Game Design in Computer Engineering Capstone Projects

Abstract The purpose of a capstone design project course is to provide graduating senior students the opportunity to demonstrate understanding of the concepts they have learned during their studies. As with many computer science and engineering programs, students of the computer engineering program at XXXXXXXX (XXX) conclude their degree programs with a semester capstone design experience. The intent is for students to utilize competencies developed in the first three years of the curriculum in the solution of an embedded design problem. Nowadays, majority of students have grown up with digital technology such as computers, the internet, video games, and mobile phones. These students are fundamentally different from previous generations in the way they learn. Currently, students prefer learning experiences that are digital, connected, experiential, immediate, and social. It appears that students prefer learning by doing rather than learning by listening and often they choose to study in groups. Most students are highly accustomed to and very skillful in playing games. A remarkable feature of games is their power to motivate. Research has indicated that computer games can achieve high learning results in areas where interdisciplinary knowledge is necessary and where skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, group communication, and decision making are of high importance. Recently many of our computer engineering students have shown interest in game design and choosing to design games for their capstone project. This paper presents the details of sample game projects that the computer engineering students have done in this capstone course.