ESPORTS
Introducing Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) By Tr ac ey M. Hawk i ns
B
rennen Dicker, Executive Director of GSU’s new Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) gave us some exciting insight into their fascinating new program. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE OUR READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR
NEW PROGRAM?
We officially opened our doors at CMII in 2017 with approximately 400 students. Com- ing into the fall of 2021, we are looking at serv- ing close to 1000 students! In that short time, CMII students have gained hands-on training with various pipelines in emerging technology, in- cluding tools used for gaming, animation, motion capture, 3D rendering, and virtual and augmented reality. All of these tools help teach the next gen- eration of digital storytellers and prepare them for various entertainment industry careers. We are very excited to offer two distinct under- graduate degrees. Our B.A. in Game Design trains interested students to integrate game arts with re- lated advanced technology software platforms in which videogames are conceptualized, designed, and created. Our B.S. in Game Development trains stu- dents for coding, programming, and software-inten- sive game development careers. The program is for students aspiring to gain the background and technical skill necessary for a career in game development or sci- ence, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related areas in computational media, and connects students to the region’s game design companies and the (regional) industrial ecosystem for games development. WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATING FORCE BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PROGRAMS? The gaming sector is growing in Georgia. By some estimates, game development and design has a $3 billion economic impact in Georgia. We also see many gaming companies either growing locally (such as Hi-Rez Studios) or relocating to Georgia, creating a demand for workers. It’s a very exciting time for us to be preparing students for a workforce that is growing so quickly each year. HOW “HANDS-ON” IS THE PROGRAM? WHAT SKILLS MIGHT STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM EXPECT TO GAIN? As Prof. Max Thomas says: “Students can be as hands on as they want to be. We have many ways to get involved. They typically just have to choose to do so.”
Photo by ER Photography Brennen Dicker
Varsity Esports Team. CMII is partnered with the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) and collaborates with GFA on related certifications in esports management for students who want to work in that and associated sectors. We look forward to exploring more course offerings in the future. FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN ESPORTS, HOW MIGHT THEY CONNECT TO TOURNAMENT COM-
Photos courtesy of GSU
PETITIONS, THE ESPORTS TEAM, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY? At GSU,we have our PantherLAN tournament that goes on in the spring and fall of every academic year. The tournament features game play in Smite , Overwatch , League of Legends , Hearthstone , Super Smash Bros. Ultimate , Tekken 7 , and Dragon Ball Fighter Z . Matches are live-streamed through our GSU Esports Twitch Channels. The tournament was online this year and saw an excellent turnout: PantherLAN had 140 competitors (from all over the country), 45 winners, and more than 2000 viewers on Twitch. We’ve also had sponsors provide over 4k+ worth of prizes.
I think ‘hands-on’ depends on the type of program. The Game Dev. program is hands-on because students learn to build small, tangible products in our courses. For example, every student in Prof. Ying Zhu’s course needs to develop 5 to 6 mini-games (or computer programs) in a semester. These projects can be added directly to their portfolios. We have a good mixture of theory and practice, but the focus is on practice. The skills students gain are through the pipeline we teach, which include storytelling, presentation and pitch, game engine techniques, 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, experimental technology, and a wide range of options to specialize in specific skills and tools. In addition to course work, every student who goes through CMII has an opportunity for an internship by their senior year. It is encouraged and we hope to place them all in their respective fields. DO THESE DEGREE PROGRAMS TIE INTO YOUR ALREADY- ESTABLISHED GSU GAMING TEAM? Since we have degrees in gaming, we think it’s great to have the GSU Esports Team practice in our facility; however, our degree programs are not tied to the GSU
Students can go to this site for more information on our Varsity Team and PantherLAN: cmii.gsu.edu/students/esports/
For students who want to get involved, there are plenty of resources, including Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA), which holds a number of events throughout the year as well as hosting the Southeasts Premiere Interactive Entertainment and Gaming Expo (SIEGE): ggda.org
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