ESA: Record number of game development classes offered in U.S.

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 1st 2009 at 3:30AM }

According to a report recently published by the Entertainment Software Association, colleges in 37 states (and the District of Columbia) currently play host to 254 courses in video game design, art and programming. That may sound like a skimpy sum, but it's up from 200 programs offered last year. We'd tell you what percentage increase that represents, but we didn't take many math courses throughout our collegiate career.

Rich Taylor, ESA's senior vice president of communications and industry affairs, said these figures are indicative of "the importance of the videogames industry, which is well-poised to create additional employment and professional opportunities in the coming years." We just see them as scholastic incubators for the next generation of Schafers, Carmacks and Wrights.

Tags: art, college, course, design, esa, industry, programming, rich-taylor, school, training

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 1st 2009 3:40AM

I think it's also indicative of colleges wanting to get in on the money being spent by the tons of people trying to learn about making games, whether or not they can offer a proper education on such a subject.

I should know, I'm one of them. I think I picked a good one though.

LuiginDaisy @ Oct 1st 2009 3:42AM

I can't become a game designer. I've never looked at a game and thought, "I need to tighten up the graphics on level 3."

BananaBoat @ Oct 1st 2009 3:49AM

I'm studying business administration so I can one day order the people that took game development classes around.

In other words, my goal is to be the pointy haired boss from Dilbert, with career aspirations in line with either Dogbert or Catbert.

(I have this awful feeling that I'll end up managing customer service reps in Calcutta instead)

BananaBoat @ Oct 1st 2009 3:50AM

Today I hit reply accidentally. FML

Shagittarius @ Oct 1st 2009 11:56AM

None of these classes will lead to a career in video game design. Taking Business Administration could lead to a producer position if you are interested.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

BananaBoat @ Oct 1st 2009 5:26PM

@Shag -

That's what I meant by ordering them around. I'd love to produce a game, since I'm not an artist, or a coder, or anything of that nature. I'm not hellbent on doing it though, and with the economy the way it is, I know I may have to take any job I can get once I graduate in a couple years. Having said that, there are so many jobs in the industry that have nothing to do with actually making games, and there is a great opportunity to get into the industry right now while it is still growing.

Realistically speaking, it is much more foolish to waste years of your life on a video game creation course. That really narrows down the possible places you can work, and the dev studios don't really like hiring people from those courses anyway (that is what I've heard, though it may not be the case anymore, I don't know)

CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 1st 2009 5:32PM

I always imagine that the game designer opens a panel on the DVD, takes out a tiny screwdriver and tightens up the bolt under the sign, "Level 3".

Jason @ Oct 1st 2009 9:47PM

Just be careful when selecting a school and avoid Westwood College at ALL costs. That place is a complete scam and a ripoff, and NONE of your credits earned there will transfer to ANY other school. They lie to you and tell you they're in the accreditation process-which they told me when I attended SEVEN YEARS AGO-and they're STILL telling that line to students.

For those who don't know, Accreditation takes about 3 years at a REAL college. Westwood is NOT a college and likely never will be.

Giroro @ Oct 1st 2009 3:48AM

Everyone knows that every good game designer ever learned everything they know in classes from community colleges

Steve @ Oct 1st 2009 3:51AM

It's a 127% increase.

jquadman @ Oct 1st 2009 9:06AM

Try 27% increase. By your logic, if it stayed the same it would be a 100% increase.

rowd149 @ Oct 1st 2009 12:18PM

It's 127% of the original, 27% increase.

Misanthropic Gamer @ Oct 1st 2009 4:02AM

These courses are a waste of time and money. Potential developers need to have a strong background in mathematics, physics, and computer science in order to stand a chance in the business. I feel for the gullible students on these Mickey Mouse courses thinking they'll actually land a job in the gaming industry. It's a smart move for colleges but also pretty underhanded of them to be exploiting impressionable kids.

WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 1st 2009 4:39AM

It kind of goes back and forth, depending on what aspect of game development you're looking to go into. For programmers and other systems designers, yea math and physics are important. Technical schools are great, but they won't necessarily teach you how to make a game fun. People like me though, who are focused on the art side, are actually better off going to a good art school with a game design major. Nowhere else are you going to find classes on modeling, rigging, animation, texturing, lighting, etc, as all part of the same curriculum. Maybe at an animation school, but you'll miss out on the whole developing for real-time skill set.

It also heavily depends on the school. Some places know what they're doing and you can actually really learn a lot. Far more are in it for the cash and as you said, are exploiting the trendy student market.

Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 1st 2009 5:34AM

I thought that jobs in the industry became more and more specialized as games get bigger and more people work on them. Like in the days of Commodore 64 you'd have two guys making a whole game from the ground up but now you have people specifically doing shading for fingernails. ;)

Well I'm glad I chose education in Graphic Designs/illustration instead. Seems like game developers work so much overtime they hardly have time to play any games themselves...

Jason @ Oct 1st 2009 9:47PM

For programming, yes. For art design or even game DESIGN, no. What you need a good foundation in is *art* and *design*, which these schools don't really offer, at least not Worstwood.

rahmenxnoodles69 @ Oct 1st 2009 4:04AM

All of the ads I've ever seen for those courses make me wonder if I can even take them seriously. It always seems like they're just targeting people who like to play video games and saying "Hey, do you like Halo? Well what if YOU MADE IT??? Wouldn't that be AWESOME??? Well if you enroll in our classes, we'll give you a degree in making video games so you could totally do that maybe!!!!"

Not to discourage anyone of course, I just always wondered what programs were good and which ones were just crap trying to make money off of the gaming demographic.

[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Oct 1st 2009 5:23AM

Sad part is I know two people like that at my college. They only really care about working for Bungie. That's it.

WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 1st 2009 1:47PM

Oh, and to make things worse, the 3D models you see on screen during the commercial weren't even made by students, they just bought some pre-made Poser models and made them move around a little.

ugg.tryptophan @ Oct 2nd 2009 3:23AM

Game development requires many different elements, the thing that sets my "B.S. degree" alert off is that it doesn't specify which part of game design you'll be studying. A doubt any 2 or 4 year can teach any one person the complexities of planning, writing, art production, 3d sculpting, animation, programming, and testing process.

REIGN x 777 @ Oct 1st 2009 4:10AM

My mom said I would never get ANYWHERE with these games!

Malachi @ Oct 1st 2009 4:15AM

Your avatar makes your comment 9001x better

Malachi @ Oct 1st 2009 4:16AM

Reply fail, was supposed to go to REIGN

Shaun @ Oct 1st 2009 5:45AM

As someone who works for a (pretty decent) games company I'll just say this. Not a single person (that I know of) who works here has a degree of this kind. In fact (And this will annoy a lot of people) quite a lot have no degree what so ever. The designers tend to have degrees relating to either 3D Design, Art etc. Most programmers tended to study computer science or maths/physics but they're also the ones who most often don't have a degree.

So I'll just say this, if you want to get into the Games Industry then get a decent portfolio of work because when people come in for interviews that's the no.1 thing we look at. And again that's only from this places perspective.

squeehunter @ Oct 1st 2009 9:27AM

So you're saying that actually knowing what to do is more important than a degree? Wow! I guess like Slash isn't a classically trained guitarist.

[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Oct 1st 2009 5:51AM

As a Game Design/Architecture student, when it comes to Game Design, its really all about your portfolio that matters, and being as I am attending(not currently) a private art school for that exactly, I think I'll do fine.

Hopefully.

[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Oct 1st 2009 6:01AM

Also, i wouldn't mind being the next Schafer. ;)

Aerothorn @ Oct 1st 2009 5:56AM

Of course, Britain (with a quarter of the population of the USA) has over 300, and they tend to offer a wider diversity of courses (video game theory stuff, narrative, etc.) rather than just art and programming.

[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Oct 1st 2009 6:02AM

So does mine.

You can even earn a Minor in Concept Art her as well.

[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Oct 1st 2009 6:04AM

*here

Be gentle, its late here and I'm a bit insomniac right now.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 1st 2009 8:13AM

that;s what she said

tragicdeath @ Oct 1st 2009 6:07AM

champlain college in vermont has a great program. They've been doing it since 2004 and I believe (If I remember correctly) have connections with Ubisoft Montreal.

Mike @ Oct 2nd 2009 2:04PM

Let's not kid ourselves, they have an "OK" program. CC is definitely no DigiPen, but the Ubisoft Montreal connections are pretty good; I heard one of the professors (program director?) worked on Myst 3 for Ubisoft.

Colin @ Oct 1st 2009 7:02AM

As a person who went through a course similar to this and has worked in both the game industry as well as film I can say that 90% of those courses are totally worthless. Most programmers and designers have computer science degrees, and most of the artists either went to a full on art college or just made a demo reel on their own. I ended up going to the Vancouver Film School, and while being one of the most well known schools for getting into the industry the fact still remains that a good 30% of the people through the course will never find work and will have wasted $30-$50 grand and about 40% more will have to go back to their home country and find work doing graphic design or something else.

