Being serious about gaming may seem like oxymoron, but to computer science major Anthony McCulley, video games are a serious commitment.

He takes his aspiration to create innovative games so seriously that he created a new club, the Student Association for Video Game Awareness, Research, and Development, which now has 39 official members.

McCulley, a 31-year-old junior who he aspires to break into the gaming industry, said he wanted to find support at the university – especially after he created a video game during the summer.

“I wanted to surround myself with people who shared my interest,” said McCulley. “My goal is to make it my passion outside of courseware.”

His mission is to lead the club to at least a top-three spot in a national tournament for student groups and independent developers. The awards, which will be doled out in 2009, include millions of dollars in prizes.

McCulley researches the gaming industry on a daily basis by watching podcasts to keep up on new developments in the industry. His goal is to establish the program at the university as a legitimate club, which could bring more backing from the university for research lab that would serve as a central location where club members can work on their designs.

“Some people know actors, directors and movie titles,” he said. “I know developers, programmers and video game titles.”

McCulley said he wants to establish the group as an academic program and hopes it will eventually be at least a certificate program. He said he wants the program to leave a legacy at the university.

“Our goal is to create something that students are proud of. Even if it doesn’t win, we will be able to play it on the Internet and have something to show for it,” he said.

After the game aspect has been established, McCulley said he wants to develop a research and awareness side of the group that would entail bringing industry leaders, local representatives and parents to the campus to speak.

McCulley said that negative stereotypes of the industry “irk” him, and he hopes that the debates would “shed a positive light on the industry.”

The club has been meeting weekly for preliminary planning. McCulley said he wants to keep the new game “under wraps,” but he did reveal that it was a combination of two genres. Until then, the university community will be playing the same old games.

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