Cranbrook Triumphs in National STEM Video Game Challenge

In an exciting achievement for the School, a team of four Year 10 students from the co-curricular IST (Information and Software Technology) Club have claimed the top prize in the prestigious Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. Competing against students nationwide, the team’s innovative space-based golf game, Swingularity, impressed the judges with its creative gameplay, technical excellence, stunning visuals, and immersive soundtrack.

The game was the product of a development team featuring Hudson Woolford and Ted Boss leading the coding efforts, designing gameplay mechanics, and refining the player experience. Their work was brilliantly complemented by Mickey Chen, who created the game’s striking space-themed graphics, and Kevin Chu, whose atmospheric soundtrack added depth and excitement to the game.

Swingularity offers players a unique challenge: guiding their golf ball through the gravitational forces of planets and stars in deep space. This creative fusion of science and gaming made the project stand out, blending complex physics with the fun and strategy of golf in a futuristic setting.

The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge encourages students to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills through game design, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. The team’s success demonstrates not only their individual talents but also the importance of teamwork and perseverance.

Congratulations to Hudson, Ted, Mickey, and Kevin for their outstanding achievement! Their success is a shining example of what can be accomplished through passion, creativity, and collaboration in the fields of technology and the arts.

As winners, the team have been invited to the gaming showcase event PAX in Melbourne where they will get the chance to present Swingularity to the world. Stay tuned for the release of the game on Steam in the coming weeks!

Ross Fryer
Technology and Applied Studies Teacher