University of Advancing Technology Professor Wins Games of 2020 Contest

TEMPE, AZ--(Marketwire - March 12, 2009) - UAT Professor David Wessman's entry was selected as one of 20 winners in a contest sponsored by Gamasutra, GameCareerGuide, GameSetWatch and Mountain Dew's Green Label Gaming. The competition was to imagine what the most cutting-edge games of 2020 would be. The prize is an All-Access Pass to GDC 2009.

His concept, titled "MyBots," utilized technology with a convergence of miniaturization, robotics, VR interfaces, and wireless connectivity to reflect what a game designer would do with networked super-advanced RC toys.

MyBots, mini-, micro- and nano-scale tele-operated robots, may be controlled through any gaming platform with wireless connectivity, (mobile devices, handheld game consoles, home consoles, laptops, desktops and wearable PCs.) MyBots were designed and scaled to fit the needs of a wide variety of games -- any game where the player controls one or more avatars or units.

The control interface is scalable to take advantage of whatever input devices the player can afford: from mouse and keyboard, gamepad, and touchscreen to VR glove and glasses to voice control and brain wave interfaces two or three generations more advanced than Emotiv.

Wessman provided three example game ideas based on this technology: Bug Hunt (fight insects using an insect-sized "battlemech," Super Immunity (attack harmful bacteria and cancer cells using a micrometer-sized "submarine," and "Any Existing Tabletop Miniatures Game" brought to life with fully animated, semi-autonomous figures.

For a list of all the winners and their submissions, go to: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3957/games_of_2020__the_winners.php

About UAT: The University of Advancing Technology is a unique, private college that serves its student body by fostering knowledge creation and academic excellence in an environment that embraces the young technophiles of the world. With three centers of research and a suite of technology-centered undergraduate and graduate degrees, the University is a recognized leader in technology education.

For more information please visit: www.uat.edu

Contact Information: CONTACT: Robert Marshall UAT/Media Relations pressrelease@uat.edu