Later today, I will be giving an informal talk and Q&A session for Spartasoft, the computer game development group at Michigan State University.

This will be the second time I have spoken with students at Spartasoft, and this time I have been asked to use the development of Pretty Good MahJongg 2.0 as the basis for discussion. Two years ago, I spoke generally about my long career in the game industry, rambling on for quite a while. Nobody actually walked out, so I will take that as a positive review.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that I spoke to Wolverine Soft, the game development group at the University of Michigan, about the game industry. This talk was immediately prior to the meeting of the Southern Michigan Chapter of the IGDA (International Game Developers Association), and the meeting report described the talk as “extremely interesting”.

In 2003, Spartasoft had two finalists in the Student Showcase at the Independent Games Festival, out of only ten selected. At least a few of the Spartasoft members at the time have now gone on to careers in the retail game industry. During the IGDA meeting this month, the Wolverine Soft demonstrations were impressive, and at least one has been submitted for 2005 IGF consideration. Suffice it to say that there is a great deal of game development talent right here in Michigan.