NYP Students Interview: Digital Entertainment Technology

Today I will be interviewing a friend of mine who used to be my junior in our secondary school CCA (which is Media Resource Library). He does not talk a lot, but he is honest, dependable and can always be found reading video game magazines and playing Counter-Strike after school. I figured he will be studying something related to game development long before the 'O' level results was even released.

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A short introduction about yourself...
I'm Chua Boon Heng, I am from Digital Entertainment Technology (Games) year 1 and my CCA is Archery.

Why did you choose DET?
I chose this course because I like playing games and I would like to be a game developer.

I see, so what is the difference between playing games and developing them?
Playing games is very simple compared to developing them. All you have to do is grab a controller and press some buttons but in developing games, you require to use a lot of programing (skills and knowledge) such C++, openGL (computer graphics), Flash etc..

So how are the homework and assignments like in DET? Anything interesting?
You get to program a very simple game or use coding to create a (game) character.

What is your favorite module(s) so far?
COMG, which stands for computer graphics (it is just a short form).

That is interesting... Do you have any memorable moments in NYP so far?
None so far... (as) I haven't done anything memorable yet.

If you get to choose any other polytechnic course again, what will it be? Why?
I would choose something that involves logistics, because that is a busniess that my father has been doing for decades so it will easier for me (when I take over).

So what are your plans after you graduate from NYP and finish serving NS?
Go for further study on game development.

And finally, any tips to potential students who wish to join DET?
1. Make sure your maths is relatively good or brush up on your maths
2. Always practice coding
3. Make sure you love games

and that's about it, I think.
.... Oh one last thing,

4. Always pay attention to the lecturers, especially during lessons that involves programing and maths.

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Despite the name of the course, there is currently only one Digital Entertainment Technology course, unlike in Digital Media Design (DMD). Digital Entertainment Technology (Games), or DET for short, is a counterpart to DMD (Games). While DMD (Games) focuses on visual and design aspect of a video game, DET focuses on the programming and engineering side of it.

There is actually a short clip of DET students featured in Channel U television show 'Project Y' that can be found here - http://www.nyp.edu.sg/aboutNYP/wmv/project_y.html

NYP Dip. DET page - http://www.nyp.edu.sg/sidm/DET_game_main.html
SIDM Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=ts&gid=104011139584
SIDM FAQs page - http://sidmfaq.blogspot.com/
NYP Open House 2010 - http://www.nyp.edu.sg/OH2010/highlights.htm

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NYP Students Interview series:
Salina (IT) | Boon Heng (DET) | Hosshima (IxD)