Fwd: [deri.ie-all] ŒCoding Computer Games ­ Past, Present & the Future¹ , Sat Mar 2

[Jodi Schneider]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Brendan Smith <bspe...@eircom.net>

Date: 24 February 2013 17:29:28 CST

Subject: [deri.ie-all] ŒCoding Computer Games ­ Past, Present & the Future¹ , Sat Mar 2

Young Computer Coders to Showcase Game Creations at NUIG ‘Digital Games Extravaganza’

As part of National Engineers Week, ‘Coderdojo Galway’, the ‘Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland’ and the ‘Digital Enterprise Research Institute’ (DERI) at NUI Galway are collaborating to host an exciting computer games event entitled  ‘Coding Computer Games – Past, Present & the Future’ at 12.00-2.00pm on Saturday March 2nd, in the Digital Enterprise Research Institute, IDA/NUIG Business Park Dangan.

At a time when Ireland is securing a reputation as a global development hub for online interactive gaming and providing much needed quality home-based technology careers for our young people, this event should interest teachers, students, parents and children alike.

Galway-based software developers such as ‘Tribal City’ and ‘Starcave Entertainment’ will demonstrate some of their latest web-based games whilst children from the local Coderdojo club will introduce visitors to the coding behind their own games. In combination with a wonderful selection of classic games such as Asteroids, Pacman, Sonic and Pong played on legendary vintage consoles and computers such as Atari, Amiga and Sinclair ZX81, the event promises to be a technology experience full of youthful creativity, fun and excitement.

Furthermore, the world's first popular computer chess unit will be on display at the computer museum at the Games Extravaganza. Known as the ‘Fidelity Chess Challenger’, it was the first chess electronic unit available to the public. Based on a Z80 8-bit micro-processor, it started production in 1977 with its most popular model, the Fidelity Chess Challenger 7, selling over 600,000 units. Its inventor Sidney Samole got the idea for computer chess after watching an episode of Star Trek.