For many, playing video games during childhood sparks a lifelong passion for interactive storytelling and design. At UTA Libraries, this passion is nurtured through The Basement—a dynamic space dedicated to recreational and educational gaming pursuits. 

Britt LaRiviere, a FabLab Technician at UTA Libraries, emphasizes the nature of The Basement's multiple offerings.  

"We are well known as a recreational gaming space but offer an educational side too. Last semester, we had six workshops, which taught us things like creating 3D environments or animating a character in the Unreal game design engine," LaRiviere said. "We also have different teams in The Basement, with the game development team being one of them. Last semester, they created a piece of a video game called 'Magic Mavs.'" 

LaRiviere stated that Libraries staff members share their knowledge about game design with team members, who then use that knowledge to teach other students in video game design workshops. 

Magic Mavs 

Magic Mavs is similar to Pokémon Go with its style of play and feel. Players move their characters around the UTA campus in the game and battle each horse statue to collect mascots. The game also helps people outside the virtual realm familiarize themselves with the campus and its landmarks. 

The development of 'Magic Mavs' was a collaborative effort, with team members undertaking various aspects of the game's creation. One notable task involved the virtual reconstruction of the Library Mall, allowing gamers to explore this central campus area digitally. 

In November, 'Magic Mavs' was showcased at the Association of Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries (ACTAL) conference at UTA's Central Library. The game garnered significant interest from attendees, many of whom were inspired to initiate similar projects within their institutions.  

Reflecting on this achievement, LaRiviere said, "It was a proud moment to showcase the team's hard work on 'Magic Mavs' at the ACTAL conference." 

New Project 

Building on this momentum, a new game development team has formed for the spring semester. The team is currently brainstorming ideas for a horror-themed game and deliberating on the appropriate game design engine to utilize. 

The Basement offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for those interested in game design or participating in upcoming workshops. To stay informed about future events, visit The Basement's Discord channel. 

Through initiatives like these, UTA Libraries' The Basement continues transforming gaming passions into tangible skills, fostering a community of innovative creators ready to make their mark in game design.