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Game design students will demo their capstone video game projects at the Trades District Block Party from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 7. These students will also attend IU’s First Thursday event from 4-7 p.m. Nov.6, which will take place in several locations on campus.

Capstone projects provide students with real-world experience in game development through teamwork and feedback from a live audience. Demos help students prepare for the industry which relies heavily on user feedback.

Molly Pugh, a senior majoring in game design, and her team will present their game, Divine Diner. Team members include Seth Bolden, Junhao Chen, Donovan Eidenback, Lydia Higgins, Sanchit Kumar, Kabir Maharjan, Booker Rothenberg, Makena Smith, Kat Steele, Lindsey Surd, Layetta Williams, and Jania Woods.

“[It’s] a game where you play as Aelius, a demigod working at a diner on Mount Olympus, cooking for the Greek gods, all while trying to find out who is your godly father. It is a narrative choice-based game with cooking minigames and a unique magical casting system,” Pugh said.

This will be Pugh’s first time having a booth at First Thursday and the block party. Outside of class, Pugh is part of The Media School honors program and is the game manager for the Overwatch teams as part of the Gaming @ IU student organization.

Pugh shared that having the First Thursday event before the block party is beneficial because her team can make changes in between events. She is ultimately excited to see the game in action being enjoyed by the audience after a long semester of hard work.

The block party celebrates innovation and creativity in the community as part of Bloomington’s Innovation Week. I-Week is dedicated to fostering networking opportunities among founders, investors, creatives, students, and civic leaders through tech demos, food, drinks, live music, and vendors. This event is hosted by The Mill and sponsored by IU’s Office of the Vice President for University Relations and the City of Bloomington.