Volume V, Issue 29 (October 1, 2020)

Page 1

“Reality is broken. Game designers can fix it.” ― Jane McGonigal

Vol. V October 2020

Sharing the good news about Longview Independent School District

DEVELOPING A FUTURE District teams up with Gearbox, Microsoft for new gaming program

O

n Tuesday, Sept. 1, LISD took one step closer to starting a brand new program on three campuses that would see students starting on a path towards making video games for a living. On that Tuesday, a conference was held between LISD, Texas-based video game developer Gearbox Software, Texas Southern University, and Microsoft. The program that has brought all of THIBAULT these different organizations together is GBX Creative Computing Curriculum, from Gearbox. It will see video game design and production come to Foster, Judson, and Longview High. This will allow students to take their first steps towards becoming video game developers. “We are teaching students the ins and outs of working with The Unreal Engine, the same software that powers ‘Fortnite.’ This program introduces students to the core creative computing skills that are employed in the videogame industry to design and develop the most popular games in the world,” said Aaron Thibault, Gearbox Software Vice President of Strategic Operations. “These Be sure to same skills are importcheck out our ant to many first video other modern game review industries that on Page 14! use computer Also an article visualization about the game and simfor parents on ulation, Page 15! from automotive design to artificial intelligence engineering. Students who complete this project-based curriculum will be capable of making

The vital importance of critical thinking in public education. See Opinion on Page 2

After a long summer of concern and uncertainty, the Lobo season is underway! See Sports on Page 9

their own functioning game software, and they will explore specializations that are in high demand by videogame, animation, architecture, civil engineering, special effects, and many other employers around the world.”

WHERE IT BEGAN

In 2012, Joe Manns, who game instructor and foundreached out to Gearbox with a request for assistance to guide the development of a videogame program at the college level in Longview, focused on digital art, animation, and game design. “After several years of working with Joe in his after-school digital art program, meeting wonderful LISD staff like Shalona McCray and Elizabeth Ross, and having speaking opportunities at Longview area schools, we felt

is the Foster video er of Thirsty Minds,

GBX|Continued to page 17

‘Wintermoor Tactics Club’ shows the imagination at work in this tactical RPG. See Game Review on Pages 14-15

LISD offer s our most sincer e condolences to our extended Lobo family. See Obituaries on Page 16


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Volume V, Issue 29 (October 1, 2020) by The Longview Voice - Issuu