by Abby Gannon
The Electronic Game Developers Society, UT’s student organization for game developers known informally as EGaDS, recently held its largest Texas Game Jam to date, with more than 400 sign-ups and more than 100 submissions. Though the event broke records, AET sophomore Kaden Lee said it was the hundreds of students experiencing the same excitement about collaboration and shared creativity that drew Lee to UT’s AET program in the first place.
“We are a computer science organization dedicated to promoting, encouraging and organizing events for students at UT who are interested in pursuing game development,” said Lee, outreach and marketing officer for EGaDS. “My role is to be on the ground level, engaging with students and faculty and making sure they hear about our events. I’m really all about visibility.”
Texas Game Jam, EGaDS’ hallmark event during the fall semester, is open to anyone interested in creating video games, regardless of experience level. The event has grown significantly since its debut in 2020 and is now one of the largest student-run game jams in the country.
“No other club can offer that kind of resource to aspiring game developers,” Lee said. “What gets the most traction is its importance — the importance of creating and the importance of collaborating.”
In addition to working behind the scenes on EGaDS’ digital marketing and event promotion, Lee recently stepped into the spotlight as emcee of AET’s Super Smash Bros. tournament in September. Despite being a little outside his comfort zone, he said the opportunity to promote the organization and connect with new students made it worthwhile.
“When I was contacting professors about promoting Texas Game Jam and other events, because we have so much involvement with the RTF and computer science departments, I wanted to bring AET in as well," Lee said.
When Lee reached out to AET professors to get more students involved, the department suggested co-producing their planned AET Super Smash Bros. event with EGaDS. “We jumped at the chance to be more involved with faculty and the department,” he said.
Lee’s motivation comes from the same drive that brought him to UT. During his senior year of high school, an interest in more creative pursuits deepened his appreciation for the artistic side of technology, he said. Though he’d long planned to become a computer scientist, a UT alumnus and cousin introduced him to AET and encouraged him to learn more about the program.
“I looked at the page on the website, and he was right,” Lee said. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is how I can combine my technological skills and knowledge with my artistic passions.”
Looking ahead, Lee said he and the EGaDS team are constantly planning opportunities such as Texas Game Jam and the Super Smash Bros. tournament to help students get involved, especially amid uncertainty in the industry’s job market.
“Students need to learn as many skills as they can and connect with as many people as they can,” Lee said. “We are trying to create opportunities for students to have a reason to connect, learn and network.”