AU Game Center is a unique multi-disciplinary academic research center operating through a partnership between the School of Communication and the College of Arts & Sciences with core activities of the center are clustered in three interlocking areas:

1) World-class academic programs exploring games and interactive media in a variety of contexts that are based on experiential education approaches and innovative production experiences; 2) Critical research, artistic exploration, and in-depth analysis of games as a media form; and 3) Field-defining service and policy initiatives as they pertain to games and game education.

The common theme that runs through all of this activity is the idea of “games plus.” Beyond games as recreation or games as commercial media, the Game Center explores the use of games for diverse purposes and contexts, including education, health, community, policy, and politics — the profound impact on segments of the human condition beyond entertainment. Through this unique lens, as well as its engagement with and activities in the capital region, the AU Game Center offers a wholly unique and timely opportunity to explore and understand games and their profound impact on our world.

Bradley University’s game design program has been nationally ranked almost since its inception. Currently one of the top ten programs in the nation, our game design curriculum is built to give students as much practical, real world applicable experience as possible. During their time at Bradley, students develop anywhere from five to ten different games in a variety of genres and in team sizes ranging from solo efforts to teams of over twenty developers.

Games are transforming how we experience stories and are driving the development of new technologies. The Games Academy at Falmouth was founded to help you become a part of this exciting journey into the future of digital games. Within our studio-based environment, we actively ensure that you develop the skills and experience you need to succeed by involving you in the development of games, game art and apps.

The Department of Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD) explores how new technology can effect positive change in almost any aspect of society. The program, strongly transdisciplinary, comprises faculty from the worlds of business and design, obviously, but also from data science, engineering, programming, the arts, and the humanities.

The program offers two undergraduate degrees, one in ETBD and one in Games + Simulation. The Master in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Technology (MEET) brings together innovators from all academic backgrounds in order to gain the marketable skills required by top employers and become a well-rounded leader who excels in both entrepreneurship and emerging technology.

Graduates of the undergraduate and graduate programs often find themselves working as startup founders, digital marketers, growth hackers, social media marketers, UX designers, and more.

UCI’s Game Design and Interactive Media program prepares students to be innovative designers, developers, and industry leaders. Taught by internationally-recognized faculty and industry experts, the program’s unique two-year foundation includes hands-on courses in worldbuilding, game design and development, game programming, and game studies. Students then pursue advanced coursework that culminates in a two-quarter capstone project supported by industry mentors. Electives in advanced game design and development, programming, storytelling, games entrepreneurship, and the cultural aspects of games offer students the chance to build a portfolio that reflects their individual interests and career goals. The program explores both established and emerging platforms, including AR/VR, tabletop, and mobile. Located in Silicon Beach, our students benefit from access to industry partners like Blizzard, Riot, Electronic Arts, Obsidian Entertainment, Age of Learning, Disney, Tencent, and the Cartoon Network.

The Department of Interactive Media offers tomorrow’s visual storytellers and and innovators a complete curricular experience in critical understanding and effective creation of contemporary interactive design. Our programs are designed to prepare a new generation in the field of transmedia and interaction design with a mission to explore the creative uses of narrative, documentary, technology, design and human behavior to entertain, impact, augment, and influence how people communicate.

DePaul University’s game programs are housed within the College of Computing and Digital Media, a unique, collaborative college that is home to our Schools of Design, Computing, and Cinematic Arts. Our students work and learn together in interdisciplinary teams of artists, programmers, producers, writers, and sound designers, mastering the iterative development process and creating polished experiences. They build a portfolio showcasing their skills developing AAA, indie, and art games, as well as transformative play experiences on established and emerging platforms.

We offer state-of-the-art, pioneering facilities including our Virtual and Augmented Design Lab; DePaul Originals Game Studio; two makerspaces; and gameplay, research and development, animation, and playtesting labs. Students are encouraged to take part in several student gaming organizations, our Esports Center, and our game/animation study abroad program in Japan.

We are a Top Game Design School according to both the Princeton Review and Animation Career Review.

