CSG Students Showcase Innovation at TU’s 2024 Maker Fair

CSG student Ryan Pederson shows off his class project "Smugglers Run" at the 2024 Maker Fair
CSG student Ryan Pederson shows off his class project "Smugglers Run" at the 2024 Maker Fair

The Computer Simulation & Gaming (CSG) program at The University of Tulsa takes center stage at the 2024 Tulsa Maker Fair, a celebration of creativity, technology, and hands-on innovation. Each year, the Tulsa Maker Fair brings together students, faculty, and community members to explore projects that blend art, science, and invention, and this year, CSG students deliver an impressive lineup.

From educational games to virtual reality simulations, the program’s showcase highlights the wide range of work being done by CSG students across disciplines. Their booths draw attendees into interactive experiences that demonstrate both technical skill and creative storytelling.

🔍 Featured Projects:

  • 🌱 Carbon Capture
    An educational game that introduces players to the science and urgency of environmental sustainability. Designed to engage and inform, this project uses gameplay to explore the impact of carbon emissions and the importance of climate-conscious choices.

  • 🩺 VR Simulation – Nursing Training (VRSNT)
    A virtual reality application built to help train nursing students in realistic patient care scenarios. The simulation places users in lifelike environments where they can practice clinical decision-making and communication skills in a safe, immersive setting.

  • 🚀 Smugglers Run
    Featured in the ALT+CTRL showcase, this experimental game challenges traditional gameplay by using nonstandard controls and interfaces. Smugglers Run pushes players to think and play differently, offering a glimpse into the future of interactive media.

  • 🎮 Blank Slate
    The 2024 Senior Production capstone project, Blank Slate represents the culmination of a year-long development cycle by graduating students. This ambitious title showcases the program’s emphasis on collaborative development, storytelling, and polished gameplay mechanics.


The Maker Fair highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the CSG program, where design, technology, and innovation intersect. Whether addressing real-world challenges or experimenting with novel forms of play, these student projects reflect the future-facing spirit of the program and its commitment to impactful, hands-on learning.

Congratulations to all the students who shared their work—and thank you to everyone who stopped by the CSG booths to support our makers, designers, and developers!

Professor Akram

Akram Taghavi-Burris has over 15 years of experience teaching game development and design, along with computer graphics, animation, and web development in higher education. Akram has an M.Ed. and is currently program coordinator and instructor of Computer Simulation & Gaming (CSG) in the Tandy School of Computer Science at the University of Tulsa.

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