SGC 2021 Recap
Shawnee State’s Annual Shawnee Game Conference showcases the latest trends and technology in game design bringing together industry experts, gaming students, and game enthusiasts alike in a two-day conference.
The 2021 SGC was sponsored by ArtStation, Port City Pub, the SSU Development Foundation, and the SSU Department of Engineering Technologies.
Featured Speakers
George Ziets has been a narrative designer and writer since 2001. He spent the first part of his career on MMOs like Lord of the Rings Online and D&D Online before running off to make more traditional RPGs.
Nick is a current game programmer at GhostJam Games working to release the game Backseat Drivers and has worked on the titles Scrap Age VR, Scrap Age Survivors, and Vail VR.
Marcus Cenci has spent 17 + years in the games industry where he’s worked on multiple projects as an Art Director and Lead Artist including the Saints Row and Madden NFL franchises. He’s currently working at Lost Boys Interactive as the Studio Art Director.
Jessica Manrow is a Graduate Assistant at Western Kentucky University in the Esports program and is a student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral program.
An early interest in architecture led Duane to an undergraduate degree in mathematics, but a course in abstract algebra changed his career path. He began studying combinatorial knot theory and attempted to create a graph-based technique to distinguish knots.
Jess is an esports event host and sideline reporter currently working for the Call of Duty League. Represented by Character Select Agency for the last 5 years, she has hosted for nearly every video game and esport title under the sun - including PUBG, Pokemon, Tetris, Gears of War, Rocket League, and many more!
After earning a Bachelor of Science from Shawnee State University, Jackie Ha searched for a position relating to my degree of study. Jackie continued to study to improve her programming knowledge.
Experienced Advanced/Staff Software Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the mobile software industry. Skilled in full stack, cross platform mobile, and game development. Strong engineering professional with a BS focused in Games & Simulation from Shawnee State University.
Andrew Polanco is an ambitious individual that peruses the unknown to help those that may follow similar paths.
Service above self.
Academic, Civil Servant, Game Developer, and whatever Andrew feel like that today.
Dustin was raised in rural Utah, where his imagination was his most constant companion. A reader, artist, and gamer from an early age, Dustin was encouraged to mine his talents, follow his passions, and find the fun in everyday life. Dustin studied art in college and entered the exciting world of video game development in 1994. His career has taken him and his family from coast to coast, but he always considered the small town he grew up in, Ephraim, Utah, his true home. After spending two decades with AAA publishers like EA, Sony, and Hasbro, Dustin, his wife, and four kids moved back to Ephraim, where he lives today in the shadows of a fine mountain, writes books about video games and dinosaurs, and takes long walks with his dog, Rusty. Dustin is currently working as a game director for Amber Studio, one of the most exciting international games service companies on the planet. Dustin's creative bounds are put to the test daily as he leads the new projects pitch team in over one hundred game concepts a year...and counting. Oh, and he loves the Utah Jazz, but that's another story altogether.
Richard is Managing Director of Hitmarker, the largest video game industry jobs platform in the world.
Exhibitors
Established in the fall of 2018, The Shawnee State Bears - Esports Team is the newest entry of gaming at Shawnee State University. Since then, the Bears have shown to be a force to be reckoned with in Collegiate Esports.
Big Sir Games is a Chicago-based game studio created by 3d artists. We strive to make indie games that have rich character animation and 3d environments.
Cosmo's Quickstop simulates the fast-paced thrill of managing a gas station... IN SPACE! Upgrade services, please alien customers, and complete your chores through minigames that add up to a hilariously frantic experience with solo or couch co-op play!
Akron, OH
Glitchbit LLC. is an Ohio indie game developer of Retro Raccoons arcade.
https://glitchbit.com
Retro Raccoons is a retro styled, patented arcade that entertains 4 players with dozens of unique minigames. Each player has a joystick, button and cupholder. New content and minigames are added periodically to ensure gameplay stays fun and fresh either through WIFI or Ethernet. Retro Raccoons features the patented “Cheers” Mode requiring players to place their drinks in the cup holders to participate, ensuring customers purchase a drink. Additionally, there is a traditional Cash Mode (bill acceptor) which makes it great for family friendly arcade locations. Last, there is a “Cash & Cup” mode that requires cash and drinks to be inserted. Retro Raccoons is manufactured in America featuring quality components. The product is ETL Certified for both Commercial & Home.
Senior Shawnee State students will be showcasing their senior capstone project B.L.A.S.T . This is a project we began in the spring of 2021 with our preproduction class. Students worked through the summer and have been developing the game since then.
BLAST is a PvPvE arena shooter where players must fight hordes of alien invaders while they attempt to escape in their taco truck.
Portsmouth, OH
Join your spooky friends in this frantic couch co-op game to protect your mysterious mansion from an eclectic bunch of baddies. Use your ghostly abilities to haunt the halls as you take control of your treasures and defend your home from intruders.
Portsmouth, OH
One Last Jam is a collection of games that my friend and I created in one-week intervals, based on themes that our professor gave us. We are recreating, and putting a unique spin on the idea of Game Jams! They can be action-packed, unique, stressful, spooky, and more! So if you are interested, download the game!
Portsmouth, OH
Death’s Descent lets you choose whether you’re cleaving through your foes with a battleax or with bolts of lightning. Fight with your choice of weapons and sorcery as you delve into a magical, labyrinthine prison filled with a variety of environments and enemies. Experience a logical extension of a traditional turn-based combat system that is both familiar and fresh as you experience ever-shifting level layouts that change every play.
Cleveland, OH
http://lostguardian.games
Lost Guardian Games is a solo member LLC by a Shawnee State alumni. One game is released and available for free on Itch.io. Perhaps in the future, the company will grow into something more.
Space Log was formed by two Shawnee State Alumni and focuses on making games that both fun and engaging. We believe that games should challenge not just your reflexes but also your mind.
Fort Wayne, IN
Dreams of Fear is a turn-based RPG where you play as a kid who moved to the town of Agora with your dad. Upon moving you find an old photo album and learn of a long-lost brother. Now you must venture through the small town of Agora, the institute of Geloto, the abandoned city of Geats, the desert village of Nosto, and the snowy lab of Golysville learning the power behind family, friends, and memories!
Wheelersburg, OH
Our goal here at Irvin Robotics LLC is to provide a variety of services and products to our consumers. To this end, we offer an overlap of two seemingly distinct fields, robotics, and game development. Our robotics at the moment is still under development, as we gather data and information on what is most useful to our clients. In the meantime, however, we are rapidly developing our available games to have available. In the future, our goal is to integrate the virtual world with the physical, interactive robotics using games is not a new concept, but it's one that often gets overlooked, however, the possibilities are truly limitless.
Independent Developer creating a gaming business from scratch.
Shackled Souls is an indie game that is an intense fight for survival in an evolving environment where every second counts.
Yost House is one of the houses at Shawnee State University. The house inspires companionship and encourages its members to greatness. In Yost House, there is always one more thing to learn. Find us exhibiting electrifying games, artwork, and projects currently in development.
One of the Gaming Houses at Shawnee. We strive to help students learn how to design games from the ground up, how to manage school and life, how to make friends, and to find ways to become the best versions of themselves.
House Lynn encourages students to live up to their potential, promotes teamwork, unity, and provides an environment for students to relax and have fun. Students will be showcasing projects and games they have created.
The Good Game Club! SSU GG aims to give students a fun gaming community where they can play their favorite games and meet new people. GG also sponsors club-level esports teams to compete with other schools.
