to create seamless, non-redundant education and training in the region that corresponds to economic demand; strengthen CTE sectors; establish career exploration programs for middle school and high school students; and meet critical professional development needs and capacity building needs as it relates to career and technical education.

CTE Community Collaborative Partners: Three community colleges: Moreno Valley College, Norco College, and Riverside City College; Riverside County Office of Education Career Technical Education Unit; and six unified school districts: Alvord USD, Corona-Norco USD, Jurupa USD, Moreno Valley USD, Riverside USD, and Val Verde USD.
More information about the collaborative, contact Julie.Pehkonen@rcc.edu