Visual Art

Stout Student Creates Strategy Video Game

Without assistance from others, UW-Stout student Michael Flaherty created a video game called Circuit Ultimate Fever and won the first 48-hour game programming competition sponsored by the local chapter of the international Game Developer’s Association. The four other games entered were made by teams of at least four individuals. But Flaherty didn’t worry. “I didn’t know what to expect from other competitors,” he says, “but I knew my game was successful.” The game resembles Pac-Man, but takes advantage of four-player competitive play and strategy. Flaherty made the game from scratch. He did all the programming, writing, and even composed his own music. Commitment to video game production is important for Flaherty. “You have to be passionate about it,” he says. He is editing and developing the game further, but Flaherty plans on publishing the game on Xbox Live Arcade as a downloadable purchase. Gamers can look forward to finding it there.