Offering a comprehensive curriculum that integrates technology training with critical thinking and artistic development, Kent State University’s Animation Game Design program encourages students to explore games in the context of traditional arts, time-based media, and design. Accredited through the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design (NASAD), the AGD program emphasizes critical and creative thinking while helping students develop the technological and professional skills they’ll need to excel after graduation.

Students in the AGD program receive hands-on instruction in collaborative environments from award-winning faculty active in the game industry. Through classwork, internships, and various opportunities to display their work, students learn not only how to make games, but how games can reach diverse audiences and serve various purposes, from games for social impact, to commercial games, to games for education. Learn more about the Animation Game Design program at Kent State University and check out some recent student work!

The Honours Bachelor of Game Design program prepares global-thinking graduates for a professional career in the international game industry. Graduates are prepared to work through complex design problems on multidisciplinary teams to deliver an engaging game product for a target audience that meets design and play experience goals. Graduates are design thinkers who approach design as a discipline, applying formal methods and best practices; following a rational design process that is iterative and play-centric. Graduates possess a deep communication and soft skill set. Graduates possess transferrable technical skills and a strong understanding of professional practices.

The Computer Simulation and Gaming (CSG) program in the Tandy School of Computer Science at the University of Tulsa, provides students with a hands-on, project-based, leading-edge curriculum that combines the multiple disciplines of computer science, art, music, film, and storytelling. Throughout their studies, CSG students will develop skills for game programming, 3D graphics, animation, 2D & 3D level design, game mechanics, and gameplay.

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees in a wide variety of art and design disciplines. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves the general public through a highly regarded series of online and on-campus year-round extension programs for all levels of experience. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.

ArtCenter’s Entertainment Design program is unique in that it culminates in a bachelor of science degree, not a bachelor of arts. This underscores a focus on the technical and industrial design aspects of the field alongside traditional storytelling and visual development. Entertainment Design students at ArtCenter choose between specialized tracks in Concept, Animation or Game Design.The primary goal of Entertainment Design is to provide students with a first-rate education, valuable skills and an extraordinary portfolio preparing them to become future entertainment industry leaders and top creative talent in gaming, feature films, animated films and related fields such as theme park design and visual effects design.

Go from player to maker.

In our new Game Art & Design major, you will be able to share and build games created through your unique perspective. You’ll learn everything game-making, from introductory coding to playable prototypes. You’ll develop the game art and game design skills and build the confidence you need to create both digital and physical game-ready assets alongside emerging trends in augmented and virtual technologies. Our program will give you access to a diverse community of students and local creators, visiting practitioners, and expert guidance from CCAD faculty across disciplines. As a Game Art & Design major, you’ll learn how to build environments intended for player exploration, storytelling, and immersive gameplay. You’ll be engaged with community game forums and have the opportunity to participate in hackathons, regional game festivals, and expos. In Game Art & Design, you’ll collaborate, connect, create, and play with your peers and those in the game industry.

Our graduates will be prepared with the skills needed to succeed across a growing industry. The Game Art & Design curriculum intends to prepare students for many possible career outcomes including independent production artists, interactive media artists, colorists, concept artists, 2D or 3D asset creators, production virtual and augmented reality artists, game designers, and play testers.

Established in 1964, the Department of Computer Science at Western has developed strong academic and research programs to become one of the leading establishments in its field. Our faculty are the recipients of many teaching and research awards. Undergraduates can specialize in computer science and pick up a minor in gaming, software engineering, theoretical computer science and applications in computer science. Undergraduates in other disciplines can major or minor in computer science. There are many industrial and research opportunities for our undergraduate students.

Our department is active in both the traditional research areas of computer science and emerging areas. The quality and diversity of the Department’s research activities is internationally recognized. The Department is supported with research grants from a number of sources including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Ontario Research Fund (ORF) and MITACS. Our researchers are involved in several collaborative initiatives both within the university and with external university and industrial partners.

The Department has strong international and industrial links, with connections to other universities and companies in London, across North America and Europe. This provides opportunities for students to involve themselves in exchange programs, or engage in work with researchers in other countries.