Explore the impact of open source on academia and its transformation over time as Royal, General Manager of Digital Media and Games at the Linux Foundation, speaks to Stephen Jacobs, professor at RIT's School of Interactive Games & Media and head of Open@RIT. Stephen recounts his longtime involvement in open source, sparked by a program to develop educational games for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative that led to the birth of the netbook market and groundbreaking programs at RIT. He explains how open source projects, like the Open 3D Engine, enable students to gain practical experience, build their portfolios, and create professional connections, and touches on the significance of joining the Open 3D Foundation. Learn about RIT's innovative Magic Center, a dynamic hub fostering collaboration and creativity in game development and multimedia, as well as Project Eureka, an exciting new initiative that provides students with real-world experience.

Guest: Stephen Jacobs -- Director, Open@RIT and Professor, School of Interactive Games & Media, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

Stephen Jacobs designed and built exhibits for the Capital Children's Museum in the 70′s, ran the AmiEXPO trade shows for the Commodore Amiga in the 80's, and began teaching at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the 90's. Today, he teaches Video Game Design and Production at RIT, while running one of the largest and most comprehensive Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) university programs in the world, the FOSS@MAGIC.

Diversity and inclusion haven't been the hallmarks of the gaming industry. But that's changing thanks to advocates like Sheri Graner Ray and open source technologies that allow anyone to develop and showcase their skills.

In this episode of Tales from the 3rd Dimension, Open 3D Foundation (O3DF) Executive Director Royal O'Brien chats with Sheri – an award-winning game designer, author, and consultant – about the trails she has blazed in the gaming industry, the barriers that have been torn down, and how others can forge their own path.

In addition to revealing the Dungeons & Dragons defection that sparked her illustrious career, Sheri explains the impact diversity has on creativity, innovation, and the bottom line. She and Royal discuss the value of ready-made, open source engines for aspiring game developers. And they find insight and irony at the intersection of Barbie and Call of Duty.

GUEST BIO

Founder and CEO of Zombie Cat Studios, Sheri Graner Ray is an award-winning game designer, author, consultant, and speaker. She's the recipient of an IGDA Game Developer's Choice Award and has been named one of the top women in games by The Hollywood Reporter and WGEN.