NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

DigiPen Institute Of Technology Announces New Game Design Programs

DigiPen has been a leading source of new game industry talent in software engineering and art for over 19 years. "DigiPen is committed to address all aspects of the game production pipeline. We have excelled in Computer Engineering, Real Time Interactive Simulation and in Production Animation. Today, after many years of research that included consultation with professionals from the game industry, we are announcing two new degrees that we believe are very much needed by the industry. With these programs, DigiPen completes yet another area of its game education pipeline," explained Claude Comair, Founder and President of DigiPen.

"Both of our new programs offer education in level design and game play design. Additionally, each of the two game design programs focuses on either programming or art," said Jen Sward, current Chair of the Game Software Design and Production Department and lead developer of the programs. "We developed the curriculum based on the goal of creating great game level designers who are also capable programmers and environmental artists. The combination of those skills makes a graduate very versatile in our industry."

DigiPen graduates have already demonstrated their skills in game design and innovation, including the seven DigiPen alumni who went on to create Portal at Valve, and through DigiPen's graduates who have worked at companies such as Nintendo, Monolith, Activision, ArenaNet, Bungie among many others.

"We worked very closely with current industry designers, discussing the needs of graduates and the hiring requirements they have," continued Sward. "We felt strongly that designers need to have additional skills beyond straight game mechanics or story telling. Designers need to be able to code or script events or artificial intelligence, place and tune enemies, tune weapons or other entities within the game. On the other hand, designers can also be more artistically inclined, in which case they need skills in texturing, creating urban, rural, fantastical or science fiction environments. To achieve this, we created the two programs: the BSGD which has a high programming and technology component, and the BAGD which has a high artistic and architecture component." The two new programs focus primarily on creating Level Designers with game design skills for all media, and secondarily focus on the technology or artistic side of design.

When asked about DigiPen's new degree programs, Doug Lombardi, VP of Marketing at Valve, creators of best selling games and leading game technologies, commented that "DigiPen is leading the academic community by providing a starting point for those wishing to pursue a career in the country's fastest growing entertainment industry. From the Valedictorian of DigiPen's first graduating class to the seven graduates who produced 2007's Game of the Year, Portal, DigiPen has become a leading source for finding new and talented employees at Valve."

Beginning this September, DigiPen will be utilizing the Nintendo Wii and DS Development systems they received from Nintendo for students to use in some of their classes.

About DigiPen Institute Of Technology

DigiPen Corporation was established in 1988 inVancouver, BC as a computer simulation and animation company. In 1990, DigiPen started teaching dedicated programs in 3-D computer animation and game development in 1994. In 1998, DigiPen Institute of Technology moved toRedmond, Washington where it has been a leading educational institution offering four-year degrees in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (game programming), Production Animation, Computer Engineering, Game Design, and a two-year master's degree in Computer Science, 2-week exploratory programs for students in grades 5 and higher, and continuing education courses for industry professionals. Located near approximately 70 game companies, DigiPen is focused on preparing students for careers in the digital interactive entertainment industry and beyond. In September 2008, DigiPen will be matriculating the first cohort of students into its brand new design degrees as well as launching a branch campus in Singapore. For more information about the college or to apply for the September 2008 intake, please visit: http://www.digipen.edu.

     CONTACT:
     Angela Kugler
     DigiPen Institute Of Technology
     (866) 478-5236 or (425) 558-0299
     Fax: (425) 558-0378
     akugler@digipen.edu
     http://www.digipen.edu

SOURCE DigiPen Institute Of Technology