For his sophomore core English course at Bloomfield College David Crespo was required to find a volunteer position.  He went on the internet and came up with PERC, which happened to be located only two blocks from his home in Union City.  As a result, he has been serving dinners at the PERC dining room since March of this year. 

 

David was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and spent some time in Passaic before his family settled in Union City.  As a child David was an avid computer game player.  During his second year at Union Hill High School, he became very interested in the design of computer games.  Through this interest he found out that Bloomfield College offered a bachelor's degree with a major in game design.  He now plans to make his career in this field.  His bent is toward the creative design rather than the math-oriented programming.  This requires courses in animation, writing, and art illustration.  A requirement for graduation is, teaming up with a student programmer, to create a finished game.  Opportunities in this $13 billion a year industry, which David considers entertainment rather than art, seem endless; movies become games and some games wind up as movies.  There are other spin-offs such as clothing and music. 

 

In discussing the violence that people associate with computer games, David says that he has played the games all his life and has never been in trouble.  He feels that the individual will bring his or her tendencies to the game rather than be influenced by the game.  He does feel that the games will have an influence on civilization.  He hopes it will be a positive one.

 

David is very knowledgeable and articulate about his chosen profession.  He hopes to have his own company some day.  The course requirement has ended, but David continues to serve dinners every Monday and Friday.  He believes that PERC is too important to leave.

 

Jim Dette - 2006