Story by Daniella Tebib, Staff writer 

After a high demand from current and prospective students, Murray State added programs for game
development and design.

Renae Duncan, associate provost for undergraduate education, said students will now be able to graduate with a minor in game development, a bachelor’s degree in computer science/game development or an undergraduate certificate in game design.

She said students will receive training and experience in many areas including animation, programming, cinematography and sound effects. Duncan also said these programs are important because there is a huge industry in these fields with many employment opportunities for graduates.

Game Development

Game development is the process of creating video games through computer
programming and coding.

Robert Pilgrim, associate professor of computer science, said students in this program will also acquire skills in creative writing, graphic arts, physics, math and cinematography.

“It is important to understand that there is a lot more to creating a computer game than programming,” Pilgrim said. “Great computer games start with a great story… In addition, graphics and animation are essential. Not just the mechanics of rendering, but the appreciation for aesthetics… Finally, many of the decisions to be made by the game programmer are similar to those of a cinematographer or a movie director. While computer scientists may not be responsible for creating all the parts of a game, they must understand them, be able to control them through software and have a detailed knowledge of the computer hardware that runs the game.”

Pilgrim said he believes this program will be useful for Murray State students because the computer game industry is growing rapidly.

Students have also expressed their thoughts about Murray State offering these programs.

Aaron Haney, freshman from Bedford, Kentucky, is interested in minoring in game development.

“I’m really happy Murray State decided to offer this program,” Haney said. “I’ve always been interested in game development, but I’ve never had the chance to explore it further.”

Students that are interested in minoring in game development or obtaining a bachelor’s degree in computer science/game development should contact the department of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Game Design

While game developers are responsible for the programming of games, game design creates the look of a game, including the characters, backgrounds and the
user interface.

Jim Bryant, head of the graphic design program, said students will take courses covering technical areas in game programming languages, animation and illustration, computer graphics, computer science and creative writing to prepare for career opportunities.

“The certificate in game design program prepares students for entry-level positions in the game design industry,” Bryant said. “Students learn about all facets of game design and development, from the beginning to the final stages of production. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to learn to create two- and three-dimensional graphics and interactive environments.”

Students that are interested in obtaining an undergraduate certificate in game design should contact the department of Art and Design.