SMU Guildhall

08/28/2026

What happens when teachers help build educational games? Breakthroughs. Invited into the design process through a research study that included SMU Guildhall’s Deputy Director of Research Dr. Corey Clark, middle school teachers uncovered critical skills that students need to succeed.

The educational game, Factory Craft, was designed to develop problem-solving abilities, which is increasingly important when AI can output code but not the judgment required to guide and evaluate it.

“People who were classically trained in computer science are learning AI and it is making them way more effective,” said Dr. Clark. “But people who have used AI to replace their learning are way less capable. Experienced people benefit the most from AI because they know how to drive it better.”

Learn more about the study and its findings: https://www.smu.edu/news/research/educational-minecraft-based-game (link in bio)

08/28/2026

What happens when teachers help build educational games? Breakthroughs. Invited into the design process through a research study that included SMU Guildhall's Deputy Director of Research Dr. Corey Clark, middle school teachers uncovered critical skills that students need to succeed.

The educational game, Factory Craft, was designed to develop problem-solving abilities, which is increasingly important when AI can output code but not the judgment required to guide and evaluate it.

"People who were classically trained in computer science are learning AI and it is making them way more effective," said Dr. Clark. "But people who have used AI to replace their learning are way less capable. Experienced people benefit the most from AI because they know how to drive it better.”

Learn more about the study and its findings:

An SMU study finds teachers who help design educational video games focus on what students need to learn, not gameplay—making the games better.

08/24/2026

📸 Stampede and Orientation Roundup

As we kick off the first day of the Fall semester, we want to extend a very special welcome to our incoming students in the 36th cohort of our Master’s program in game development as well as the ✨FIRST EVER✨ undergraduate students in the new BA in Game Development! We are so excited to have you all here 🥳

We would also like to extend a very warm Welcome Back to our Master’s program Cohort 35 students, who are starting their final semesters with us, and to our fantastic faculty and staff. Here’s to a great school year ahead.

Game on! 🎮

08/21/2026

Today at Orientation, we welcome our newest game development Master’s students in SMU Guildhall’s Cohort 36! We are thrilled to have you here, and we look forward to a great two years ahead. 🎮🎉

08/20/2026

Thank you to all who came out today to Game With Guildhall as part of SMU Stampede, including President Hartzell. It was an honor to host you, and we look forward to doing it again tomorrow (Friday 8/21) from 1-3pm in Ford Hall. Game on!

08/14/2026

Are you attending Stampede next week? Join us and the SMU Meadows School of the Arts Division of Design for an Interactive Gaming Experience! In this Stampede Academic Exploration Experience event, Dr. Elizabeth Stringer will give a brief overview of the new B.A. in Game Development, followed by the MathFinder Challenge—a research-driven game developed through SMU Guildhall and the Simmons School of Education that showcases how creativity, technology, and collaboration come together to create engaging experiences.

Tuesday, August 18
Owen Arts Center, Greer Garson Theatre Wing, Room 3509
Times: 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., or 3:30 p.m. https://cglink.me/2vb/r395319

08/13/2026

In new racing game Hamsterballin’, there are several interesting items—including jetpack, spring, bomb, D20, and jacks—that help you maintain your lead, access shortcuts, and slow down players behind your hamsterball. Take a test drive today: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4319370/Hamsterballin/?curator_clanid=34088398

08/12/2026

Attending Stampede? Come Game With Guildhall! Whether you're a gamer or just curious about what our students create, stop by our Gaming Lounge (Ford Hall Visualization Lab Room 124) on Thursday, August 20 and Friday, August 21 from 1-3pm to experience games developed by Guildhall students, alongside industry-leading titles developed in part by our alumni. It's a fun way to see the incredible work happening across our programs.

https://smu360.smu.edu/gsmu/rsvp_boot?id=395299

08/11/2026

Have you played our new game Hamsterballin' yet? Did you take an opponent out with the D20?? Share your favorite gameplay clips with us!

Hamsterballin' is free on Steam now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4319370/Hamsterballin/?curator_clanid=34088398

08/05/2026

In our new student-made Steam game, Hamsterballin', players race their choice of hamster—pilot, spooky, detective, clown, or nutcracker—in hamsterballs that roll and bounce around 3 unique tracks. Powerup items including bombs, dice wands, shields, jacks, jetpacks, speed boosts, and springs each provide different types of advantage as you master each track in your own way.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4319370/Hamsterballin/?curator_clanid=34088398

Roll and bounce around as a cute hamster racing through imaginative...