Contact the Program Director, Joseph Manley
Email: manley@champlain.edu
Phone: 802.865.5477
Gameplay systems, narratives, levels, quests, puzzles, worlds: become an expert in the game design areas you're most passionate about.
In Champlain's Game Design program, you'll learn to map out, develop, and create the gameplay that defines a player's unique experience.
Game design encompasses three distinct areas of the game production process:
As a Champlain Game Design student, you will develop extensive game design skills in your area of interest and build an impressive portfolio of collaborative work as you prepare to enter the game industry.
WHAT SETS US APART
The unique Game Studio at Champlain College gives you start-to-finish game-building experience in a professional environment. You'll collaborate with your peers in each of our game majors to create playable games in a studio that parallels the processes of the industry. By the end of your four years, you'll be ready to work in a professional studio.
You will have the opportunity to present the game you create with your Game Studio team—as well as your own demo reel—to recruiters from all over the United States and Canada. Recruiters often come to the Senior Show to scout new talent, from companies like:
Insomniac | Activision/Vicarious Visions |
Behaviour | Hidden Monster Games |
Otherside Entertainment | Sony Bend |
Trivium Interactive | Ubisoft |
Velan |
Champlain College sends a cohort to the world's largest game developers conference each year in San Francisco. Game Studio faculty, students, alumni, and the Game Studio Career Coach attend the conference for professional development and networking. The Career Coach facilitates exclusive networking meetings for Champlain students with top recruiters from companies such as Ubisoft, ArenaNet, Crystal Dynamics, Survios, Insomniac, Rockstar, and Sony.
JUST THE FACTS
Champlain has one of the most esteemed game development programs in the world, and consistently ranks in the Top 20 Game Design Schools by The Princeton Review.
Champlain ranked 4th best school in the world by the Rookies Awards, an international creative media competition.
Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" by U.S. News & World Report for the fifth consecutive year in its "America's Best Colleges" 2020 rankings.
Champlain College graduates have so much production experience, it's like they've been in the game industry for years. I couldn't have built ‘Days Gone By’ without hiring seven game designers from Champlain College!
SAMPLE COURSES IN THE CURRICULUM
Optional Concentration
Champlain's Game Design major offers a Sonic Arts concentration to students who are interested in diving into game audio. Build skills in sound studio tools, sound design techniques and aesthetics, and all things audio.
GO ALL IN
You'll be analyzing gameplay, exploring game development, and creating rapid game prototypes in your very first semester—so it's no wonder you'll be well qualified for career-relevant internships by your second year.
If you want to design the world's most popular video games, you'll need to understand an international audience. Studying abroad is an ideal way to explore different cultures and develop your global perspective.
YOUR FUTURE
Through our Upside-Down Curriculum, you'll start taking courses in game design in your first semester at Champlain. This early hands-on knowledge in the major is a distinct advantage, giving you more time to take on internships and soak up industry experience. Graduate with a head start on the other candidates in this competitive field—your professional portfolio and four years of relevant experience will impress employers.
Generate innovative ideas and go beyond the obvious and predefined.
Explain and justify the elements of your own presented argument, creative work, or process.
Identify various audience segments and show evidence of being able to adapt to those audiences.
Identify and anticipate new technology and rapidly adapt to the changing technological landscape.
Explore all Game Design program learning outcomes.
Game Design graduates from the Class of 2019 have accepted positions such as:
Check out the recorded livestream of our 2020 Game Studio Senior Show!
Fill out our request info form and we’ll send you a cool collection of stickers and useful information about Champlain.
High school students: immerse yourself in games this summer at one of the Top Schools for Game Design, Game Art, and Game Programming.