Southfield's Pixo Brings App Development To MSU
SOUTHFIELD -- Pixo Entertainment, an interactive content development studio creating mobile and social video games and apps, Monday announced its support and partnership in the Michigan State University game development curriculum to help students gain real-world experience developing mobile games.
Pixo is bringing its experience and expertise in the mobile game industry to MSU's game development capstone class. Students will work in small teams and develop games for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, with guidance and advice from Pixo's staff over the course of the semester-long class.
Students will use Unity3D to develop the games, a cross-platform 3D game engine taught throughout the MSU curriculum and used in-house at Pixo to develop cross platform mobile games. Upon course completion, Pixo plans to use Unity's flexibility to bring the games to Android mobile devices, and potentially other platforms.
"Pixo is genuinely excited and privileged to have been selected to work with MSU and this great program," said Sean Hurwitz, CEO of Pixo. "Having the opportunity to work with the students during this very valuable period of their lives is very rewarding for all involved. First-hand experience for them is invaluable and our team is passionate about sharing their experience and wisdom with the gaming students.
Pixo has worked with Brian Winn, Associate Professor at MSU and the game development department for the past several years to tap into MSU's graduate talent pool. Two MSU graduates, Adam Rademacher, designer, and Chris Dasbach, programmer, came to Pixo through this program.
"Adam and Chris' knowledge and expertise have been invaluable," Hurwitz said. "Their talent is as good as it gets around the country. By creating this partnership, Pixo will get a chance to work with students prior to graduating and receive first-hand knowledge of their capabilities. As a Michigan grown company, it is important to Pixo to keep the work local, as much as possible. Pixo is committed to providing jobs to graduating students and preventing the 'brain drain' from the state".
For more information on Pixo Entertainment visit www.Pixofactor.com.
Pixo Entertainment, formerly known as Pixofactor, is a development studio specializing in developing mobile/social games and apps, animation and more. Recently the company developed and launched a mobile game, Gaslight, available on Apple and Android devices. Founded as a partnership between Michigan-based developers and artists, Pixo has an impressive track record of developing games and apps for multiple platforms.
Pixo currently participates in the Michigan-based film and digital incentive. In November 2010 Pixo became the first Michigan studio to receive the go-ahead for video game production, followed by an interactive Web site and mobile app, since the incentive legislation was passed in April 2008.
More about MSU's game design and development specialization at http://tism.msu.edu/game-specialization
