Are you curious about what real-world game development looks like at QUT?
Our unit Game Studio 2: Applied Game Development is part of the games and interactive environments degree at QUT, one of Australia's leading institutions for game design and development. During one semester, students work in teams in this unit to develop game-based experiences that meet industry-defined project briefs. Students learn to use agile development processes, such as scrum and sprints, to evaluate and refine their projects continually. Students also gain valuable insights into industry practices and standards while crafting their gaming experiences.
Whether you’re interested in 2D or 3D games, mobile or desktop platforms, or any genre or game, you will find plenty of opportunities to unleash your creativity and showcase your skills in the games and interactive environments degree.
Explore some of the fantastic game development projects that our students have created and witness their creative prowess as they bring their game design visions to life.
helloWorld
Students
- Freya Sambain
- Will Hughes
- Jessica Childs
Game summary
helloWorld is a social simulation game created in collaboration with the QUT Widening Participation program, immersing players in the life of a first-year student in Brisbane accommodation.
The 2D room environment transforms as players complete tasks, focusing on friendships and skills like writing and tech literacy. Targeting misconceptions about tertiary education, especially for rural and low-income students, the game features diverse non-player character (NPC) dialogues addressing common concerns. Extensive customisation fosters player identity and belonging, offering a positive space to dispel fears around university through relaxed gameplay.
AWIC Breaking Ground
Students
- Mark Auman
- Mars Bleach
- Jamie Renfrey
- Jackson Smollen
Game summary
AWIC Breaking Ground is a turn-based game where players assume the role of a construction manager, leading teams of skilled workers to build home projects. Players manage tasks performed by professionals like carpenters and electricians to complete projects. This gameplay aims to intrigue players about construction, fostering a desire to create exceptional homes.
Developed in collaboration with Awesome Women In Construction (AWIC), the game introduces young women to exciting career options in construction. Research revealed the industry's lack of female representation and educational resources. AWIC Breaking Ground addresses this by showcasing women in diverse roles, from tradespeople to leaders, encouraging inclusivity and career exploration.
Open Day
Students
- Daniel Selwood
- Bianca Ngo
- Emma Franklin
- Jack Battams
Game summary
Taking place in a miniaturised version of the QUT Gardens Point campus, Open Day is an isometric exploration and puzzle game that presents the players with an opportunity to explore the campus, learn about some of the opportunities university has to offer, and take their first step towards a new future.
The project's aim is to motivate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to consider higher education. Developed in response to QUT's brief, this game-based experience encourages aspiring students to explore university options, fostering a new path toward a promising future.
Delivery Run
Students
- Jasmine Perry
- Kyle Lim
- Tex Barnes
Game summary
Delivery Run places players in the role of a vehicle operator, maneuvering construction vehicles through bustling sites. To succeed, players follow instructions, employ spatial skills, and wit to navigate safely and timely.
This light-hearted driving simulator aims to engage players initially, then introduce them to the construction industry's intricacies. The goal is to foster understanding and open-mindedness about construction as a career choice.
Developed in response to a brief by Awesome Women in Construction (AWIC), the game strives to break down barriers, reshape perceptions of the industry and inspire young women to pursue construction careers.
eXtreme Pathways
Students
- Michelle Barnes
- Phoenix Marsh
- Mackenzie Muir
- Tyra Vink
Game summary
eXtreme Pathways is a 3D low-poly puzzle adventure game tailored for Australian high school students. Set on a rural Queensland roadway, the game simulates the journey from high school to a potential STEM future at QUT. Players tackle STEM-based puzzles to advance along the road, overcoming potholes of self-doubt with non-player character (NPC) support. The game's blend of 3D and 2D perspectives, vibrant colors, and casual vibe engages players on PC, web, and mobile platforms.
Developed in collaboration with the QUT Widening Participation Program, the game meets the brief by inspiring students to explore STEM careers, debunking misconceptions and barriers, especially students in year 9-12 approaching crucial education decisions.
Big Hat's Backyard Photographic Safari
Students
- Alex Lawer
- Jackie Nguyen
- Liam Nash
- James Keller
Game summary
Big Hat's Backyard Photographic Safari is a game developed for Australian Urban Growers to entertain and educate students on biodiversity in line with Australia's Year 7 Biological sciences curriculum.
A safari experience at home delivered via compelling yet easy to use game mechanics designed for accessibility across laptops, desktops and tablets.
The Brisbane environment springs to life on a rotatable diorama, with zoom lens photography, and a scrapbook for saving your snaps. Players use their observation skills to identify native animals and are rewarded with curious scientific facts.
Big Hat's Backyard Photographic Safari will help Year 7 students make the connection between science education and their own backyards and inspire students to pursue further science studies and careers aligned with preserving biodiversity.
AWIC Building Bridges
Students
- Hailey Graham
- Scott Barley
- Thomas McHugh-Mackay
- Janak Tracey
Game Summary
AWIC Building Bridges, is a captivating turn-based game that thrusts you into the pivotal role of a visionary project manager tasked with construction of a new green bridge for the vibrant city of Brisbane. Strategically assemble and manage your team from your diverse and talented pool of employees, to help you turn obstacles into opportunities and transforming your construction project into an epic adventure.
Developed alongside with Awesome Women in Construction (AWIC), the game represents a variety of construction roles to young women and showcasing the different pathways the characters took to get to the current point in their careers. Through the active role the player takes as the project manager, the game aims to empower young women and have them engage in the content through an immersive environment.
Grow Up
Students
- Zaden Bradshaw - Designer
- Khongorzul Batod - Artist
- Clayton Trewben - Programmer
- Zayben Caracciolo - Programmer
Game Summary
Grow Up is a collaborative project with Australian Urban Growers designed for educating Year 9 geography students. It is a 2D puzzle platformer exploring the influences on plant growth and advancements in food production methods.
Players take on the role of a scientist who has undergone a size reduction. To regain their normal size, they must ascend to the pinnacle of their vertical farm and retrieve their size manipulator. Navigating through the game involves managing environmental conditions to cultivate plants, aiding in traversal and puzzle solving. The game features a lively and stylized 2D aesthetics.
The game centres around the vertical farming element of the project brief and emphasizes sustainable food production. It is tailored for year 9 geography students, intending to convey specific content related to Unit 1. The primary focus of the unit is on environmental factors influencing plant growth, innovations in food production, and the determination of crop yield.
Rural Regen
Students
- Corey Rose
- Dan Lowe
- Michael Anderson
- Minh Hung Dang
Game Summary
Rural Regen is an isometric resource-management farming game about teaching students to use sustainable practices to clean polluted farmland and grow crops.
Developed for Australian Urban Growers, this game has been designed to be a relaxing and satisfying experience while also teaching Queensland curriculum content for Year 9 Humanities, specifically about the impacts of pollution, erosion and salinity on soil health on farms across Australia.
Players are tasked to utilise their time wisely each day to grow crops step-by-step, eventually earning enough money to clean all the polluted soil from their land and repair a leaking and dangerous fuel tank.
Rural Regen aims to teach the importance of Australian farming and its challenges via weaving real-world farming problems within thoughtful decision-making gameplay.