Meet the Director

John Rogate has been looking at computer games from the inside out since the first computer game -- Pong -- hit the market in the early 1970s. A self-described “avid computer gamer,” John has owned “almost all of the consoles since their inception to the current versions.”

The Interim Director of Champlain’s Game Programming major enjoys sharing that passion with his students. His diverse background in technical corporate experience and as a consultant to many businesses across multiple industry segments makes him a valuable resource for his students.

“I enjoy passing on my knowledge to my students,” he says. In addition to his technical background, he has years of experience as a software developer and programmer. The fusion of these skills makes John the right person to direct this newest of Champlain’s majors.

“Not only do my students gain knowledge of the selected texts,” John says, “they also gain real world expertise from my pre-teaching experience. Students receive lectures, but the best way to learn is by doing. Hands-on labs and other experiences are the best way to engage students in the learning process.”

What John likes best about teaching at Champlain is “the size of the school. Classes are small, which helps enhance the learning experience. In addition, I get to know my students well throughout their four years at Champlain College.”

Game Programming at Champlain

“What makes this program different than what students in the same major might study at another school is that this program is integrated with the artistic and the design portion of the electronic game industry,” John explains. “Students will gain the specific skills required to write electronic game programs. Along the way, they will also work in development teams with students from the Game Design and the Art and Animation programs to create a game from start to finish. This approach simulates the development team and associated activities in the actual electronic game industry. This program allows you to combine your love of games and game theory with your passion for the intellectual challenge of programming.”

John understands that students need a balanced academic course of studies to take advantage of the opportunities in the marketplace. Game Programming students benefit from a curriculum that combines a well-developed liberal arts core with the market-driven skills and knowledge they’ll need to succeed in their careers.

“All these skills combined will make my students better contributors in their careers of choice. I also encourage them to make their four years the best of their lives with a wealth of both in class and out of class learning.” Champlain’s proximity to industry leaders will help with part of that. Montreal, Canada (90 miles north) is the world’s second-largest region for game development. The Northeast is the second-largest region in the United States for game design.

Background

An associate professor, John joined the Champlain faculty as an adjunct instructor in 1999. Now a full-time faculty member, assistant program director in Networking curriculum and interim program director of the e-Game Programming major, John is also responsible for course proposal, development and instruction in both the traditional and online environments.

John holds a BA with a double major in English and Economics from Herbert H. Lehman College and a master’s in Information Systems Technology from Iona College. He has an Education Specialist Certificate (EdS) and is now working on a dissertation for his PhD in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University.