EAST GREENWICH – In the latest step to establish a video gaming industry hub in the Ocean State, the New England Technology Institute will expand its game-development and simulation-programming technology degree program this fall to include video game design.
, NEIT students in their third quarter of game development and simulation programming can specialize in game design or game development. Students in both focus areas will receive the same associate degree in video game development and design technology.
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree can only study game development and simulation programming technology, but a bachelor’s program in video game design is on its way, according to NEIT assistant professor Bill Culbertson.
While game development focuses on programming and computer code, game design allows students to specialize in the animation and visual aspects of video games, according to Culbertson.
NEIT is adding nine courses for the new video-game-design program.
With the migration of 38 Studios’ headquarters to Providence in April, the video game industry is expanding in Rhode Island. NEIT’s gaming graduates have been recruited by 38 Studios and Turbine Inc., a Needham, Mass.-based online gaming company.
Because most NEIT students are commuters, “it will be a natural progression” for them to choose jobs that allow them to continue to live locally, said NEIT media relations specialist Linda Dionne. With a “growing gaming industry in Rhode Island … they have the opportunity now to do that.”
NEIT started its associate degree program in game development and simulation programming technology in October 2006, and 155 students have received the degree. The corresponding bachelor’s program started in April 2008 and has graduated 27 students.
