In February, CCP Games, an Iceland-based digital entertainment developer, announced it would move its North American headquarters from Gwinnett County to Decatur and create 150 new jobs in the next three years.
Billy Olden is hoping to land one of them. Olden is the first graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University’s computer game design and development program, which was established in 2009.
Olden started as a computer science major, but quickly switched when he heard about the new major.
“I always had a passion for video games,” he said. “What I like about designing them is everything. There are virtually no limits, and it’s just so much fun.”
Olden graduated from SPSU in just three years and plans to apply for jobs with Georgia gaming companies first. “But even if I don’t get into a gaming company right away, I still have the programming skills to apply for traditional computer jobs,” he said.
Georgia has become a hotbed for the gaming industry. More than 60 video game developers invested about $28 million in the state’s economy in 2009. The Georgia Entertainment Investment Act, which gives tax incentives to developers, has created a welcoming atmosphere for start-ups and Georgia schools have responded.
Southern Polytechnic is the first public university in Georgia to offer a four-year degree in computer game design and development.
“We had previously taught some gaming courses in our computer programming and software engineering degrees and were able to build on that to create a four-year degree that focuses heavily on the programming side of game development,” said Jon Preston, associate professor and coordinator of the program. “This is a very popular program. We thought that we’d have 150 students by the end of our third year, and instead, we have 180 students at the start of it.”
SPSU accepts students into the program for the fall, spring and summer semesters and offers both day and evening classes. Tuition is about $2,700 for a 12-credit hour semester.
“This is a demanding field and program,” Preston said. “Students need strong math and science skills and an interest in computing to succeed. But they also need a creative side. If you ever played a board game or video game and thought about changes to improve it, you’d be a good candidate.”
The 120-credit-hour program covers the history and fundamentals of gaming, game design, 2D and 3D graphics, simulation, modeling, software engineering, artificial intelligence, data structures and algorithms.
“Seniors go through a two-semester capstone studio experience, where they design and build their own games and emerge with a portfolio that displays their design, programming and problem-solving skills,” Preston said.
They also graduate with minors in computer science and software engineering, boosting their marketability. Graduates can find jobs with gaming companies, interactive media firms and educational design firms.
“Entry-level salaries, according to the annual Game Developer magazine salary survey, average $45,000 to $60,000, but people can be making six figures within five years. Salaries vary by geography, company, title and skills,” Preston said.
For information, go to http://games.spsu.edu or call 678-915-7778.
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