Ryan Bitzegaio
Senior, Telecommunications
Graphics Team
"At first, I was a bit reluctant to join the Nature at Play seminar, but I was eventually convinced that it would be a unique and worthwhile experience. I've enjoyed the chance to work through the creative process of designing a video game as part of a team. The opportunity has really prepared me for a successful life in the working world."

Megan Caylor
Junior, Zoology, Creative Writing minor
Storyline Developer,
Education-Ecosystem Team
"I was intrigued with the idea of combining both my major and minor to create a video game. This seminar has helped me more thoroughly understand what intense work is put into creating video games-and with pride I can tell my family and friends the epic stories from our accomplishments at the VBC (Virginia Ball Center)."

Elizabeth Clay,
Senior, Biology, Ecology Option with
Zoology and Wildlife Biology Concentrations
Ecosystem-Education Team
"The Nature at Play seminar gave me an immersive learning experience and helped me learn more about creating a video game. During the semester I've learned that different disciplines view things very differently and that successful collaboration of a project from an interdisciplinary team is much more challenging than one might think."

Alex Corn
Sophomore, Computer Science
Tech Team
"I joined the seminar to gain experience programming and designing software. I've learned that biology and ecosystems are much more complex than they appear, as well as more interesting than I previously thought."

Chaz Estell
Senior, Computer Science
Tech Team
"I enjoy gaming and wanted to be part of a team creating actual, real-world software and games; Nature at Play enabled me to participate. I've participated in group work, with other computer science majors and students from a variety of disciplines. I helped create the initial game designs, as well as worked on many of the programming and technical aspects of the project."

Francesca Hernandez
Junior, Landscape Architecture
Graphics Team
"The Nature at Play seminar challenged me to think beyond the confines of the Landscape Architecture studio. My academic and personal interest in sustainable technology and design has been engaged in the seminar, and I've enjoyed taking on a leadership role. I'll never be able to look at games in the same light again."

Ashley Keith
Sophomore, Computer Science
Tech Team
"I joined the seminar in order to gain experience in computer programming within the immersive learning environment of the Virginia Ball Center. I came to realize, however, that collaborating with people from different disciplines and learning to depend on each other have been the bigger lessons this semester."

Christopher Patten
Senior, Landscape Architecture
Graphics Team
"My experience at the Virginia B. Ball Center has been a pleasant shift of focus from landscape architecture. It's nice to know that not everyone thinks in terms of plan, section, and elevation. Looking beyond the drafting table has been a very good thing."

Nicole Randolph
Junior, English Education
Ecosystem-Education Team
"The seminar enabled me to put some of my educational knowledge into action. Over the course of the semester I've learned that teamwork is hard, video games are incredible, and coffee isn't really a substitute for sleep. The biggest lesson I'll walk away with is that amazing things can happen when everyone on a team is committed and excited about a project."

Nadia Roumie
Senior, Wildlife Biology
Ecosystem-Education Team
"One of the most important things I learned during the seminar is how to work well in a group and what can be accomplished in a group of motivated individuals. I'm so glad I decided to participate in the seminar because of the sheer importance of an educational video game on Indiana ecosystems; it's an experience I'll never forget."

Adam Voirin
Senior, Landscape Architecture, with Digital Publishing Minor
Documentation
"I joined the seminar late and have not looked back since. It was my job to document the process of designing and building a video game, and then assemble the resulting footage into a documentary of the seminar's process. I also helped design and construct our showcase presentation."

Kelly Woodward
Senior, Landscape Architecture
Graphics Team
"Designing a video game to teach elementary age children the value and fragility of ecosystems is what atttracted me to Nature at Play. Over the course of the semester I've learned the challenge and value of workings as a team."