Students create Kiwi touch for PS Vita game

A Kiwi design school aims to give an iconic PlayStation title some national flavour in the hope of securing an exclusive experience with Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand.

Media Design School’s game development students will develop a Kiwi themed level for LittleBigPlanet on PS Vita, which will be uploaded to the PlayStation Network and played all over the world.

Sony NZ says it will personally select the winning team who will each win a PS Vita and have the opportunity to become a brand ambassador for PlayStation.

Key factors of the competition insist that the level must be based in New Zealand, feature cultural icons and showcase several of the console's key functions such as the motion sensor, dual analog sticks, rear touch pad, touch screen and front/rear cameras.

The Auckland-based school says it will be supplied with the PS Vita consoles for the students to use during the course of the competition, stretching two weeks within teams of three.

Exclusive to students at the school studying in the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art), Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming) and Diploma of Interactive Gaming, Media Design School CEO Frances Valintine believes the collaboration is an exciting and valuable opportunity for students.

“Our students benefit from the knowledge gained in the process of developing these new levels within a brief alongside a high-profile client and, better still, have the opportunity to land a casual job at PlayStation before they graduate," she says.

"It is a fantastic opportunity and our faculty are right behind the students as they work on this project.”

Sony NZ also revealed their excitement in working with students from one of the country's most established schools.

“The Media Design School is helping form the next generation of game developers," says David Hine, sales and marketing director, Sony NZ.

"We’re excited to see what the students will be able to create with LittleBigPlanet for PS Vita.

“You can get incredibly creative with LittleBigPlanet, it’s going to be fun to see how they have added the New Zealand culture into their level but more importantly, we’re keen to see how they have used the functions of the PS®Vita.”

The competition is underway now and will run until October 8.

How would you incorporate Kiwi life into a video game? Tell us your suggestions below