Support NeoGAF

[DDayton]

I'm working on a small project -- if I manage to pull it off, I'll give you guys all the details. However, I need a little help in creating a list of all known "video game design" programs/schools/etc.. in the USA and Canada. I know folks have discussed these before, but I'm having a hard time tracking them down.

If you know of any schools with video game design classes or programs, or of any schools dedicated to that (Digipen, for example), feel free to add to the thread. I know we have a few game design students and instructors in here...

Gazunta, feel free to chime in with any information from the land of Oz.

 

[RiZ III]

*Digipen is not for design.

 

[Smidget]

In Orlando, FL, also home of EA Tiburon:

http://fiea.ucf.edu/

Just started at the school I'm graduating from. I'm in Accounting/Business, so I'm not sure of how prestigious it actually is... or how helpful either.

"FIEA is a graduate video game design school offering an accredited master's degree in interactive entertainment. Areas of study include game design, development, art, programming and production."

Some upcoming speakers I noticed:
Friday, February 24, 2006
Jason Spangler, network architect for EA's MMO, Ultima Online

Friday, March 31, 2006
Bryan Walker, executive producer of Metroid Prime

Friday, April 7, 2006
Studio tour and product sneak peek at EA's Tiburon Studios

Friday, May 12, 2006
Eric Dyke, president of game development company n-Space

I guess just research. This is graduate level though...

 

[Smidget]

Also don't forget about FullSail which is also in Orlando, FL:

http://www.fullsail.com/

http://www.fullsail.com/index.cfm/fa/degree.versionDetail/dpv_id/10/game-design-and-development

 

[monchi-kun]

www.gamasutra.com should have the entire list

 

[DDayton]

Thanks so far -- if anyone knows of any others, do let me know.

 

[Ulairi]

Waste of time and cash on a degree that won't help you in many other fields and for a job you may not like.

Don't do it!

 

[Ghengis Cohen]

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/companies.php3?cat=153138

 

[={<SMOKE>}=]

get a computer science degree

 

[M3wThr33]

If I know David, he's not asking to enroll at these schools. Anyone who knows his background show know his intent.

 

[Mario]

Seeing as you asked about Oz, I may as well chime in with some New Zealand courses.

Media Design School, Auckland, NZ
Game Development Diploma
http://www.mediadesign.school.nz/diploma_of_game_development_overview.asp
(Sidhe offers an annual scholarship for that course and last years graduate project has been selected for the IGF Student Showcase at GDC)

Otago University, Dunedin, NZ
Computer Game Design paper
http://cosc360.otago.ac.nz/

There are a couple of other smaller courses around, but the above two are the most organised and most well developed.


Also, as an aside, Digipen is opening a campus in Singapore in the next year.

 

[daemonic]

Also, as an aside, Digipen is opening a campus in Singapore in the next year.

wow really, where i can find more info about that?

 

[Mario]

wow really, where i can find more info about that?

http://www.digipen.edu/main/Singapore

 

[daemonic]

thanks

 

[gamergirly]

get a computer science degree

Yeah, which Im almost done with. Believe me, it didnt cost the $82,000 Full Sail wants in 21 months

 

[Ark-AMN]

Only do it if you're sure you're going to like it. You'd best try making a few Unreal mods or something with and try some modeling and texturing in MAYA or MAX before you set aside the money to go to one of those schools.

Sure I go to one of those schools, but thats because I knew long beforehand that I've always wanted to make games.

 

[shuri]

I know that Ubisoft Montreal has a project going on with the University of Sherbrooke.

gamespot article: here here!

 

[Crazymoogle]

Also, as an aside, Digipen is opening a campus in Singapore in the next year.

That's really cool. I know the government was really pushing for more dev companies and ways to get the industry going over there.

 

[mugwhump]

Anybody know if the University of Calgary's any good? What would you say is the best college in Western Canada?

 

[maximum360]

You'd be better off getting a degree in computer science and going from there.

This is probably the equivalent of high schoolers getting suckered into joining the army. After they feed you all the nonsense, making the army seem quite dandy, real life hits you and then you realize why private Piles lost it.

Just think things through before you waste your money.

 

[Dyne]

Anybody know if the University of Calgary's any good? What would you say is the best college in Western Canada?

Well I'm going through SFU Surrey's interactive arts stream and there's game design courses. That's if you want a university education.

 

[blackadde]

Anybody know if the University of Calgary's any good? What would you say is the best college in Western Canada?

went there for two years for computer engineering. had a mild nervous breakdown, am now studying at the alberta college of art and design. strongly advise you to reconsider. i recall the u of c ranking pretty abysmally in macleans as of late, all their major renovations are not going to be completed until 2010 or so. my experience there is likely not quite as extreme as most, but the total lack of funding for X number of years resulted in professors that mostly blinked and pointed at calculus equations while muttering aloud in what may or may not be russian.

 

[M3wThr33]

Anybody know if the University of Calgary's any good? What would you say is the best college in Western Canada?

My girlfriend got a Bachelor's in Psychology there...

 

[DDayton]

If I know David, he's not asking to enroll at these schools. Anyone who knows his background show know his intent.

I'm in much too much scholastic debt as it is to go off an enroll in such a school. I have different plans afoot.

Plans that will probably fail, but plans all the same.

 

[mugwhump]

"You'd be better off getting a degree in computer science and going from there."
That's what I was looking at in University of Calgary. I just thought it'd be convenient cuz I live in Calgary. Maybe I'll just go to Vancouver.
BTW, Blackadde, what courses were you in? You make U of C sound pretty awful. :X

 

[blackadde]

well, that's just my experience with it, haha. i know people having a blast there, but most of them are in slack courses (communications & culture, aka general studies) and attend because otherwise they would feel out of place at the den. first year engineering is a foundation year; linear mathematics, calculus, c/c++ and the like. second year was signals/systems, more calculus, fluid dynamics, and a java / data systems course where they decided to lump in the CS majors (who had previous java experience) and the engineering kids (who had none) together. oh, that was real fun. as an aside, the entire first year student body signed a petition to kick out our worthless amat (calculus) 217 prof to no avail.

anyways, i guess i did come off a little alarmist in my first post. i just recommend that you check it out beforehand, attend some open houses, maybe talk to some second-third year students in the program you want to apply to. the university is finally (finally!) getting some funding, so maybe things are starting to turn around ... but i have my doubts.