This isn't to say that you can't make it from one of those courses, but be weary, that community college that is offering that game design degree is probably in it for the cash grab.

Jayvan @ Oct 1st 2009 7:54AM

I am thinking to go to Full Sail College, and they are serious about their courses.Supposably 84% get a job before 1 year prior to finishing the course...Supposably...Even RIT provides this and they are very serious. However like you said, I wouldn't want to waste my money nor time. Full Sail you get the development bachelor in 21 months and the design master in 12 months. So what should I do? (sorry if this is spam or not on topic, but I'm concerned about wasting money)Tell me if they are serious, from what I see they are...

links:

http://rit.edu/programs/ugrad/colleges/ccis/game.html

http://www.fullsail.edu/flash/index.cfm?degree=game-development
(click on ''the program'')

http://www.fullsail.edu/flash/index.cfm?degree=game-design
(click on ''the program'')

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 1st 2009 8:37AM

I live near RIT, a couple friends have gone there and it's a really good school. I'm not sure what your geographical or financial circumstances are, but I would go there instead of full sail, that way if you feel the game program is bullshitty, you can still switch to some regular computer science or engineering programs or whatever

Jayvan @ Oct 1st 2009 9:25AM

@ The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi]

My geographical location is Rochester and my financial circumstance is that my parents make slightly just above income standards of having 3 kids. More than 60,000...so that program where you can get full tuition is not for me. Loans will be my optiion. Though I truely believe what Full Sail and RIT provides is not bullshit. As they have coarses of Physics, Math, and computer science for the game developers, stated by Shaun and others " Most programmers tended to study computer science or maths/physics but they're also the ones who most often don't have a degree."This is a serious discussion and it will provide insight to the people who think the colleges they are applying are serious. If they are they will teach you the necessary things...but what are those things. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one seeking this information.

percycatamorious @ Oct 1st 2009 10:21AM

If the commercial in the picture was set to music, it would look like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVKy0JzX_4I

Danimal @ Oct 1st 2009 10:23AM

I went to an art school and got a Bachelor's in Game Art and Design. I actually took all my lessons a different way and went into an architectural route with 3D. (My company's temporary website features my and another member's work for our 3d department -> www.rd-3d.com and a new pageturner -> www.rd-3d.com/overview)

Getting into a game company can be tough especially if you are in a small town and unable to move to where the jobs are. My point is that there are many different ways you can take the knowledge you gained from training in making video games.

Markez @ Oct 1st 2009 10:25AM

I usually see commercials for a lot of these places during crappy daytime television, and reaaally latenight television. And their commercials suck. Same times when I see the crappy online or shoddy local vocational schools advertised.

ODST09 @ Oct 1st 2009 10:52AM

I hope this industry doesn't turn into the Hollywood scene where everyone and their grandmother thinks they can throw their name in the hat and those of us with some real talent have to push through that crowd. I hate those advertisments that make it look as though anyone that likes games can be in development. It does take a degree of smarts and talent. It's not like ANYONE can just build a house. Someone else brought up a good point too. Design is a science and talent. There are so many garbage games out there on the shelves that are either rushed or look pretty but are not fun to play at all.

hunter @ Oct 1st 2009 11:19AM

now is when i miss the good old c64/amiga times when a game could be created by two people (or one if you knew how to program and draw) the irony is that the present industry was created by this kind of people, bedroom programmers are the ones who are now at the power, not guys with master degrees, but now suddenly they want to tell you that the only way to do it is if you spend thousands of dollars in universities, i think that the indy scene can show that you don´t need to do that in order to create a game.

NintendoJunkie @ Oct 1st 2009 11:53AM

Yes these commercials that air on *COUGH*G4TV*COUGH* are downright hilarious. One in particular that I remember, it was like the commercial was filmed in the 90's & suddenly it's like making N64/PS1 type graphics games is SO AWESOME.

*rolls eyes*

But not even just that...it was the overall cheese factor.

I already have an Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems, but had applied for school @ NC State. I originally had interest in the Network Engineering program but then noticed they had a B.S. in Game Design. I wasn't accepted because I didn't have the necessary math credits. I KNEW I didn't have those classes but @ the time when I applied I didn't know that you couldn't just be admitted as a general admission student so to speak. You have to enter into a specific program.

