[game_edu] It's an interdisciplinary field

[Roberts, Scott]

Game Development doesn't "belong" anywhere.  It's a field that rivals the music and film industries in its cultural and financial influence.

Film programs had a similar history of evolutionary struggle, but now they either exist as independent entities within universities, or they've out-muscled their siblings due to size and dominate their colleges/schools.

In a similar way, game development programs have been born in all the numerous areas that have been described in other posts.  Once they start, however, a smart administration will encourage involvement by faculty in as many disciplines as possible.  And hopefully, depending on location, should involve practicing professionals.  We were lucky enough to have film and CS in the same building, so it's been a little easier to include CS, engineers, animators, screenwriters, sound, designers, producers and game studies faculty without much fuss.

But I disagree with the argument that it belongs in theater, CS, art, film, etc.  It'll take awhile, but eventually enrollment numbers will give this educational field enough muscle to escape those categories.  Numbers are one thing that administrations don't ignore, so utilize that political strength.

And Darius, thanks for that great parable!

Scott

Scott Roberts
Associate Professor
School of Cinema & Interactive Media
DePaul University
sroberts at CIM.depaul.edu<mailto:sroberts at cti.depaul.edu>

http://GameDev.DePaul.edu/<http://gamedev.depaul.edu/>

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