Swinburne University’s campus is being turned into a game

Swinburne University of Technology has always been one of the leading Victorian colleges for game development, but now they are taking it a step further. Due to the current pandemic, the tertiary institution will be opening its doors for potential students via a video game.

Swintopia is a virtual world accessible to all prospective students, anytime and anywhere. Opening 12 August, visitors can experience the traditional university open day seminars and activities all from the safety of their own home.

This innovative idea has been inspired by the popularity of social gaming during lockdown, like the amazing Nintendo Switch sales of Animal Crossing. The interactive world will provide a tour of the university, allow you to engage with different Swinburne courses and clubs, and explore the classic campus hangouts.

As alumni of the university, I’m excited to see how they’ll recreate the classic echoey Atrium and grassy knoll in front of the George building. Apparently all Swintopia visitors will get a free tote bag, in Swinburne Open Day tradition.

Carolyn Bendall, Swinburne’s Chief Marketing Officer says, “despite the unprecedented times, it is still very important for anyone considering going to university to get a feel for what the institution and experience is like and the best way to usually do that is at Open Day.”

Potential students can apply for access through Swinburne’s website. For those not looking to actually study but want to see the game, anyone can pre-register. Just submit your details and attend the virtual Hawthorn campus in August.

Swinburne University of Technology has always been prominent in Australia for its focus on the gaming industry. They’ve participated in showcasing their students’ projects at PAX Australia for a little while now with fantastic success stories.

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