First Video Game Design Competition Aptly Themed ‘Awakening the Sleeping Giant​’

Michael Candelaria February 3, 2026
Dengke Chen, MFA, associate professor of Digital Arts, unveiled the winners on Jan. 30 during the Student Game Design Competition 2026 Public Screening.

The Creative Arts Department and the Video Game Development Club  — a student club at Stetson — recently co-hosted the first Video Game Design Competition. The theme was Awakening the Sleeping Giant​. Electronic Arts (EA) Sports sponsored the event, which included a professional jury of Daryl Holt, EA’s senior vice president; Dengke Chen, associate professor of Digital Arts; A.J. Scarlato, assistant professor of Practice, Computer Science; and Daniel Wong, vice president of the Video Game Development Club.

The competition, to become annual, provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase their interactive play systems and designs, according to Chen.

“We grant students the opportunity to meet and interact with programmers and artists, and to recognize and reward outstanding game design projects,” commented Chen, a specialist in 3D animation and digital video.

Senior Ian Wu

On Jan. 30, at the Student Game Design Competition 2026 Public Screening, first place was awarded to FrankenShop by Ian Wu, who was recognized for the best integration of gameplay elements.

“It’s a Halloween-themed game,” said Wu, a senior Computer Science major with a Digital Arts minor. “Video game design has always been my passion, and it would be fantastic to be able to work with a company like Electronic Arts.”

Wu, along with the other award winners, now receive a free 30-minute portfolio review with an industry professional from EA. Winners may bring a minimum of five of their best works and have a discussion with EA professionals about their current skill development and career planning. In addition, winners received one current EA game of their choice to download.

Awards were presented to both individual projects and team projects. (See below.)

“The competition fits into Stetson’s Hatter Ready program, which offers immersive learning experiences for all students, preparing them for career success,” Chen cited. “Hatter Ready allows students to acquire practical skills that potential employers like EA Sports highly value. We also collaborate with EA Sports and FIEA [Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy at the University of Central Florida] on a summer research opportunity for Stetson students to gain hands-on experiences.”

Notably, as a digital artist, Chen created animations to describe a balanced approach to integrating environmental, economic, sociological and aesthetic dimensions of landscape through strategic research and design. He holds an MFA in new media from the Penn State University and a BFA in animation from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts.

This first year of the competition drew 20 entries from Stetson students, who submitted YouTube videos of the playthrough of their game. Students were given two weeks to create their game. See the Student Game Design Competition 2025-Public Screening Event Playlist.

The next Video Game Design Competition is set for fall 2026 and is open to all Stetson students. They will have one week to create a game. Students can register in one of two divisions: individual or three-person team. The submitted works will be judged by a panel of Stetson faculty members and senior Digital Arts and Computer Science students.

To help cover the costs of creating their video game, students can apply for a LaValle Experiential Learning Fund award, available to undergraduates pursuing majors or minors in Creative Arts (Digital Arts, Studio Art, Art History and Theatre Arts).

The Winners

  • First Place: FrankenShop by Ian Wu (integration of gameplay elements)
  • Second Place: Hot Potato by Maxwell Gould (integration of gameplay elements)
  • Third Place: Erdenfall by Thomas Lamoureux and Bridget Wexler (integration of gameplay elements)
  • Best Visual Design Award: Nowhere Inn by Raelan Chisolm (graphic and design elements)
  • Best Technical Achievement Award: Eerie Sudoku by Hanjoline Julceus (sophisticated technical implementation)
  • Best Narrative Award: Jacquelyn and the Giants by Elizabeth Jordan Duffy (strongest storytelling, narrative structure, compelling game world)
  • Best 3D Modeling Award: WTH is that?! by Grace Wold (excellence in modeling quality, topology, detail, production readiness)
  • Rising Talent Award: Giant Rat by Arnold Shakirov (exceptional promise, growth, potential)

–Renee Garrison