Becker, WPI Ranked Nationally for Video Game Programs
Monday, July 29, 2013
The Worcester area is becoming an important center for video game programming. Photo: brummiedave85/flickr
WPI and Becker were both ranked high on Animation Career Review‘s inaugural list of the “Top 50 Schools in the U.S. for Game Design and Development.” Becker College was ranked this month at number 23 on and at number 12 as the game industry resource zeros in on the “Top 20 Animation and Game Design Schools on the East Coast.” WPI ranked number 11 and number 16 respectively.
“Our animation and game design programs are in good company,” says Becker Director of Design Programs Paul D. Cotnoir, Ph.D. “Recognition from resources such as Animation Career Review and The Princeton Review are very important to us.”
Animation Career Review cited the creation of the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute on Becker's campus, along with several initiatives developed as a result of it, as particularly noteworthy.
"MassDIGI is the first video games institute to be established in Massachusetts," says the organization. "The Institute was created to 'help to foster the growth and continued collaboration among the local gaming community' and 'to support entrepreneurship and strengthen the talent pipeline between higher education and the game industry.' MassDIGI accomplishes this through a variety of initiatives, services, and more."
The Becker College game design program has been ranked by The Princeton Review for four consecutive years and is one of the top three in Massachusetts and top 15 nationwide.
In 2012, Animation Career Review ranked Becker at number 23 in the world on its list of the “Top 100 Schools for Animation, Gaming, and Design.” Institutions included on the ranking included such schools as Bournemouth University in Dorset, England, and the Beijing Film Academy.
As for WPI, the Interactive Media & Game Development program, which is consistently ranked very high by The Princeton Review, was cited as particularly noteworthy.
"The program, which focuses on learning by doing, highlights content creation, design, programming, project management, and testing. IMGD is a four-year program that leads to a BS. Other programs include a Minor and a MS in Interactive Media & Game Development," says the Animation Career Review.
Animation Career Review conducted its analysis using a combination of academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program and faculty, and geographic location. Click on the links above to see the full rankings.
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