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AU Game Lab Student Brings Avatars to Life for ETS

Kirby Cofino, SOC/MA '19
It's really about freedom and critical thinking.
During the summer of 2017, MA in Game Design student Kirby Cofino interned with the DIAMONDS research group in the San Francisco office of Educational Testing Service (ETS) on a speech system called HALEF, a "multimodal dialogue system." It's a computer program that allows a person to talk to a computer, and the computer responds. Cofino’s role in the development of HALEF was to create 3D virtual human avatars that synced up with the computer’s responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a typical Game Lab student?
There is no typical Game Lab student! Students bring their unique backgrounds and passions to the program, having addressed diverse topics such as mental health, social justice, journalism, politics, money management, and advertising. The program can lend itself to your particular area of interest.
What technical skills do I need to study Game Design at AU?
You do not need to have a background in coding to become a Game Lab student, just a love for games and the desire to learn.
How do I choose which AU Game Lab program is right for me?
Review the comparison chart below of our different degree offerings.
Program | Degree | Format | Offered | Start Date | Duration | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Game Design |
MA |
Weekday |
Full/Part-Time |
August or January |
2 Years |
36 |
Games and Interactive Media |
MFA |
Weekday |
Full/Part-Time |
Early August |
2-3 Years |
54 |
Film & Electronic Media |
MFA |
Weekday |
Full/Part-Time |
Early August |
2-3 Years |
54 |
Computer Science |
MS |
Weekday |
Full/Part-Time |
August or January |
2 Years |
30 |
Game Design |
Certificate |
Weekday |
Part-Time Only |
August or January |
1 Year |
15 |
Still have questions? Send us an email: GradComm@american.edu.