Dec. 8, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Dakota State University. 

While a university program in game design might conjure up images of students lounging about playing video games, there’s a lot more to it.

“It’s a comprehensive program that challenges students to learn the main aspects of game development art, coding and design,” said Erik Pederson, an assistant professor of game design at Dakota State University.

The game design program is not limited to the creation of games, “but to any application that can be interactive, such as product visualization (cars), virtual tours, simulations and animations,” added Peter Britton, an assistant professor of game design.

With the breadth and depth of the program, DSU students will develop a wide array of skills in addition to deep knowledge in the student’s focus areas of study. It is important for the students to gain experience in all facets of game development.

“Having a solid understanding of the development pipeline allows students to be more productive in their role,” Britton said. “Knowing where you fit in the puzzle enables greater competency and flexibility.”

Students also learn the business side of game development, studying the world of independent games, how to start an indie game company and how the AAA game industry works. AAA game companies are large companies, usually with several hundred employees, such as Blizzard or EA.

Additionally, students will develop skills including teamwork, programming, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving.

“It prepares students to work in many different digital environments, not just game development,” Pederson said.

After building that foundation of knowledge, the students will spend the last two years of school applying their skills to the development and production of finished gaming products that can be published.

“This experience is invaluable to them and proves that they can adapt to the issues and daily grind while maintaining the focus of completing a long-build project,” Pederson said. “This process takes place in a team environment, where all members are held accountable for their contributions, successes and failures.”

Some of the successes of the program can be found through two student games that are available for download and play on the online gaming platform Steam. With their games on Steam, students can show they have successful products published even before they graduate.

Mi Scusi, a wacky adventure game, and 3 O’clock Horror, a Lovecraftian horror adventure game, have thousands of downloads and plays. Gamers have even created YouTube videos of themselves playing the games for others to see.

Mi Scusi, which was uploaded to Steam this fall, has received positive feedback, according to student Alexander Maxey. He worked as part of a nine-member team to create the game.

Players of the game interact with the world around them while working to meet goals in each level. “If you see oncoming traffic, you could save the old lady crossing the street, or you could take little Billy Joe and throw him in the way, so it’s all kind of cartoonish mayhem,” Maxey said.

In 3 O’clock Horror, which was uploaded to Steam in June, players solve puzzles in a mansion to come to one of three endings, according to Gabe Simao, game designer and team leader.

Simao worked as part of an eight-member team to build the code, art, storyline and gameplay. Since uploading it to Steam, Simao has begun another project, converting the computer game to a mobile app through a Student Research Initiative, or SRI, grant.

Simao said he is thankful that Pederson and Britton recommended creating a mobile experience for the game.

For the SRI, he is working with Pederson as his mentor to rewrite code that must be modified for the transition from PC to mobile platforms. This experience will be especially beneficial in the game industry, showing that he can publish a game for the PC environment and rebuild it for the mobile market, Pederson said.

“This fact makes him more attractive as a potential employee for any studio or development business,” Pederson said. It will showcase his adaptability and problem-solving skills.

To find out more about the game design program visit DSU’s website.