IVE IT students shine in mobile game and animation design competitions
Year one students of the IVE Higher Diploma in Software Engineering programme Sebastian IP and TAM Wing-shan formed the team ‘Pupil’ and developed the mobile game ‘ImComplete’, that won them the first runner-up in the Games category at the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2016 Hong Kong Final co-organised by Microsoft Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.
The two IVE students spent four months creating the mystery buster game in which the two characters, Ruber and Nirvelli, represent Idea and Faith. Players need to steer Idea and Faith to collaborate and solve problems in order to progress through the game. A unique factor requires players to flip their smartphone to switch character perspective. Other game play sees participants traverse five challenging emotional levels including anger, joy, fear, sadness and excitement.
Sebastian attributed the commendation of judges to the deeper meaning behind their work, which reflects the perceptions of young people. He added, “Idea and Faith are interdependent. Both are needed in the realisation of a dream. While these may often seem out of reach, it is hoped that through the game people will understand that they should always pursue their ambitions.” The two students were awarded HK$10,000 and were further delighted when a company expressed its interest to develop and launch the game commercially.
Microsoft Imagine Cup 2016 Hong Kong Final drew 50 teams with 150 students from nine tertiary institutes including Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The competition comprised three categories: ‘World citizenship’, ‘Games’ and “Innovation’. Four teams from each category were shortlisted in the Final and required to introduce or demonstrate their brainchild to the judges.
Meanwhile the animation produced by graduates of Higher Diploma in Multimedia programme of IVE (Lee Wai Lee) at the invitation of Hong Kong Heritage Museum earlier for the ‘Dunhuang – Untold Tales, Untold Riches’ exhibition was awarded a prize in the E-commerce and Tourism category of WSA China and Hong Kong 2015.
The students produced an animation and e-book app presenting two Dunhuang drawings – some of the greatest Buddhist art of the 4th to the 14th centuries – in a dynamic and vivid way with unique music to enhance understanding of the stories and promote Chinese culture. They successfully re-presented the traditional Buddhist stories in the form of animation, overcoming a raft of technical and interpretive challenges.
One student said when they were developing the animation, the perspective of the viewers took priority. For instance, the scene of Buddha cutting its own flesh to feed eagles was quite bloody and so a more low-key method of presentation was chosen. He said, “The experience was valuable, although the production process was complicated. Riding on what we learnt in the classroom using post-production technologies, presenting the work to the audience was hugely satisfying.”
Microsoft Imagine Cup 2016 Hong Kong Final
In its 14th year, the Imagine Cup is a global student technology programme and competition organised by Microsoft that provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity, passion and technological knowledge to create applications, games and integrated solutions that can change the way we live, work and play. The three champion teams in each category are nominated for the World Semi-Finals online to compete for the chance to attend the World Finals in Seattle in July 2016.
World Summit Award (WSA) China and Hong Kong 2015
The biennial WSA China and Hong Kong 2015 is the highest award in the global internet sector and has the objective of selecting outstanding electronic products and solutions that bridge the divide between information technology and daily lives of citizens.
Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education（IVE）
The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) is a member of the VTC Group. The nine IVE campuses are located across the territory. Together they provide vocational education for secondary graduates as well as people in employment. IVE courses leading to the award of higher diploma and Diploma of Foundation Studies cover various academic disciplines including Applied Science; Business Administration; Childcare, Elderly and Community Services; Design; Information Technology; Engineering; as well as Hotel, Service and Tourism Studies.
Website: www.ive.edu.hk
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