Carnegie Mellon Develops Exhibit for New Spaceship Earth Post-Show

[Figment!]

ETC Students Create Video Games for Disney Theme Park

By Michael M. Whiston
The Tartan
3/27/2007

Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) has teamed up with Walt Disney Parks and electronics company Siemens this semester to create a collection of arcade games called Project Spaceship Earth for Disney's Epcot Center.

According to the Siemens website, this project is part of a 12-year alliance between Siemens and Disney. Siemens is a technology company devoted to creating a wide range of products, including communications, transportation, and power technologies. Siemens has agreed to sponsor a post-show attraction for Spaceship Earth at Disney's Epcot Center.

The Entertainment Technology Center's website stated, "The games offer a fun and exciting look at how Siemens technologies make our lives better."

In particular, this attraction will take the form of several exhibits that relate to health care, transportation, and energy. It will occupy 9000 square feet.

ETC master's student DaeHong Kim said that Siemens recruited students from the ETC in Silicon Valley to create web-based games designed to teach gamers about Siemens. According to Kim, the games are intended for individuals between the ages of 10 and 14.

"It's more like an educational, casual game," DaeHong said. He said that gamers are expected to play less than half an hour to get an idea of what Siemens is all about.

Master's student Jake Rheinfrank, who works as an artist on Project Spaceship Earth, said that the biggest perk about working in Silicon Valley is being near Electronic Arts.

"We can see all of their concept art," Rheinfrank said. "We can hear Simpsons dialogue down the hallway."

Kim said that working on a project in Silicon Valley is different from working on a project in Pittsburgh.

"First of all, there's a lot of companies in Silicon Valley," Kim said. "It's really easy to network with people."

While it is possible to work on a long-distance project from Pittsburgh, Kim said, "It's better to talk face-to-face."

"ETC is extending the campus," Kim said. "We were sort of born here for ETC West."

Kim said that his team works closely with Disney producers and game developers on their ideas. "We learn a lot from their feedback," he said.

In addition to having regular meetings with a game designer, Rheinfrank said that the team has also been involved in the brainstorming sessions for the project.

Rheinfrank said, "We came up with what we're working on.... We were given complete creative freedom."

Kim said that his team members — two artists, two programmers, one sound specialist, two game designers, and one producer — work closely as well.

"They're really, really talented, and we learn from them," Kim said.

As the sound specialist, Kim said that he makes music and sound effects for the game.

In particular, he uses a synthesizer, bass guitar, electric guitar, and virtual instrument to create the appropriate sounds. Kim said, "I have to think [in] a new way, a different way to make music — how could this music be interactive, how could this sound be interactive?"

It is also Rheinfrank's first time working on a game.

"This is the first interactive project that I've been able to work on long term," said Rheinfrank.

Rheinfrank, who has a background in film, said that the principles of filmmaking are similar to those of game creation. In particular, he said that it is important to consider what the audience gains from the experience.

"What do you want to show them ... to take away," Rheinfrank said. "That's pretty much the same from video games to film."

Despite having never made music for a game before, Kim said that it is not difficult to bring it all together. He said, "It's quite fun and quite easy."

[kakn7294]

This is really great! I've seen firsthand some of the things the students at the main campus in Pittsburgh have accomplished and they are awesome! They have built some really wonderful robots for medical and aerospace use as well as for entertainment purposes in robot wars. I'm sure whatever the kids in Silicone Valley come up with will be incredible too and Spaceship Earth could use a little boost like this. I love the ride but to have hands-on technology to connect it will be great!

[JPL]

It's great to see the post area if finally getting the attention it deserves. It was really "Bad show" on Disney's part having those construction walls up for that long. I am really looking forward to see what they have in that area.

[Mufasa]

Carnegie Mellon's ETC has had some history for a while with Imagineering (several of the faculty members at the ETC- Randy Pausch and Jesse Schell for example were previously involved with Imagineering R&D and the VR Studio).

The Panda3D game engine is an open-source project developed at WDI and now maintained for the open-source community by Carnegie Mellon's ETC (used for the development of things like Toontown Online and the upcoming Pirates multiplayer online game)

What's new with the ETC is their Silicon Valley campus and there's an agreement between the ETC and Imagineering for summer internships with WDI's R&D group as well as opportunities for field research for students in the program.

The ETC is a 2 year graduate level program- offering masters degrees in "Entertainment Technology" and is quite unique and very specialized but certainly a good way to get into the industry.

[Crow]

yah something happening at SE

[mudpuppysmom]

I'll second what Kathy said about the CMU students imagination!!! They really do come up with SOME stuff!!! Glad they'll be involved at SE, so I can tell DS that "kids" from home helped develop "this".

[hoop de do]

I agree with my fellow PA INTERCOTEES, I think we all will be pleased. Can't wait to see it.

[Jeany031]

It's great to see the post area if finally getting the attention it deserves. It was really "Bad show" on Disney's part having those construction walls up for that long. I am really looking forward to see what they have in that area.

That's a great idea and i love it.