Artists, Scientist Team Up on Biology Computer Game

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Two Central Michigan University graphic design students are collaborating with a faculty mentor from the art department and a biology faculty member to develop the characters for a 3-D computer game that will teach 14- to 19-year-old students about principles of biology.

Nobody ever said computer games must be played solely for entertainment purposes, and two Central Michigan University students have taken that to heart.

Senior graphic design majors Aaron Wolverton of Bay City and Brandon Hart of Carson City each received a $3,000 CMU Undergraduate Student Summer Scholars grant to work with art faculty member Larry Burditt and biology faculty member Anna Monfils on the development of a 3-D computer game that will teach 14- to 19-year-old students about principles of biology.

Wolverton and Hart are assisting in the early stages of the project and will be responsible for the development of several of the game’s key characters. Once they have finalized the look and other attributes of their characters, the students will create and animate the characters’ 3-D computer models.

“The character development is critical to the overall success of the project,” said Burditt, who is the faculty mentor to both students. “The characters developed by the students during the summer will be used throughout the three-year duration of the project.”

A 2003 graduate of Bay City Central High School, Wolverton is the son of Jim and Diane Wolverton. Hart, the son of Ken and Jody Hart, is a 2000 graduate of Carson City High School.

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