The Department of Information Media exhibited at the Game Academy corner of the "Tokyo Game Show 2024"

The Department of Information Media exhibited at the Game Academy corner of the "Tokyo Game Show 2024" held at Makuhari Messe from Sep. 26th to 29th, 2024. The student game “Dombura Korokoro”, “Suima Taisan”, and “Sankoro Bingo”, which combine handmade devices, were exhibited, and people of all ages and nationalities enjoyed the game over the four days.

A major purpose of the University's participation in the Tokyo Game Show is to make the achievements of our students widely known. In particular, the “Suima Taisan” which includes opening and closing doors, was well received by visitors from overseas, many of whom tried it out or took videos of themselves doing so. It was also featured in articles in the gaming media “Nikkei Cross Trend” and “Game Makers”. Nikkei Cross Trend

Game Makers

The games at KAIT attract attention each year for their unique appearance and content and are characterized by “controllers that have never been seen before” and “physicality” of body movement. Students will plan and create a game by considering the controller with a focus on “which body parts to move”. In addition, they designed the game for many people to enjoy at the Tokyo Game Show, and each game is designed to be finished in about 1-2 minutes. The students also created the informational displays that is posted in the booths to convey the contents of the game.

Messages from Student Game Production Members' Comments

DONBURAKOROKORO Production members

“This is a game in which you race with a water ball.　 The player controls the water ball, the original controller, displayed on the monitor by turning and tilting the water ball made of transparent spheres.  We designed three stages for different levels of difficulty so that anyone can easily play.　 We wanted this game to incorporate hand motions like throwing ninja stars, which led to the motion of turning the sphere as a controller, and from there we moved on designing the contents of the game.”

“Suima Taisan” Production Member

“This is a game in which you fight off the sleepiness that comes to the room where you are studying by opening and closing the door and window controllers. As the stage goes up, the number of sleepiness increases rapidly on the two monitors on the sides. First, we thought, “Can't the device itself be the controller? That led to the action of moving the doors and windows. The hardest part was the durability of the windows and doors. We had spare windows and goth through the Tokyo Game Show.”

“Sankoro Bingo”　Production Member

“This is a game for two players to play against each other. The player makes a formula with a dice-type controller and uses the answer to get the number on the bingo board on the screen. Whoever makes the bingo first wins. There are three dice-type controllers. By placing a dice with “+, -, ×, ÷” between two numbered dice, the answer is automatically reflected on the bingo board. The game incorporates three aspects: “brain training” to perform calculations and think of strategies, “finger exercises” to move the dice, and “communication” with opponents and others around the player.”

Game Production at the Department of Information Media, KAIT

Game education at the university consists of four subjects: theory, design, 3DCG graphics, and programming, which brings them all together; and students learn each subject through lectures and practice. In addition to this process, there is “Game Creator Training,” in which students work on everything from game design to programming for about a year and a half from the beginning of their second year until the Tokyo Game Show in the fall of their third year. The students are preparing to unveil a game that will create a buzz at next year's Tokyo Game Show.