Professor designs adventure computer game that uses physics

Dr. J. Patrick Lestrade recently finished the design of his educational adventure game, O'Donnell Abu, for IBM EduQuest. His was one of five game proposals selected from 250 nationally submitted designs as part of IBM's Summer Design Internship.

"My main thought in designing this game," Lestrade said, "was remembering how kids can be absorbed for hours playing video games. It's harder to get them that absorbed in their homework."

The first scene of Lestrade's game shows the hero tied to a chair with a bomb at his or her feet (the player selects the gender), and a little physics goes a long way toward freedom.

"You must apply different mechanics in physics principles, such as using a lever and a rock," Lestrade said.

The game also involves math problems, such as the player working with surveyors and learning a bit of trigonometry. A tutorial provides assistance, and a library--looking very much like Mississippi State's--is available.

The name for the game comes out of Lestrade's Irish heritage. The war cry for the O'Donnell clan of Ireland some 1,200 years ago was O'Donnell abu, or "hail to the chief."

The professor won the game design assignment last summer and only recently presented the finished project to IBM. The computer giant will program and market the game and Lestrade hopes to see it on store shelves in about a year.

"Most educational software is boring," he said. "This game embraces my philosophy of teaching: make it educational, funny, and exciting."

Lestrade doesn't plan to get into the game-design field full time--this one took up most of his spare time for about nine months. But he does admit to enjoying the change of pace.