Celebrate 25 Years of Game Development at MSU
Overview
It all started in Fall 2000, when Michigan State University offered its first game development course and the student group SpartaSoft was formed!
Since then, MSU has become a national leader in game education—launching the interdisciplinary Game Design and Development minor and the Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab in 2005, the International Conference on Meaningful Play in 2008, the Serious Games Graduate Certificate and the SPARTIE Lab in 2012, MSU’s Esports Club Association in 2016, the Games and Interactive Media major in 2020, and MSU Varsity Esports in 2023, all while Spartan faculty, students and alumni have made a lasting impact on the game industry.
Now, 25 years later, we’re celebrating a quarter-century of creativity, innovation, and Spartan-made games! Join fellow alumni, current students, faculty, and industry friends back on campus to mark this exciting milestone. Reconnect, reflect, and help us shape the future of game development at MSU.
**Agenda
Friday, September 12
1:00pm – 2:00pm Game Facilities Tour Group A* (Start outside Room 147, ComArts Bldg.) AND/OR Student Game Showcase** (154 ComArts Bldg.)
2:00pm – 2:45pm Kick-Off Presentation: 25 Years in Game Development at MSU (Room 147, ComArts Bldg.)
2:45pm – 3:30pm Game Industry Panel (Room 147, ComArts Bldg.) – Discussion and Q&A with alumni in the game industry, including:
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- Gabriella Bendtsen, Associate Dialogue Coordinator (Contractor), Insomniac Games
- Chris Bray, AAA Product & Production Leader, ex-Bethesda/Ubisoft/Stardock
- Scott Brodie, Design Director, ProbablyMonsters
- Ellie Locatis Ozkan, Technical Designer, Iron Galaxy Studios
- Haven Sanders, Technical Gameplay Designer, Iron Galaxy Studios
- David Ward, Senior Game Programmer, Bethesda Game Studios
- Patrick Williams, Gameplay Tech Lead, Moon Studios
- Patrick Shaw, Director of Production, Stardock Entertainment
3:30pm – 3:45pm Cake Break (Room 147, ComArts Bldg.)
3:45pm – 4:30pm Game Industry Adjacent Panel (Room 147, ComArts Bldg.) – Discussion and Q&A with alumni in game industry adjacent careers, including:
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- Eric Arnold, Simulation Engineer, NVIDIA
- Jesse Hacker, Software Engineering Supervisor, AUMOVIO
- Noah Kler, Unreal Engine FCG, Ford Motor Company
- Alex Klingel, Application Architect, Auto Owners Insurance
- Anthony Laurain, CEO, Health Odyssey Studios
- Andrew MacAfee, Simulation Engineer, ex-DCS Corp/Stardock
- Jason Maynard, Senior UI Technical Design Lead, Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Darlene Sobus, Interactive Technology Developer, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
4:30pm – 5:30pm Game Facilities Tour Group B* (Start outside Room 147, ComArts Bldg.) AND/OR Student Game Showcase** (154 ComArts Bldg.)
6:00pm – 8:00pm Meetup at Lansing Shuffle (325 Riverfront Drive, Lansing)
* For the Game Facilities Tour, we will break into two different groups covering different locations. For Group A, we will depart from outside Room 147 ComArts Bldg. and visiting 154 Game Teaching Studio, Alienware MSU eSports Lounge, GEL Lab, SPARTIE Lab, and the GameStorm Room. For those interested in a walk, Group B will depart from outside Room 147 ComArts Bldg. and visit the MSU Library Games Collection, Hubbard eSports Gaming Hub, and maybe MSU Dairy Store!
** We will be running a mini-student game showcase in 154 ComArts during the tour times. Come check out the games, play, and chat with students!
Parking for Friday is available in any MSU hourly paid parking. The closest location is the Trowbridge Ramp #5 located just to the south of the ComArts Bldg. (Ramp #5, Lot 102, 1149 Red Cedar Road). Pay-by-plate lots allow parking for varied durations of time based on location. The license plate must be entered and payment submitted at a pay station in the lot or via the MSU SPOT ON app to validate parking. Pay stations accept credit/debit cards or cash/coin ($1s & $5s only).
Saturday, September 13
10:00am – 3:00pm MSU Game Dev Tailgate (South Side of ComArtSci)
We will have a location on the south side of ComArtSci lawn (between building and parking ramp) with a tent and tables. We will provide light snacks and water.
Feel free to bring your own tailgating food, beverages, and gear, including some yard games and your own comfy chairs.
3:30pm – 6:30pm MSU vs. Youngstown State Football Game (Spartan Stadium)
We scheduled the event to line-up for those that want to cheer on the Spartan Football team to victory. Attending the game requires the purchase of a ticket (optional, on your own).
Parking for Saturday is available though “MSU Game Day Tailgate” paid parking across campus. There is first-come, first-serve parking in the ComArtSci parking ramp (Ramp #5, Lot 102, 1149 Red Cedar Road). The parking cost has been raised to $40 for tailgating. You can also park at other MSU football parking locations or in East Lansing and walk over, as well.
