IBM to future game makers: Stay in school

by Kyle Orland { Dec 1st 2006 at 10:35AM }

The vagaries of computer chip design don't usually hold a school child's rapt attention. But tell the student how that chip design relates to video games and things might go a little differently.

That was clearly IBM's hope when they invited over 300 New York area children to its $2.5-billion East Fishkill manufacturing plant this week to show them how the chips behind today's game systems get made. The trip was part of a program to encourage math and science education by "making the subjects interesting and relevant to them."

To that end, IBM showed the students how math and science make games possible, and how the technology behind video games is being used in everything from health care to energy exploration. The students also got to get some hands on time with the next-gen systems, which we're sure made them forget all about that boring educational stuff.

With IBM chips in all three next-gen systems, the company clearly has a vested interest in promoting its position at the forefront of gaming hardware technology. Still, it's always nice to see a corporate mega-conglomerate giving something back to the community.

Tags: chips, education, gaming, IBM, next-gen, students

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Deven @ Dec 1st 2006 10:55AM

This is definitely the way to go. Props to IBM. I just wish I had it when I was a kid kid, so it would've jump started me into the field.

I'm an electrical engineering major, so when the going gets tough in my courses, thinking about the outcome makes it seem more than worth it.

Todd @ Dec 1st 2006 10:57AM

Hey, don't forget Sony gives back to the community too. Shootings, rape attempts, robberies all in the name of standing in line for a small chance to get the new hottest game console. To all those people who then turned around and sold them for obscene amounts of money on eBay, they too got something.

jaysins @ Dec 1st 2006 11:19AM

Is it really necessary to turn something nice and quite beautiful into a argument? I have an uncle that works for IBM and when I graduate hopefully I can get a job there as well. I've heard nothing but great things from him. And it's great to hear them taking an interest in kids and promoting the sciences. The US does need more engineers and such. Plus, the kids were probably stoked and I'm sure they enjoyed it. I know I'm jealous.

Ben @ Dec 1st 2006 11:36AM

The thing about this that I think is funny is that I think modern gameplay is becoming just as much art as science and math. All the modern video games would look like junk if it weren't for the art teams. (90% of programmers I know can't design graphics to save their lives)
Then on top of the art there are the story-lines as well which, essentially tie the whole game together. Not to belittle the programmers work, but without the graphics and the story you'd just have a lot of cool physics demos with poorly drawn graphics.
Art has just as much a place in games, nay society, as Science and Math and I am tied of all the schools cutting things like Music and Art like they don't matter.

~B.

HappyJack @ Dec 1st 2006 11:48AM

Art is good so promoting math and science is bad? Go back to logic class! Games wouldn't exist without math, science, engineering, etc. Pong had no art design to speak of, and it was still a game. Same for tetris.

Not that I'm against art, mind you. I have a degree in design and most of my favorite games have prominent and sophisticated art design and music.

Flit @ Dec 1st 2006 11:48AM

"Still, it's always nice to see a corporate mega-conglomerate giving something back to the community."

Biased much? Does this mean if McDonalds invites kids to their restaurants on a field trip that they are "giving to the community?" Come on joystiq.

sploy @ Dec 1st 2006 11:50AM

Yeah, I wish there was more digital design promoted in schools. The only graphic design course at the college I went to focused on advertising and product packaging design. And the art courses were all oil painting and sculpture. Where's the middle ground?

Gonzo @ Dec 1st 2006 12:21PM

With IBM chips in all three next gen systems, I'm surprised we're not hearing about more machines melting and other assorted disasters.

I just hope IBM provides the big three with better support than they did for consumers. Those morons were completely useless.

dugzer0 @ Dec 1st 2006 12:54PM

Its in IBM's self interest to inspire future workers. On the plus side the younglings need something to aspire to plus the technology has wide application beyond videogames, as the article states.
All I got was a trip to the Ford upholstery plant in 1980.

Royall @ Dec 1st 2006 1:38PM

With all the support IBM has given to software through things like Eclipse and Linux kernel contributions, this is just a drop in the bucket of good things they've done.

MercWorks @ Dec 1st 2006 2:35PM

The only graphics class I had in high school I wound up teaching most of the time. I've used photoshop for many years, so where are the people to teach me new things? Nowhere, because everything design is taught in a RIDICULOUSLY elementary sense in both high school AND college; a lot of times administrators must think "well, if this teacher can use CAD then he must be a graphic designer." Sorry, this sort of topic gets me fired up.