Students learn more about Game Institute at open house event for public, potential students

The modern world of high tech video game entertainment is about to get some fresh talent from Austin Community College's new Video Game Design program.

ACC's Game Institute held an open house Oct. 24-25 to introduce the public, as well as potential students, to the new program.

The open house also offered hands-on demonstrations of animation techniques and software, an inside look into the video game industry, and the chance to talk with instructors about what the courses offer.

Mike Stevens, ACC professor of 2D animation and motion graphics, explained, "I look for [students'] strengths, and that's what they do that semester."

Using software commonly used in the industry, like special effects program After Effects and animation program Flash, students gain real-world experience. They can pitch concepts for the class project at the beginning of the semester, and one student's idea is chosen as a class project.

With several years of full-time work in video animation, animation work for the video game industry, and freelance work for Disney, Stevens, along with the other professors in the department, have a wealth of real-world experience.

Kalani Streicher, Game Design professor, lived and worked in California for 18 years before moving to Austin this past Aug. to begin working for ACC.

By teaching and still working for his own company, Streicher believes he brings both instruction and the real-world experience students need to his classes.

Students in the Video Game Design program have all been enthusiastic about playing the games, learning, analyzing, and iterating, according to Streicher.

Video Game Design major Stephen Draina agreed that his enthusiasm has only increased since starting the new program this year.

Projects, like designing a rifle, run about four to five weeks.

"I really like all of my classes," said Brian Poche, who is a first year student straight out of high school.

Poche, who said he wanted to work in video game design since he was a freshman in high school, had been actively looking for a school with a good program.

He looked at various undergrad programs online, e-mailed professors at different schools, and attended sessions at a Houston school before settling on ACC.

He said he's very happy with the program and is leaning toward using the art aspect in his future career.

With no similar competition for this degree program in Austin, career options for students look good.

Along with San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City, Austin has a large game industry.

Austin also offers the bonus of now having a college that teaches the skills companies look for.

Small companies look to local schools when they need new employees, especially schools that specialize. The University of Texas, while offering film and art training and classes in game design, does not have a degree program that specializes in games.

Job-seekers in the video game and animation industry may not need to leave Austin. A person with the right skill set can build games anywhere and do freelance or contract work.

When Hollywood acquaintance and child voice coach, Tony Gonzales, looked to ACC instructor Mike Stevens for web design help, Stevens said he knew hundreds of skilled designers.

Thirty of his former and current ACC students volunteered their time and skills to improve Gonzales' website with cutting edge animation, while at the same time getting the opportunity to have their work seen.

The Visual Communications department is working closely with Radio, Television, and Film (RTF) department.

"We're joining forces, and we're working toward some common goals," Stevens said.

Priscilla Wicker, Visual Communications (VisCom) department Chair, said the new Video Game Design Program was created to meet the demands of the community. It started as continuing education courses and developed into an accredited program, although it still works closely with continuing education.

VisCom had animation degrees, but has now added the new Game Art degree, Game Programming degree, and Game Design degree. The Video Game Design degree includes VisCom and Computer Science courses.

A section of the VisCom website will have students' cartoons on it when they are completed and Stevens is entering the finished cartoons in competitions.

Stevens, who continues to work part-time for Human Code and has done work for Disney, Nickelodeon, Sony, Simon and Schuster, and Mattell, once took a class at ACC and is now a full-time professor in this burgeoning field.

The program went from two full-time instructors to nine, and from three classes to five specializations.

ACC student Brandtley McMinn, who is taking a double major in Video Game Programming and Game Art, started by taking some computer programming classes and hopes to take them to the next level of game programming. He hopes to one day get a job in an Austin firm or company.

Networking is important, explained Stevens, but companies look to ACC for employees.

"What I say is it's what you know and who you know," said Stevens.