(Nov. 30, 2017) -- John Quarles, associate professor of computer science at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), is taking a new approach to his students’ final projects in his video game development class this semester. He’s partnered with local non-profit Gamerz 4 Vets, which aims to rehabilitate injured veterans through gaming, and asked his students to create a video game specifically tailored to a disabled veteran.
The partnership began in July, when Quarles was approached by Nathan Gonzalez ’13, a Marine veteran and the founder of Gamerz 4 Vets. The organization helps veterans with physical disabilities such as spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, amputation or mental illness.
“Sometimes a person can have unseen injuries, like anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder,” Gonzalez said. “Gaming can allow someone to rehabilitate their dexterity, hand-eye coordination and general focus.”
Gonzalez graduated from UTSA in 2013 with a degree in business management, and has since put that to work by creating Gamerz 4 Vets. When he had the idea to partner with a game developer, he returned to his alma mater and was directed to Quarles.
“Nathan got in touch with me and told me about his vision for Gamerz 4 Vets. It occurred to me that this could be a unique opportunity for students in the game development course to learn about accessible gaming, but also actually make a difference in these veterans’ lives,” Quarles said. “So far, it’s been an exciting experience and one that the students have really become passionate about.”
Quarles is no stranger to creating rehabilitative games. The UTSA professor has multiple sclerosis (MS) and previously received a National Science Foundation grant to support the continued development of a rehabilitative underwater virtual reality game called Shark Punch. It allows people with MS to exercise in a pool, which prevents overheating of the extremities. Additionally, his students have taken on game development in relation to topics like cybersecurity in the past, so he felt assured they were up to the task of aiding veterans.
“The work of our students in Dr. Quarles’s class is wonderful example of the important work they contribute to the community,” said Rajendra Boppana, chair of the UTSA Department of Computer Science. “I’m very excited to see the finished games and the tremendous positive impact I’m sure they will have.”
Groups of four to five students in Quarles’ class are each partnering with a veteran affiliated with Gamerz 4 Vets. The disabilities the veterans are coping with include paraplegia and near-complete blindness.
One student group, made up of junior Trase Westbrook seniors Andrew Sanetra, Clifford Hill and Edward Mondragon, is working with a female veteran who is quadriplegic.
“We met with her a few weeks ago and now we’re in the early stages of creating the game,” Sanetra said. “She gave us a few suggestions and let us know what her gaming preferences are. But mainly what she wants is a game she can play because there aren’t many at all that she can play.”
The group is creating its game using technology that would allow their veteran to play by moving her eyes. It takes place in outer space, allowing the player to gather resources, craft upgrades, destroy enemies and progress to higher levels.
Mondragon, whose life’s ambition is to become a professional game developer, is excited by the challenge and moved by the mission of Gamerz 4 Vets.
“We play video games every day and take it for granted,” Mondragon said. “Some of these veterans haven’t been able to play in years. To be able to give that back to them is amazing.”
The UTSA students are currently developing their video games, and will present them to Quarles, Gonzalez and their partnering veterans as the semester ends in December.
“When I registered for the class, I had no idea we were going to do this,” Sanetra said. “It’s been a really rewarding experience to make something that actually matters for someone and will hopefully make a big impact in their life.”
UTSA is ranked among the nation’s top four young universities, according to Times Higher Education.
Learn more about Gamerz 4 Vets.
Learn more about the UTSA Department of Computer Science.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Don’t mind the writing but hate formatting citations and bibliographies? Working on your thesis or dissertation, or even a long paper this semester? Citation managers such as Zotero® can help you store and organize the citations you find during your research. Take part in this session about using Zotero®.
Virtual EventDid you know the library offers much more than books and study spaces? Our librarians can also support your research and publishing and strengthen your instruction. Join us for a one-hour workshop about all that UTSA Libraries offers.
Virtual EventNeed a Job/Internship? Connect with over 80+ employers in the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics industry looking to fill their opportunities. This event is the perfect chance to start building your career path.
Galleria & Bexar Rooms, H-E-B Ballrooms, Main CampusAre you interested in learning more about incorporating digital methods into your research? This workshop will introduce you to approaches and tools that can help support your research. Through hands-on activities, you will learn about text analysis and digital mapping and how these methods can enrich your projects.
Group Spot B, 2.01.22, John Peace LibraryLearn to use the simple but powerful features of EndNote®, a citation management tool. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to setup an EndNote library, save references and PDFs, and automatically create and edit a bibliography.
Virtual EventAproduction of the Gudalupe Cultural Arts Center, Rio Bravo showcases the vibrant music and dance traditions of the Texas-Mexico border region. Featuring the Guadalupe Dance Company and Mariachi Azteca de América, the performances will be filmed live both nights, courtesy of UTSA's College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
UTSA Downtown CampusCheer on our Roadrunners as they face Houston Christian University. Featuring a special halftime show with Ballet Folklórico Sol de San Antonio and Mariachi Los Paisanos performing with the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.