After some research I found out that Wake Technical Community College has a pretty decent Simulation & Game Development program for being a community college. It was actually set up by people in the games industry. In case anyone didn't know, the Raleigh, NC is somewhat of a hotbed of game companies. The biggest ones being Epic Games, Insomniac (new studio), Funcom, & Red Storm Entertainment (owned by Ubisoft).

At Wake Tech, you take classes & work in projects that cover all aspects of working in a team to make a game, then you can choose if you want to focus on programming or art for your Associates Degree concentration. They also help you build your portfolio as you go thru the program so that when you graduate, you have something to show potential employers.

Of course without any industry work experience or mod experience, the chances of landing a job are smaller. Most if not all studios require AT LEAST one shipped title experience. Needless to say this industry is VERY competitive. I was going to start school @ Wake Tech this fall, but didn't get my application & financial aid in on time, however I will be starting in January. I am taking the initiative now while I'm not working to spend my time learning XNA, C#, C++, Maya, the Hammer Editor, UE3, etc.

I don't expect to just sit back & let someone guide me by the hand. I know this is what I want to do & feel called to. That doesn't mean that I necessarily have this magical talent to learn everything over night. I know that I'm going to need to work my ass off to be good @ it, & that is something that I have learned to accept.

Lurkero @ Oct 1st 2009 2:51PM

This report will soon be followed by another record number of game development layoffs

knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Oct 1st 2009 2:53PM

The problem is that, most people who go on to such courses want to be told explictly how to make games. I say that because I am on such a course (one of the best in the UK) and I see it all the time. The games industry is a very tough one to get involved with. If you want to go into programming especially, it's a very complex job, on the whole far more difficult than ordinary software production. If people go into courses without the drive to learn for themselves they will fail. I went onto my course because I wanted to use it as a stepping stone, and to force me to do different things, but I've always done far more work in my own time. And I'm working on the Milo engine team at Lionhead right now on. I only feel that was possible because of how much time I spent outside of Uni (and, indeed, school since I've been hobby programming for about 8 years), even though the course is really excellent. I guess the issue there is that it's too easy to pass the course really. Sounds a bit weird, because the course is very hard in fact, but in comparison to working on proper game projects, passing with a D isn't going to prepare you.

Just my 2 cents.

GoldN @ Oct 1st 2009 3:59PM

Just to throw in my two cents:
I think game development courses have value, but, for the most part, only if they're taught by a legitimate university. The community college commercials they always show on TV about playing games for school are a load of bullshit obviously. Then there are also the trade schools like DigiPen and Full Sail, which, while much more legitimate than the community colleges, probably won't give you a well-rounded education (something I feel is necessary for surviving in the game industry). Finally, there are the few major Universities that are starting to offer degrees in game design. NYU is developing a program, Carnegie Mellon has a program already in place (I've also heard that you're pretty much guaranteed a job in the business if you get that degree), RIT has a program, and USC has two programs. I go to USC and they have one program called Interactive Entertainment, which concentrates on the more artistic side of game design. There other program is the one I'm in. The major is called Computer Science (Games) and it's basically a computer science program (with most of the same basic required courses), but any space you'd have for electives is mostly filled with courses geared towards your major. For example, your senior year is spent working on a final games project, and it requires you to work with a team of people including some outside your major (both Konami's Reflection and 2K's Misadventures of PB Winterbottom are results of senior games projects at USC). My adviser tells me I am pretty much guaranteed a job in the industry since my major is small and USC has a good network, but even if I don't break into the industry immediately (or at all), it still provides me with a good computer science background that I'd be able to take advantage of elsewhere. So, yeah, that's how I feel about it...

Also, at myself:
tl;dr

Joloto @ Oct 1st 2009 5:25PM

I think there are already enough relevant degrees that command some actual respect (Computer Science, Business/Management, etc.) that will prepare you more for that sort of work that you'd be an absolute fool to enroll in something as specialized as a game development university or degree program that isn't merely an emphasis on something more universal (such as Computer Science).

This isn't a vocational trade, so stop treating it like one.

Colin @ Oct 2nd 2009 7:11AM

I have heard good things about Full Sail and at one point I was planing to go there, but the fact that I'm Canadian and the Vancouver Film School wasn't in Florida won over, and I think I ended up better for it.

If your near RIT take a tour, 90% of schools will be more than happy to have a admissions person take you for a tour around the campus. Go with your gut, if it's in a dungeon somewhere with only two classrooms then it's probably not the best place to go.

In the end remember that any program that you go into is going to have people who flunk out and people who graduate but don't really care. The important part is to get to know the people who do care about what they do and where they go in life. You'll improve your chances of surviving greatly if you do that.