Devil’s Tuning Fork (DTF), a computer game created by students in DePaul University’s Computer Game Development program, has been named a finalist in the Independent Games Festival’s (IGF) international competition for university and trade school students. The innovative 3D game, based on echolocation or the sound signals used for navigation by dolphins and bats, showcases DePaul’s multidisciplinary approach to game development, with a winning mix of solid design, visuals and interesting game play.

(Update: To view a YouTube interview with four members of the student team, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG1w6XEgGYg)

DePaul’s entry was created by 15 students in the school’s Computer Game Development Program. Ten finalists were selected from 190 entries from game science programs all over the world.

DePaul currently has 205 undergraduates and 25 graduates enrolled in its game program, and offers both programming and production and design tracks. The school is known for having a high percentage of faculty that are either former or actual game industry professionals.

"Devil’s Tuning Fork’s achievement makes us very proud of both our faculty members and students," David Miller, Dean, College of Computing and Digital Media, said. "The game is creative and really fun to play. We knew it was special when we saw the final product, but the degree of positive attention the game has garnered caught us all by surprise."

The student team. called the DePaul Game Elites, began development in June and finished DTF in just five months.

"Typically, a game like this can take anywhere from 12 to 36 months in a professional studio," said Alex Seropian, lead faculty advisor for the DePaul team. "That these students went from a vague concept to finished product in just five months, working over the summer, is a sign of their skill and a tribute to their commitment."

The grand prize for student games will be awarded at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco March 11.

Devil’s Tuning Fork can be downloaded for free at DevilsTuningFork.com.

About DePaul’s Game Development Program

DePaul’s Game Development Program, founded in 2004, emphasizes a team-based multidisciplinary approach to game development that includes game production and design, game programming and animation. Students are housed within DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media, and therefore able to use elective courses to explore a variety of interests, including computer graphics, digital cinema, interactive media, computer science and animation. To learn more about DePaul’s Game Development program, visit gamedev.depaul.edu/.

Media Contact: Luis Levy, account executive, The Bohle Co.: (310) 785-0515, ext. 204.