Game Designers' Voices from off the Grid

** IMPORTANT ** NEW MEETING LOCATION **

Our next local AITP Chapter will be meeting on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Kutztown University.

This presentation is open for members and non-members, faculty, staff, and students.

ABSTRACT:

Game Designers' Voices from off the Grid

The applications of game development have increasingly been supported by both industry and local communities due to their ability to foster innovation, enhance workforce skills, and create engaging solutions to real-world problems. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, game development has expanded beyond entertainment and into areas such as education, healthcare, and business training. Our panel of gaming experts will shed light into how gaming can be taken to a higher level.

ABOUT THE PANEL:

• Jim Dattilo - An interactive fiction (IF) writer and creator of Choice Games, has been writing interactive fiction for Choice of Games for the past twelve years, with titles including Zombie Exodus, A Wise Use of Time, and Vampire: The Masquerade — Out for Blood. His work focuses on deep narrative choices, character-driven storytelling, and exploring diverse perspectives within interactive fiction.
• Dr. Simon Hoermanm - Applied Immersive Design Engineering for Interactive Health Technologies and professor at UC School of Product Design, New Zealand, is an Associate professor at the School of Product Design, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Professor Simon Hoermann has expertise in Transformational Computing, integrating advanced technology with health to improve outcomes and functional capacity. His interdisciplinary work spans neurorehabilitation, pioneering XR applications for stroke and brain injury recovery; mental health, developing AI companions and augmented intelligence systems to enhance wellbeing; and health training, where he creates immersive simulations for clinicians and emergency responders. He also applies VR in food psychology and behavior to address cravings, obesity, and smoking cessation. His user-centered, evidence-based research emphasizes translational impact, fostering collaboration between clinicians, technologists, educators, and end-users.
• Steve Isaacs - Senior Manager, Programs and Partnerships, Epic Games, His mission is to support educators and students in exploring career opportunities that leverage interactive 3D skills. Prior to his role at Epic, Steve was a public school teacher for 28 years, teaching game design and development as well as other courses related to creative uses of technology. Steve enjoys spending time with family and friends. His hobbies include video games, biking, snorkeling, hiking, and live music.
• David Walker - (edugames) author, CTO, DeVry University Department Chair, game researcher, Technical Director at Electronics Arts, is a veteran game developer whose career began in 1980 with the Atari version of "Tigers in the Snow". He has held leadership roles at Electronic Arts, Adobe, and BrainCo. David served as Dean of Game and Simulations Programming at DeVry University and a cofounder of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). David continues to champion independent and experimental game design as CTO/COO of Humaginarium and as a writer on Medium. His work bridges technical innovation, education reform, and creative storytelling in games.
• Steve Weitz - (accessibility games) Director of Secondary Education, is an artist, game designer, educator, and animator, with over 20 years experience in higher education, visual effects, feature animation, game analysis and creation. As Vice President, Game Accessibility & Operations at AbleGamers, Steve is continuing his lifelong work to use media arts as a means of societal improvement.

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS:

For your GPS:
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania,
15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, PA 19530.

We will meet in the Academic Forum building, room 103 (AF103, Building #9 - campus map link). Parking: parking Lot A6.

DINNER & MEETING DETAILS

In-Person Attendance:
Join us at 6:00 PM for complimentary light refreshments—pizza and drinks will be served. If you wish, you are welcome to make a donation to help support future events.

Virtual Attendance:
If you prefer to attend the presentation remotely, please use the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81747041229.

AGENDA:

• 5:30 – 6:00 PM (Arrival and professional networking)
• 6:00 – 7:00 PM (Complimentary Networking Light Dinner - Pizza & Drinks)
• 7:00 – 8:00 or 8:30 PM EST (panel Q&A forum with the audience). We may start a bit earlier.
• 8/8:30 PM Adjourn

For a listing of our AITP Lehigh Valley Chapter events, please visit our website at http://www.lv-aitp.org/

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19th!!