Enterprising Graduate Develops Life Saving Game
A new road safety app designed by a Southampton Solent University graduate could revolutionise the way educational games are used in schools and help save lives.
Former BA (Hons) Computer and Video Games student, Paul Arnold, has designed a game that teaches primary school children how to safely cross the road.
After graduating in 2006, he set up Lapin Logic Ltd with other Solent graduates to develop educational games for 7-11 year olds.
Following successful trials by the States of Jersey Police and two primary schools the 3D road safety app could be rolled out across the UK and Europe .
Paul, who came up with the idea while working for the police says: “We are trying to make educational games that are as fun and challenging as the mainstream ones.”
The game is set on an island and has purposefully been made cartoon-like, without being too abstract.
“The children need to be able to identify with the game and see the similarities between the make-believe and real world,” says Paul.
Using the teaching method kerb-Craft the player is cast as either a boy or girl and starts the game outside the front door of the players’ home. They are tasked by their parents to run an errand to a nearby shop to buy some something and cross the road.
Before it can be distributed Paul needs to raise an additional £160,000. Once the finance is in place, the game will be available on PC, Tablet or Smart Phone.
The team also plan to create spin-off games to test children’s cycling proficiency and fire safety.
Paul and his team will be presenting at ‘The South’s Indie Games Development Conference’ on 19 November, a collaborative event between Southampton Solent University, University of Portsmouth and Bournemouth University. Aimed at providing information, advice and inspiration for those in the games industry looking to set up their own business or work as a freelancer, the conference will also launch ‘South’s Indie Games Network’ - a collaborative network for games developers in the South of England.
For more information about the conference contact solent.enterprise@solent.ac.uk or book your place here.
The island is entirely fictitious and not based on any real world location. The town situated on the island will be reminiscent of a small town situated in the UK. It will consist of shops, a church, a school, a hospital, a bank, an arcade and a car park. There will also be telephone boxes, dustbins, street lights, traffic lights, a pedestrian crossings and benches.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9642 or email press.office@solent.ac.uk
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The University was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students. Solent Business School has been awarded the Small Business Charter Award, which is supported by the Association of Business Schools and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and ‘gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
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