More than five years after completing studies at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Will Miller came back to campus Saturday with a message: Computer games can be fun and educational.
Miller was on campus for the school”s Arts and Humanities Day.
“I am thrilled to be asked to come back here to speak with the current students,” he said. “I spoke with them about working as a video game designer.”
Miller, an Oxford native, graduated from MSMS in 2004, then went to Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, Ga., where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. He credits his time at MSMS with helping him adjust to his time at SCAD, where he graduated in 2008.
“The experience here was invaluable,” he said. “It was through my teachers and their work that helped me make the adjustment.”
He served as an intern with Firaxis in 2006, and has been a full-time employee with the company since 2008.
Among the games Miller has lent his hand in designing are “Guitar Hero II,” “Guitar Hero Encore,” and “Civilization IV.” The “Guitar Hero” games allow players to fulfill their fantasies of guitar-playing along with their favorite rock stars, while “Civilization IV” follows a different pattern.
“”Civilization IV” is a strategy game when you play on a specific culture from the Ice Age all the way to the Space Age,” Miller said. “It involves diplomacy, war, economic developing. It is a historical sandbox.”
Miller said in his presentation, where he spoke to 10 students, that he wanted to let them know how designing games involves many elements he learned during his time at MSMS.
“Math and science is applied when it comes to creating these games; arts and humanities also play a role,” he said. “So I feel it was appropriate to be here today to talk with students about designing games.”
Designing video games takes more than one person, Miller said.
“It is a collaborative effort,” he said. “As many as three or four people contribute ideas for these games.”
Miller said he has always had an interest in playing video games, as well as designing them, since he was a youngster.
“I am glad to have a job where I can design games, as well as play them,” he said.
Miller said Saturday is the first time he has been back to the MSMS campus since he left in 2004.
“A lot of things have stayed the same, and a lot has changed,” he said. “Many of my teachers are still here and it has been good to see them and talk about old times.”
Aubrey Knight, a computer science instructor who taught Miller, said he is glad his former student came back to speak with those who attend MSMS now.
“It is always great to see our former students come back and tell about their successes since they graduated from MSMS,” he said. “We consider our alumni an extended part of our family. We also consider our former students as ambassadors, not only for the school, but for the state of Mississippi, as well.”
Arts and Humanities Day is a student-only event which celebrates the arts and humanities. The program began at 9 a.m. with author Tom Franklin giving the keynote address.
Breakout sessions were held for students to give them an opportunity to hear presentations by Miller and other MSMS alumni with careers in the arts and humanities, as well as writers and performing artists.
The honorable George Carlson Jr., Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, addressed the students at Rent Auditorium in Whitfield Hall on “Your Unlimitations.”
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.