Emeris Umhlanga Student Takes Top Spot At "AVOID: Score Attack!" Gaming Event

A second year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development student from The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga claimed top honours at the recent “AVOID: Score Attack!” gaming event. Saturn Kozlowski outperformed fellow Emeris students and local high school competitors.

Kozlowski was on cloud nine and said she would be using her R3 000 cash prize towards paying her student loan. “I had so much fun. I didn’t expect to win and still can’t believe it,” she said.

“I had been practising in between lectures and whenever I had a break, but then I had quite a few assignments and didn’t get as much practise as I would’ve liked before the competition. I’m ecstatic about beating my personal best score of 5 000 in the finals. Achieving 6008 was a big jump”.

In addition to the cash prize, she received a R750 voucher from sponsor The Big Bang Shop.

The competition, hosted by Emeris and Donderbos Games, centred around AVOID, a commercially released Indie game developed by Henk Scheepers (Game Design and Development Lecturer at The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga).

Commenting on the success of the day, Scheepers said: “The first ‘AVOID: Score Attack!’ was everything we hoped it would be and more. What made the day special was seeing high school learners experience firsthand what The Vega School at Emeris is all about - creativity, passion and a genuine community built around game development and gaming culture”.

“I'm hoping to make this an annual event and to grow it bigger and better each year as we continue to build the game development and gaming community here in Durban,” he added.

Participants competed in a high score format with the top 10 advancing from the qualifier round to the finals.

Durban High School was the school with the highest score overall and received a R1 000 Takealot voucher.

The top 10 finalists were:

  • Kendra-Anne Mitchell (Grade 11 Danville Park Girls’ High School)
  • Revan Pillay (Grade 12 Durban High School)
  • Ashton Williams (Grade 12 Durban High School)
  • Troy Sissing (IIE Higher Certificate in Creative Development)
  • Matthew Hingle (IIE Higher Certificate in Creative Development)
  • Ethan Ramsumair (third year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development)
  • Louise Lee (third year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development)
  • Ayden Willet (second year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development)
  • Ivan Williams (third year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development)
  • Saturn Kozlowski (second year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development)

Ivan Williams (third year IIE Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development student at The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga) placed second and received R1 500 cash prize and a R500 voucher from The Big Bang Shop.

“I had the highest score in the qualifying round and felt confident going into the finals. Losing was disappointing, but I enjoyed the experience and would definitely participate again,” said Williams.

For some learners, the event offered a first taste of competitive gaming.

Grade 11 learner Lindelwa Zondi from Ridge Park College said she was initially nervous but quickly found her footing. “We’ve never gamed before and wanted to experience it. Once I started playing, I really enjoyed it”.

Grade 11 Danville Girls’ High learner Sonakshi Hariparsad learnt about gaming through her interest in YouTube videos and through her brother. “What stood out for me from this event was that it was a friendly competition and we also got to experience the vibe on campus, which was great”.

Grade 12 Durban High School learners and avid gamers Ashton Williams, Revan Pillay and Zipho Mdlalose heard about the event from their Information Technology teacher. They downloaded the AVOID demo and later bought the full game.

Williams and Pillay were among the top 10 who advanced to the final.

“This was the first time we entered a gaming event and making it to the finals felt like all my practising had paid off. Next time, I know I’ll do better,” said Williams.