Two Retriever-led video game design teams were selected to present their games at Super MAGFest (short for “Music And Gaming Festival”), one of the largest and most prominent fan-driven festivals in the U.S. dedicated to celebrating the gaming community. The event, which runs 24 hours a day, was held January 8 – 11 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, and attracted tens of thousands of game enthusiasts.

Evan McRae ’25, computer science and individualized studies, was a member of both teams. The first team presented a game called King Scribble, in which the player must help the main character—a doodle from a notebook—find his way back to his kingdom by drawing (or erasing) platforms and objects to traverse sketched landscapes and solve physics puzzles. The second team presented the game Phantom Feline, in which the titular ghost cat character navigates through 32 haunting levels by controlling lights and turning into a shadow to scale illuminated walls.

Both teams found support for their creative and technical endeavors in UMBC’s vibrant game development classes and clubs. Computer science majors can choose to follow the game development track, and any interested student can join the Game Developers Club. In 2025, UMBC was ranked #1 in Maryland and #20 on the East Coast in game design education by Animation Career Review.

The Game Developers Club is advised by computer science associate professor Marc Olano, who pioneered the procedural shading algorithms that are used to generate color, texture, and lighting in real-time on graphics hardware and are now a standard feature on every PC and game platform.

It was in Olano’s Capstone Games Group Project class that King Scribble first took shape. The class includes both student artists in the animation track and programmers in the game development track. McRae pitched the King Scribble idea—which he had first thought up in first grade—to his classmates, who selected it as one of four games to develop. Since the end of the class, the King Scribble team has continued improving the game. They started a limited liability company and have plans to ultimately commercialize the game. People can currently wishlist the game on Steam, a large digital distribution platform for PC gaming.

Phantom Feline was first developed during the Game Developers Club 2025 Spring Game Jam, and is free to play on Windows and Linux.

Creating the games “has been a dream come true,” says McRae. “I owe so much to the teams for coming together to make them a playable reality.” In addition to McRae, the King Scribble team members are Jay Cina ’25, computer science; Brian Lawser ’25, computer science; Colby Frashure ’25, computer science; Sormeh Jaribion ’25, computer science; Justin Gaylord ’25, visual arts; and Ginger Sealy, Halle Onyeador, and Anthony Bonilla Duron, all current visual arts students. The Phantom Feline team includes McRae and Scott Serafin ’25, computer science; Aidan Brown ’25, computer science; Jet Thompson ’25, computer science; and Joshua Epstein, a current student in music technology and music composition.

Permanent accommodation available (1BHK) from Feb 20th, 2026. Maiden Choice Apartments

Good evening! 

I'm excited to share that Commuter Week 2026 is almost here! This year's theme is Welcome to Commuterville, a celebration designed to recognise and support our commuter students at UMBC! 

Throughout the week, we will host a variety of programs focused on connection, resources, and community-building!

Name: Jana Esmat

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Spring 2026

Major: Information Systems & Financial Economics

Current Class Level: Senior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Co-Op

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Red Bull North America, INC.

Location of the Organization (City, State): Santa Monica, California

Title of position: Baltimore Student Marketeer Team Lead

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

As the Red Bull Student Marketeer Team Lead for the Baltimore Team, I oversee recruitment, onboarding, and training while continuing to execute in-field marketing initiatives. I was promoted to Team Lead in September after serving as a Student Marketeer for over a year and am proud to be the first UMBC student to hold this role. In my day-to-day responsibilities, I coach team members, contribute ideas during weekly meetings, support new hire training, and ensure executional excellence in the field. I also continue actively sampling, organizing events, and engaging directly with consumers across Baltimore, D.C., and the nation, whenever there's a big Red Bull moment happening in any other state, through strategic activations and events, I have helped increase brand awareness, drive product trials, and expand Red Bull's presence on campus, while building meaningful connections with diverse communities and organizations.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first learned about the Red Bull Student Marketeer position in May 2024 while attending a Red Bull Show run Formula 1 event in Washington, D.C. At the event, I met my now former Team Lead, who was sampling and representing the brand. We had a great conversation about Red Bull, campus involvement, and my interests, and she shared that they were actively recruiting Student Marketeers from UMBC. She took my contact information and later sent me the application through LinkedIn. I submitted my application shortly after in May, excited about the opportunity to represent a brand I had long admired.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I have enjoyed most about my position is the opportunity to be part of unforgettable experiences while representing a global brand. Through Red Bull, I have had the chance to work at incredible events and concerts, and even travel to places like Boston, Massachusetts and Santa Monica, California to be part of major global moments such as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Finale. It is inspiring to work for a company that is consistently ranked as having one of the best student jobs in the world, and I am especially proud not only to have been part of it, but to serve as the Team Lead for my city. Beyond the events, what stands out most is the community, teamwork, and connecting with Student Marketeers from across the country has given me a strong network and a sense of belonging within the organization.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I've made an impact by extending Red Bull's reach to UMBC and in the Baltimore market while also building a motivated, high-performing team. As the first Student Marketeer and now Team Lead from UMBC, I helped expand brand visibility through strategic activations, increased product awareness, and ensured consistent in-field execution. Beyond driving results, I've supported recruitment, onboarding, and coaching to ensure my team feels confident and aligned, creating a positive and high-energy environment that reflects the brand.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice would be to put yourself in the right environments and not be afraid to start conversations. I found my opportunity by attending an event, introducing myself, and showing genuine interest. You never know which interaction can open a door. 

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

"Work hard, play harder" is a mindset that truly defines my experience with Red Bull. I love being part of a role that pushes me to perform at a high level while also allowing me to be part of exciting, unforgettable experiences. The UMBC Career Center supported me along the way by reviewing my resume.