Taking the Classroom on the Road: Visiting COGG Prototype & Play
I took my Senior Capstone courses on a road trip to Columbus.
Our destination was COGG’s Prototype & Play event at Game Arena, a gathering of game developers from across Ohio. Rather than staying in the classroom, the students would get to showcase their games to real players and fellow developers, see how people interacted with their projects, and start engaging with the broader game development community.
As an educator, my goal for this trip was to give them a taste of professional game development in action. I wanted them to practice presenting their work, gathering feedback, and interacting with peers and mentors in a real-world environment. This was about more than testing gameplay, it was an opportunity for them to flex the professional and interpersonal skills they’ll need as developers.
Connecting with Other Developers
When we arrived, the students immediately started meeting other developers in the room. The space was full of independent creators, hobbyists, and professionals from across the region, and the energy was contagious.
"We at COGG were thrilled to partner with Shawnee State students to show some best locally crafted games at GameArena. It was a wild night of gameplay, sharing, and camaraderie. Thanks for the visit and we look forward to collaborating again in the future!" - Wesley Adams, COGG Coordinator
During the event kickoff, our group was introduced as special guests, which helped the students start conversations and feel part of the community right away. They not only talked about their own projects, but also played other developers’ games, giving feedback and asking questions. It was a hands-on way to see different design approaches and learn from their peers.
I loved watching them engage naturally with other creators, explaining their own projects, discussing design decisions, and sharing insights about their development process. These skills are essential for stepping into the professional world.
The Central Ohio GameDev Group (COGG) brings game developers across Ohio together to showcase projects, playtest games, exchange feedback, and connect with other creators. It’s a hub for networking, learning, and growing as part of the regional game development community.
Bringing Student Games to the Community
Two projects from the capstone courses made the trip.
The team behind 666 Malevolence Lane, operating as Bearly-A Studio, brought their couch co-op party game with a spooky theme. Players quickly jumped in, reacting to the chaotic multiplayer action and playful haunted house vibe.
“Attending COGG’s Prototype & Play was an incredibly fun and worthwhile experience, and I highly recommend attending for the chance to play some awesome projects created by passionate developers.” – Nick Ratliff, Antiutopia
Alongside it, Antiutopia, a fast-paced online arena shooter developed as a solo project, drew attention for its gameplay and the fact that it runs on a custom-built game engine. Fellow developers were eager to discuss the technical side, asking questions about engine design, mechanics, and networking.
Seeing Games Through Fresh Eyes
One of the biggest benefits of attending an event like Prototype & Play is seeing players approach your games without prior context. They laugh, experiment, get excited, and sometimes run into confusing moments. All insights that are hard to capture in classroom testing.
I encouraged the students to observe closely, take notes, and ask questions. Many players stuck around afterward, offering suggestions, feedback, and encouragement. That kind of real-time input is invaluable for understanding how a game resonates with a new audience.
Reflection on the Road Trip
The ride back to campus gave us time to reflect on the evening. Students had gained far more than playtesting notes. They had presented their work publicly, received feedback from players and developers, and started forming connections within Ohio’s game development scene.
From my perspective as their instructor, the trip reinforced a key lesson: game development is both a technical and social practice. Success isn’t just about writing code or designing levels, it’s about communication, collaboration, and being part of a community. By playing other developers’ games and engaging in conversation, they learned how to give and receive feedback, adapt to different design approaches, and grow as professionals.
A big thank you to the COGG organizers and the Game Arena team for welcoming us and supporting the growing game development community in Ohio.