The Video Game Development Club (VGDC) is a student organization based at NC State University. Its members consist of both students and Alumni interested in game development. Not only does the club collaborate on projects, but members also benefit by making connections in the local video game development industry by attending casual meet-ups and conferences like ECGC.
I joined the club in the Fall of 2018, and since then I have contributed as a developer on the club’s newest project, Lifeworld. This VR game was designed to give the player a different perspective as to what life is like for someone suffering from psychosis. The game does this using a series of “symptoms,” of which I was in charge of implementing two. One involved moving objects within the player’s peripheral view out of sight, only to move back when focused on directly. The other would spawn a phantom image just outside of the player’s sight, only for it to disappear when the player looked at it. My goal was to deliver these symptoms to my project lead in time for the demo we presented at ECGC 2019, and with dedication this was achieved. Presenting the game alongside the club was highly rewarding, and being part of this realistic project team gave me a better idea of what to expect when I enter the industry.