What You'll Learn in Game Design Colleges

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Know What to Expect from Game Design Schools

Game design schools are relatively new in the grand scheme of things. When the first computer and video games came out, they were a novelty. Today, they are an essential part of the entertainment industry and a daily part of many Americans' lives. This change in the status of video games has led to the recognition of game design as a legitimate academic discipline.

To help new game design schools formulate curricula that would cover the important aspects of design and prepare students to easily transition from game design school to the workplace, the International Game Development Association (IGDA) formed an Education Committee. The following list reflects IGDA's recommended areas of instruction for game design schools. While different game design schools each have their own unique set of class offerings, this list should give you a general idea of what you'll learn in a game design program.

Critical Game Studies

Students learn the history of game design and gain the vocabulary needed to communicate effectively about game design. They analyze games and get insight into what makes them successful or unsuccessful.

Games and Society

Classes in this category explore games from a sociological, psychological and anthropological perspective.

Game Design

Game design courses teach students about the basics of game theory. Students learn practical aspects of game design, from rule design to interactive design to social game interaction and more.

Game Programming

In game programming classes, students examine the technical side of game design. They learn about computer science as it applies to the field of game design.

Visual Design

Students study how to design the visual elements of video games. Classes in the visual design category may include art disciplines like drawing, painting and sculpting, as well classes in creating 2D and 3D graphics to enhance the game experience.

School Spotlight

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Audio Design

Classes prepare students to design the audio experience of a game. Classes may cover music theory, composition, recording techniques and more.

Interactive Storytelling

Students learn the fundamentals of writing, including plot, character development, back-story and more. They then learn how to incorporate the basics of good writing into an interactive environment.

Game Production

Classes in the game production category teach students about managing the process of game design, from documentation to group dynamics to technical issues.

Business of Gaming

Students tackle the practical aspects of funding and marketing games. They learn about managing relationships with publishers, distributors, retailers and others, in order to understand these important aspects of running a successful game design business.

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