Armed with a love of science, vivid imaginations and an antiquated computer, a pair of Ajijic teenagers have invented a video game program that has earned them international acclaim.
David Marquez González, 15, and Pedro Reyes Padilla, 16, have been pals since their junior high years. As third semester students at the University of Guadalajara affiliated Preparatoria in Jocotepec, they teamed up to create a video game about the principles of physics. Titled “The Legendary Guardians,” the game is designed as a time travel adventure related to applying the discipline in the development of alternate energy through encounters with famous scientists such as Copernicus, Newton, Einstein and Hawking.
Through outstanding participation in a regional informatics contests held last March in Guadalajara, the boys were selected to represent Mexico at Informatrix, an international computer project competition held last month in Bucharest, Romania. Presenting the game in the event’s programming division, Marquez and Reyes impressed the judges who evaluated the simply configured production and decided it merited a bronze medal award.
The accomplishment was recognized at a simple ceremony held in the youngsters’ honor Tuesday, June 12 at the Centro Cultural de Ajijic presided by acting Chapala Mayor Oscar España and their academic advisor Juan García Ramírez.
Speaking confidently as they reflected on the experience, the teens demonstrated humility in acknowledging the steadfast guidance and support of their teachers and families who helped put them on the world stage.
Developing the program was a challenge, they remarked, noting the limitations they faced with the only equipment at their disposal being an old model computer with just two gigabytes of memory capacity. They were still making adjustments to the game program the night before the Bucharest competition opened.
They also expressed profound gratitude to their parents for scraping up funds to cover their travel expenses, including a 1,000-dollar donation from Pedro’s expat employer. As a reward for their achievement, their parents have since dug deep in their pockets to buy each one an up-to-date laptop.
They are already eager to create new game programs, although their advisor is holding them back until after they introduce Legendary Guardians at an informatics events to be held elsewhere in Mexico in the coming months.