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When Spencer Striker created Game Zombie TV at Indiana University in fall 2006, little did he know it would become one of the best and most well known video portals on the Web. And now, Game Zombie TV has made its way to UW-Whitewater.
Starting spring semester, UW-Whitewater will be offering Journalism/Speech 490, a class taught by Striker in which students will work as an intern for Game Zombie TV.
"We have about 25 students working for us right now and we're looking to at least double that amount during the spring semester," Striker said. "The videos that these students make will be seen on many of the top video hosting Web sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Crackle and Dailymotion."
As part of the class, students will gain access to the new multimedia lab in McGraw 127 which will be completed by the start of next semester.
The types of videos the company produces are involved with video games. Game Zombie makes video game reviews, and also has a few original shows they created. Game Zombie has produced over 190 original reviews in the past 16 months, and has put out two new videos every week since spring 2007.
"We have our video game reviews, but we also have our interview series and Buttonmashers, which is one of our shows," Striker said. "Buttonmashers has done very well and is one of the reasons why we are so popular on the Web."
Game Zombie began as Striker's graduate student project at Indiana University. The company began with only a few members before gradually increasing over time. In 2008, Game Zombie won a Webby Honoree Award for their video based video game review Web site.
When Striker left Indiana University for UW-Whitewater, there were around 50 students working for the company.
Game Zombie uses many different kinds of people to get their videos produced and edited. In addition to using many people to edit the videos, they also use cameramen, on-air talent, writers and many more people to get their work published on the Internet.
"I'm one of our production managers right now at UW-Whitewater, but I plan on one day becoming our public relations manager," junior Lindsey Rients said. "We're looking for many people to take this class and become involved in this company."
One of the services Game Zombie will provide to students is not only a chance to develop their skills in their area of expertise, but it will also give them an opportunity to get their name out there. As part of the class, students will be able to travel to top video game developers conferences such as GDC and E3.
Traveling to these conferences will allow students to meet executives from some of the top video game companies across the country.
"One of Game Zombie's goals is to get students enormously connected with the video game industry," Striker said. "It folds well into being a student project because it looks great on a resume. It's a real-world experience that you wouldn't get in any other normal class."
Sophomore production manager Maxwell Zierath said if you are interested in video games, you will be able to get something out of Game Zombie TV, no matter what major you are.
"As long as you have some interest in the video game industry, you can have something to gain from Game Zombie," Zierath said. "It opens so many doors for you when you get out of college, so it's a tremendous opportunity for anyone involved."
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