2017 Ringling College Game Art Alum Wins First at E3

Sarasota, June 16, 2017 -- Ringling College graduate Trent Sivek (Game Art, ’17) has been announced as this year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) College Game Competition winner. He exhibited his game, Phonetica, at the E3 showroom this past week, June 13-15, in Los Angeles.

Artwork from Sivek's game, Phonetica. Trent Sivek (Game Art, '17) with his award at E3.

Sivek’s game Phonetica, a playable game with stunning artwork, was selected in early May as one of five finalists chosen from over 400 colleges and universities.

Sivek created Phonetica as a Ringling College Game Art senior thesis project rendered in real time using Unreal Engine 4. It is an interactive game in which the players make their way through a musical palace. Sivek dives into the planning, production, and details of his game in an article he contributed to 80 level earlier this month.

This marks the first time in the history of the Ringling College Game Art program that a student or graduate’s work has been selected for the E3 College Game Competition. On top of that, Sivek concepted, created, and programmed his game by himself, competing against and defeating games in the competition that were created by teams of many students. Of his win, Sivek says, "I am honored to have been able to showcase my project on such a public stage and am humbled by its warm reception."

Founder and head of the Ringling College Game Art major Jim McCampbell states: “This is the Game Art major’s finest moment. Game Art faculty have worked relentlessly to develop and refine a curriculum that would enable artists to make beautiful, playable games. That structure, combined with great teaching and the superior work ethic that students like Trent possess, are allowing us to create a new generation of super-artists. Congratulations to all of the Game Art faculty, students, and staff in making this a reality.”

In the first round of the competition, the judging panel selects five entrants based on the following criteria:

• Originality
• Creativity
• Technical proficiency

To advance to the next round, a finalist must be accompanied to the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, where the judges review once more based on the above criteria. The entrant with the highest score wins. 

According to the E3 Expo website, “E3 is the world's premier event for computer, video and mobile games and related products. At E3, the video game industry's top talent pack the Los Angeles Convention Center, connecting tens of thousands of the best, brightest, and most innovative in the interactive entertainment industry.” The E3 College Game Competition, sponsored by Entertainment Software Association (ESA), “identifies top game development talent from US academic institutions.”

Image from Sivek’s game, Phonetica.

About Ringling College of Art and Design
For 85 years, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit fully accredited college offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ten disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two. The College's rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive, first-year program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and designers. www.ringling.edu

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Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1340dba-0e0b-4395-8bfa-6e8d94cb26eb

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8edf116-07fb-4284-93a0-8ee4efa76560

Stephanie Lederer
Ringling College of Art and Design
9413094110
[email protected]