GCG Feature: 'Capitalizing on Curriculum'

Author: by Staff

The latest feature for Gamasutra-affiliated education site GameCareerGuide is a look at collaborations between the game industry and academia, with products from XNA through Torque X, Gamebryo and beyond instituted in universities and game schools, with help from their creators. As the article notes in its introduction: "As academic efforts grow, industry has been called on to participate in the education of potential future games industry employees. The British Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism, and Labour Member of Parliament Shaun Woodward even suggested that games industry should sponsor an academy in the United Kingdom. So where have these collaborations happened? Certainly industry presence is strong in vocational schools which seek out professionals to hold teaching positions, but several universities have gone a step further to either adapt certain industry technology and its associated curriculum or assist existing software and middleware developers create curriculum for packaged kits." The piece concludes: "As software and middleware continues to range from platform-specific to open-ended, considering the differences between game engines and art programs, for example, curriculum choices in game education tied to technology must be made carefully to reflect the needs of students. Schools are likely to continue with differing curriculum understanding the unique aspects of each degree as students head into the flourishing and competitive industry of video games." You can now read the complete feature on the subject, which provides an overview of efforts on collaboration, with plenty of links to previous stories on specifics (no registration required, please feel free to link to this feature from external websites).