GRADE 10 Information Technology (IT) learner Torben Mikkelsen from Hillcrest High School (HHS) created a computer-based game to market the school to prospective learners at the Hillcrest Primary High School Expo. The game, designed for Grade Five and Grade Six learners, challenged the navigational skills of learners as they explored a 3D representation of the Hillcrest High School buildings. Players were expected to follow prompts using keypad or mouse actions and earned points for each target classroom they reached. The more efficient the player, the more classrooms they reached, the higher their score – with each point earned equalling an entry to win an impressive hamper.

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HHS principal Denise Knight said Torben Mikkelsen was selected by their head of Information Technology, Graham Pearl, to develop the game.

“He was given a map of the school, the vision marketing had for the game and some input regarding graphics and timeframes. The result was impressive, and it was clear that the players enjoyed themselves tremendously. We are very proud of what he came up with, as well as his work ethic for working through the school holidays to have everything ready in time,” she said.

Mikkelsen said that he learnt many new skills during the development of the game. These included 3D modelling, scale, measurement and visualisation. “I had to learn the C++ language code and object rendering, as well as the game development skills needed to use the software, Unity. I am grateful to Hillcrest High School for the opportunity they gave me; it was an amazing experience and helped me to develop my problem-solving skills,” he said.

Mikkelsen attended the HPS High School Expo along with other ambassadors of the school to ensure that learners had a clear picture of how to play his game. He said, “I thoroughly enjoyed being able to present something that I had worked on, and seeing the learners play the game with no problems was a relief! They were all amazing.”

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At the end of the expo, using the algorithm he built into the game, a winning entry was randomly selected. Ava Shelver, from Hillcrest Primary School, was the lucky winner of the hamper which included vouchers and sauces sponsored by Eldorado Spur Hillcrest, snacks and fun knickknacks donated by Richdens SuperSPAR, a pizza voucher from Roman’s Pizza Hillcrest, and branded items, including a stainless steel water bottle from Hillcrest High School.

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