Thurles, 12th February 2009 - Tipperary Institute officially opened its Games Development Laboratory today.  The Microsoft sponsored laboratory is equipped with the very latest technology to give students access to a state of the art learning environment.    The laboratory is designed to help students start to build their software and games portfolio, assisting them to develop the skills which are sought by the growing game development and entertainment technology industry in Ireland and abroad. 

To mark the opening, which took place during Engineers Ireland Week of Wonder, seventy students from Tipperary, Limerick and Dublin took part in workshops at the laboratory. The students used the latest Microsoft games development technology XNA to create their version of the classic Atari computer game Asteroids. 

James Greenslade, Director of ICT at Tipperary said, "Tipperary Institute views investment in technology as crucial to our students’ learning experience and for the future development of the knowledge driven economy. We aim to develop students who are innovative and dynamic - something which is vital for our economy. To achieve this we must have access to technology and to networks, something Microsoft is providing for us through its sponsorship.”

“Innovation has never been as important as it is in today’s economic climate. We need to embrace innovation in business, in technology and in society at large if we are to position Ireland a true knowledge economy. There is a demand for skills in games technology both from established global players and also from smaller companies based here and abroad. The growth of online technology means that the skills students will learn on the course will be relevant and in demand,” commented Dr. Kevin Marshall, Academic Programme Manager, Microsoft Ireland, who officially opened the laboratory.

The new laboratory has been completed in time to host the annual Games Fleadh which brings the games industry and secondary and higher education students from across the island of Ireland together.

For more information about Games Fleadh events can be found at http://www.tippinst.ie/games/