Game Design continues momentum at SUNY Poly

Ibrahim Yucel, a SUNY Polytechnic Institute assistant professor and faculty lead for the school’s new interactive media and game design degree program, works with a student using the Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset.

The momentum of the newly approved Interactive Game Design program at SUNY Poly continues to grow, with a string of recent accomplishments by faculty that will open up even more opportunities within the program for its students.

Just this Fall, the Game Design Club’s application as an International Game developer Association Student chapter was approved by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA).

“This will be incredibly helpful in giving our students industry connections, promoting game jams, and having the opportunities to attend game developer conferences,” said Ibrahim Yucell, assistant professor of Communication and Information Design as well as lead faculty of the new game design program.

The International Game Developers Association is the professional association for over 12,000 video and computer game developers worldwide. It is incorporated in the United States as a non-profit organization. IGDA Chapters are one of the primary ways that the IGDA achieves its mission of advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.

Chapters provide local outreach, education, and advocacy to the local community through regularly scheduled meetings and events. By being connected with the main organization and other chapters, SIGs, and committees around the world, they are also linked to a global community that can help them keep their members on the forefront of trends in game development.

Professor Yucell also served on the Games and Policy Roundtable at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Game Center on September 20.

In partnership with the New York State Senate and Assembly, the roundtable served to offer discussion on the continued growth of the game industry in New York State. The event brought together leading voices in the game industry, academia, entrepreneurs and government to explore ways to collaborate and foster the game industry.

Tax credit legislation was recently authored in New York State by Senator Martin Golden (who is Chair of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Science, Technology, Incubator and Entrepreneurship) and Assembly Member Joseph Lentol that would offset 25 percent of digital games production expenses done within the state.

In July, the New York State Education Department and the State University of New York approved SUNY Poly’s new Bachelor of Science degree in Interactive Media and Game Design (IMGD). The addition of the IMGD program is in response to the continued growth of the gaming and interactive media industry and addresses the increasing demand for skilled workers who can maintain that growth.

As part of the IMGD program, students will be able to choose one of three concentrations: Interactive Design; Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship; and Asset Production. Students will learn how to successfully create, deliver and market interactive content and gaming entertainment through hands-on research and development opportunities. Potential career options include lead designers, concept artists, scriptwriters, and project managers among others.