Victory for teenager in gaming contest he did not plan to enter

An Orkney gamer won a national computing competition after launching his own video game.

Joshua Walker, an S3 pupil from Kirkwall Grammar School, always wanted to create his own 3D video game and after playing popular firstperson shooter Doom, he found the inspiration he had been searching for.

Using a software development programme called Scratch, Joshua and his classmates were tasked with establishing a unique game before submitting their efforts in a competition launched by dressCode.

Judges were impressed with Joshua’s work and awarded him a robotics kit. Joshua said: “I never expected to win the competition as I had never intended on entering it, but my teacher Mr Soames urged me to take part, so you can imagine it was a pleasant surprise when I found out that I had won.

“It was encouraging to hear that lots of people had tried my game, a few people even asked if I was planning on adding a second level. One day I hope to work in the game industry.”

The teen incorporated a technique called ray casting to develop his game in which players are tasked with collecting keys, ammo and health packs while combatting monsters and skeletons in a single-room setting.

Computing Science teacher Denis Soames said: “Joshua took the learning from the classroom and ran with it, doing his own research and using outstanding problem-solving skills to create something unique and memorable.”

Joshua’s game is available online (tinyurl.com/JetboyX).

JetboyX Scratch game.