Project Overview

Our client, All State Insurance Group, presented us with a challenge: to develop an engaging game centered on the principles of OWASP for their new cybersecurity hires. For those unfamiliar, OWASP stands for Open Web Application Security Project, a comprehensive framework that guides the secure development of online applications, addressing the most critical web security vulnerabilities. In response to this challenge, we are in the process of creating CyEscape, a narrative-rich 2D game on the Unity Game Engine.

Problem Statement

In cybersecurity education, one of the challenges we've identified is the need for more practical learning opportunities as the field evolves. This is exemplified by the recent establishment of the Cyber Security Engineering major at Iowa State, highlighting this discipline’s growing importance. However, the primary obstacle we aim to overcome is fostering engagement and retention within the tech industry. While there's no shortage of online coding challenges and practice platforms, few offer immersive experiences that connect with external companies, lack narrative drive, or feature elements like missions, boss levels, or epic protagonists. These resources often focus solely on solving technical problems.

Our ambition with CyEscape is to shatter these conventions by crafting a narrative-rich adventure where every level is not just a challenge but a stage in a gripping story. Each stage is designed to introduce and explore a technical concept, progressively leading to a climactic showdown. This approach aims to raise the retention of learning new technical skills.

Team Members

Sri Charan Gurramkonda

Senior | CYB E

Project Lead + Game Dev

Charan has a passion for defensive security and web development. This project resonated with him as it bridges both interests. After graduation, he aspires to work with security-focused clients, applying his skills to advance security measures.

Charlie Millar

Senior | CYB E

Sprite Creation + Testing

Charlie has passion for video games. Joining this project has been an exciting opportunity to experience the intricacies of game development firsthand. While unsure of his post-college path, he hopes to work for a company that creates innovative video games.

Derek Lengmann

Senior | CYB E

Game Dev + Testing

Derek is interested about offensive security. He aims to apply the skills he has gained at Iowa State as he transitions into the workforce. With experience in developing multiple applications, this project is especially appealing as it combines his expertise in cybersecurity and app development.

Brayden Lamb

Senior | CYB E

Design Lead

Brayden has a passion for computers with a professional focus on Networks and Network Security. His love for video games drew him to this project. After graduation, he aspires to work in network or infrastructure engineering with a focus on security.

Caleb Lemmons

Senior | CYB E

Game Dev + Testing

Caleb has a keen interest in network and cloud-based security. Though different from his core passions, this project delved into OWASP security concepts, which he was eager to learn and apply in his future career. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career as a certified Cloud Security Engineer.

Parker Schmitz

Senior | SE

Technical Lead

Parker is passionate for understanding software systems at a deep, technical level. Leveraging his knowledge of video games and experience with low-level programming, Parker aims to help create a fun and high-performing game.