Degrees and Programs in Video Game Design

Video games have come along way from the days of Atari and Pac Man. The video game industry makes billions of dollars every year. Each new game that comes out is little more cutting edge than the last one and it seems the games are becoming more and more realistic and judging from the industry’s revenue, addicting.

It takes approximately $10 million dollars to produce and market a new video game, if the game is particularly elaborate it could cost twice as much to make. When companies have that much money on the line they need to hire quality skill production employees. A degree or certificate from a game design program screams out to employers that an applicant has been trained and has the experience needed to innovate and work on a new project. In addition, those who have attended a formal game design program should have a developed portfolio from projects they have worked on while in school.

For example, Expression College for Digital Arts has an impressive gallery where you can browse through student’s final projects that highlight their work in animation, motion, compositing and more. Not only is this a fun site to check out but it will give you an idea of who you are up against if you are thinking you don’t need the formal training.

Jobs in the game design industry can be lucrative too. Entry-level salaries may not buy that house in Hawaii you have been dreaming about but stick with it and eventually you might. Video games are becoming more profitable than movies. For example, the popular game Vice City raked in $70 million the first three days it was available to the public! Half of Americans age 6 and older plays video games. Not a bad time to be getting into the game…so to speak.

Video Game Design Curriculum:

Every program that you will investigate will have a slightly different spin on how they shape their students in the art and science of game design. When you find a program or school that you like pay close attention to the details of how you will be taught. For example does the program you choose mainly focus on animation or do they teach programming languages and in depth coverage of other aspects of game design such as sound engineering, compositing etc? Does the program offer a lab where you can come in and spend many hours honing your skills? What kind of experience do the professors have in the game design industry? These are all good questions you should seek out before registering for a program. As always, check whether it is important or not that the school you choose is accredited and reputable within the industry you wish to work in.

In general game design curriculum will offer a variation of the following courses

• Game design strategies
• 3D animation
• 3D modeling
• Basic art and design skills
• Writing and communication skills
• Compositing
• Game programming
• Game production
  

The following are a list of schools that offer programs in the game design or related industry.

Collins College- Tempe, Arizona
BA Game Design Program
http://www.collinscollege.edu/game-design.asp

American Intercontinental University (AIU)
Bachelors in Visual Communication
http://www.houseofedu.com/aiuat/programs_design.jsp

Gerry Brown the Toronto City College
Postgraduate certificate Game Design Program
http://www.gbrownc.on.ca/Marketing/FTCal/design/G405.html

Art Institute Online
Game Art and Design Program
http://www.aionline.edu/programs/online_gameart_design_degree.asp

Keiser University
Video Game Design program, Associate of Science Degree
http://www.keisercollege.edu/

Westwood College
Bachelor Degree in Game Art and Design
http://www.westwood.edu/degrees/design/game-art-and-design.asp

Kaplan University
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/ Multimedia and Animation
http://www.kaplan.edu/ku/schools/it/default.aspx?School=It&MainTab=Program&loc=1

Expression College for Digital Arts
Expression Digital Visual Media Program
http://www.expression.edu/dvm/programov.html

Full Sail Real World Education
http://www.fullsail.com/

DigiPen Institute of Technology
Degrees in:
Real Time Active Simulation
Computer Science
Computer Engineering
Animation
http://www.digipen.edu/programs/degrees/

When you have decided upon a program you wish to pursue go to our search option, you may then type in the name of the school you are interested in. Click on the results to contact the school for more information.

Video Game Design Success Story

The young 10 year olds who run CKOA, Inc a video game design studio, got their training through taking distance learning courses online. The found was recently named Coolest Kid in Seattle. I guess title like that are cool for 10 year olds. But it also shows that anyone can learn video game design with online training.

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