So you want to start a game program? IGDA Education SIG presents the Curriculum Framework Initiative & Curricular Models Thursday, August 9, 2007

Who are we and why are we here? Tracy Fullerton Assistant Professor USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media Division Co-Director, Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab [email_address]

Tracy Fullerton

Assistant Professor USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media Division Co-Director, Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab [email_address]

Who are we and why are we here? Magy Seif El-Nasr Assistant Professor Simon Fraser University School of Interactive Arts & Technology [email_address]

Magy Seif El-Nasr

Assistant Professor Simon Fraser University School of Interactive Arts

& Technology [email_address]

Who are we and why are we here? Susan Gold Academic Coordinator Garage Games [email_address] But ALSO Chair of IGDA Education SIG [email_address]

Susan Gold Academic Coordinator Garage Games

[email_address]

But ALSO

Chair of IGDA Education SIG

[email_address]

IGDA Education SIG One of many special interest groups from within Game Development * Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) * Artificial Intelligence * Casual Games * Education * Game Accessibility * Game Preservation * Human Resources * Indies * IP Rights * Mobile Game Development * Online Games * Production * Quality Assurance * Sex in Games * Students * Tools * Women in Game Development * Writing

One of many special interest groups from within Game Development

* Alternate Reality Games (ARGs)

* Artificial Intelligence

* Casual Games

* Education

* Game Accessibility

* Game Preservation

* Human Resources

* Indies

* IP Rights

* Mobile Game Development

* Online Games

* Production

* Quality Assurance

* Sex in Games

* Students

* Tools

* Women in Game Development

* Writing

Mission To create a community resource that will strengthen the academic membership of the IGDA while enhancing the education of future and current game developers.

To create a community resource that will strengthen the academic membership of the IGDA while enhancing the education of future and current game developers.

Resources http://www.igda.org/education

http://www.igda.org/education

Education Workshop at GDC http://www.igda.org/education/workshop

http://www.igda.org/education/workshop

Curriculum Knowledge Base http://www.igda.org/index.php/Curriculum_Knowledge_Base

http://www.igda.org/index.php/Curriculum_Knowledge_Base

2002-2003 Academic Summits are held at the annual Game Developers Conference 2003 the IGDA Curriculum Framework (version 2.3 beta) is published Adoption into curricula around the world

Academic Summits are held at the annual Game Developers Conference

2003 the IGDA Curriculum Framework (version 2.3 beta) is published

Adoption into curricula around the world

What is the framework? Core Topics Critical Game Studies - Criticism, Analysis & History Game Design - Principles and Methodologies Game Programming - Aspects of CS + specific areas that address gaming Visual Design Audio Design Interactive Storytelling Game Production Business of Gaming

Core Topics

Critical Game Studies - Criticism, Analysis & History

Game Design - Principles and Methodologies

Game Programming - Aspects of CS + specific areas that address gaming

Visual Design

Audio Design

Interactive Storytelling

Game Production

Business of Gaming

A Key Component: Soft Skills Speaking & Communication Writing Collaboration

Speaking & Communication

Writing

Collaboration

Interdisciplinary Work & Courses The ability to understand and work with a team of different disciplines Acknowledging and respecting those disciplines Communication Skills Breadth of Medium

The ability to understand and work with a team of different disciplines

Acknowledging and respecting those disciplines

Communication Skills

Breadth of Medium

Programs Overview Many different programs Based on different disciplines CS Design Film Sound & Music Architecture, etc.... Philosophies Experimental design focused Industry pipeline focused Research oriented Serious games

Many different programs

Based on different disciplines

CS

Design

Film

Sound & Music

Architecture, etc....

Philosophies

Experimental design focused

Industry pipeline focused

Research oriented

Serious games

Game Curricula: Some Highlights from Current Programs

Original, Innovative Student Games Cloud, USC IMD Pac-Manhattan NYU-ITP

Original, Innovative student games Darfur is Dying USC IMD Peace Maker, CMU ETC

Original, Innovative Student Games Homeless: It’s no game SFU - SIAT Film Noir Style Game Penn State - IST

Original, Innovative Student Games flOw on PS3

Original, Innovative Student Research Ideas JEDDAH: A Dystopian Dream's Interface: The Cursor as a Narrative Element SFU - SIAT

And List Goes On... Warm Control The Global Warming Project– DePaul University Fashion Designer – CMU/ETC Mermaids - GA Tech Agamemnon's Curse, RumbleBox – DigiPen Eclipse– SMU Guildhall Tragedy Tennis– Northwestern

Warm Control The Global Warming Project– DePaul University

Fashion Designer – CMU/ETC

Mermaids - GA Tech

Agamemnon's Curse, RumbleBox – DigiPen

Eclipse– SMU Guildhall

Tragedy Tennis– Northwestern

Programs Overview Programs have many concepts in common: Emphasis on interdisciplinary Group work Experimental

Programs have many concepts in common:

Emphasis on interdisciplinary

Group work

Experimental

Collaborative projects Advanced game teams, USC

Game design: paper prototyping Alex Mitchell, NUS, Singapore Kevin O’Gorman, American InterContineåntal University

Game design: Playtesting EA Game Innovation Lab, USC

Game Critique Girls and Games Penn State - IST

Theory and Criticism of Games Jose Zagal, Georgia Tech Jim Whitehead, UC Santa Cruz

“ Game appreciation” courses, theory and criticism of games Alice Robison and Henry Jenkins, MIT

Pitches, presentations & shows Carnegie Mellon ETC, Virtual Worlds Show

Pitches, presentations & shows Intermediate game pitches, USC

Industry Involvement Advanced Games, USC

Industry Involvement

“ Big” Games USC IMD

Game jams Parsons Mobile Game Mosh Nordic Game Jam

Improvisation Lori Shyba, University of Calgary Bernie DeKoven, Deepfun.com

Traditional & Virtual Theatre Penn State – IST

“ Live” Games Deborah Solomon, Montgomery College, MD

Community building between programs USC vs CMU Game Challenge

Student and Indie Game Competitions & Festivals Slamdance IndieCade E3 Showcase

Looks Great, Lots of Success Stories... But it’s not that simple

Challenges University setting – Silos Getting industry involvement Advisory board Feedback in game demos, fests, shows Finding skilled people to teach Undergraduate or graduate? Development of a course or a program? Major, Minor, Degree? Course structure? Technology

University setting – Silos

Getting industry involvement

Advisory board

Feedback in game demos, fests, shows

Finding skilled people to teach

Undergraduate or graduate?

Development of a course or a program?

Major, Minor, Degree?

Course structure?

Technology

Question & Answer Time Thank You