an indie game , since you have to wear a lot of hats .” Oliver taught herself how to code , and went from making websites to coding applications over a five-year period . Now she ’ s a web developer for Nintendo , working on an application to help the company manage its internal resources during the game building and localization process . While she didn ’ t intentionally seek a career at a game company , she says working at one does have its perks . “ I imagine the reason people like working on games is similar to why I wanted to go into art — you want to create a world ,” she says . “ You feel connected to that and want to share that feeling with other people .” Oliver and Ferbrache are now creating a world together — engaged to be married this summer . It ’ s just one of the many ways modern gaming brings people together : in person or virtually , in a campus dorm or out in the world , as a hobby or with a career in sight ; esports are not only changing the games we play , but the way we play the game .
Are you in the gaming industry ? Let us know at tritonmag @ ucsd . edu
GET YOURSELF IN THE GAME
Plug in with fellow Triton gamers and play alumni and current students ! Join the group on Discord : discord . gg / tritongaming
_ DAVID SILVERMAN
Vice President of Product Marketing , Big Fish Games
COLLEGE : Marshall ’ 02 MAJOR : Cog Sci
SPECIAL SKILL :
Acting ! My dad gave me one rule at UCSD : take an acting class . I became a theatre minor and now use it every day of my career in presentations , interviews , hosting ... if you ’ re reading this , take an acting class . You won ’ t regret it .
_ RACHELLE DAVIS
Senior Software Engineer , Blizzard Entertainment
COLLEGE : Muir ’ 10 MAJOR : Math / Vis Arts
SPECIAL SKILL :
Communication and collaboration ! Between CSE tutoring and Muir Musical , I learned to be a team player . This industry is extremely collaborative and interdisciplinary — I use these skills every single day .
_ ABBY SHERLOCK
Community Coordinator , Tespa
COLLEGE : Marshall ’ 19 MAJOR : Theatre / Comm
SPECIAL SKILL :
UCSD made me realize the power of embracing your inner geek — being passionate about what sets your soul on fire .
THE NEW PONG
BY ALICIA CLARKE
NO , WE ’ RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OLD-SCHOOL ATARI . PoNG on campus stands for the Power of Neurogaming Center , an interdisciplinary initiative at the Qualcomm Institute that combines cognitive science , neuroscience , the digital arts and engineering in order to create a learning ecosystem around video games and sensor technology .
PoNG ’ s first project is aimed at autism intervention . Center director Leanne Chukoskie teamed with autism researcher Jeanne Townsend to create games that improve
attention and gaze control and mitigate other behaviors associated with autism . The novel element behind these games ? They are gaze-driven , which means that they are played with the eyes — not a mouse or a touchscreen .
“ Dr . Mole and Mr . Hide is one of our favorites ,” says Chukoskie , an expert in eye-tracking technology . “ Little moles pop out of holes and you have to look at them to knock them back down . Some you want to hit , and some you don ’ t . This promotes fast and accurate eye movement and builds inhibitory control .”
These games are not only played by individuals with autism — they are developed and programmed by them as well . Chukoskie ’ s team includes adults functioning on the spectrum , who contribute their unique skills and in turn develop professional experience to take to the workforce .
Chukoskie and Townsend have since co-founded BrainLeap Technologies , a start-up housed in the Qualcomm Institute Innovation Space , just a short walk from the PoNG lab . “ We want to make the games available to families , and eventually schools , to do the most good for the most people .” says Chukoskie . “ Starting a company wasn ’ t in mind initially , but it became clear that ’ s what we needed to do .”
Learn more at tritonmag . com / pong
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