Industry Information
The video game sector in PEI consists of six (6) companies actively developing games for iPhone, mobile, DSi, DS, XBLA, Wii, Wiiware, PC and other specialized platforms. These companies range from stand alone operations to divisions of companies with headquarters in other parts of the world. Companies in PEI have attracted developers from around the world to work on games such as Super Monkey Ball, Puzzlings and Mortal Kombat.
Besides companies, PEI is home to two post secondary education institutes with programs geared specifically to video game training. The University of Prince Edward Island offers a Specialization in Video Game Development, while Holland College offers a two year diploma program in Video Game Art and Design. UPEI is also home to a Usability Lab for video games.
The Province of PEI offers a program at the Junior High and Senior High School levels, Game Force, to introduce students to the world of video game development. The Interactive Media Alliance, the local industry association, has created Game Garage, a program to give recent graduates an opportunity to build their first working video game prototype in a real studio setting. Game Garage is delivered in partnership with Telefilm Canada and Innovation PEI, and will provide this invaluable learning opportunity to a third group of grads in 2012.
Game Force
Through the use of the Game Maker and Unity 3D software programs, junior and senior high students learn the fundamentals of 2D and 3D video game development, including story boarding, level design, animations, sound effects, scene creation and scripting. Since its inception in November of 2006, the Game Force program has been delivered in a number of Island schools and other Island locations with huge success. It is seen as a feeder program to get students interested in developing video games as a career option. For more information on please contact Game Force Manger Fred Irving at fairving@gov.pe.ca.
Game Garage
The program will give 11 graduates or under employed recent graduates from across Canada the opportunity to be paid for 3 months while they build a video game prototype, in a fully functional game studio in Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Technology Centre. 11 participants will be seleted and placed into two development teams, featuring programming, art, sound, game design and business skills. During the 3 month process, participants will be given mentorship through the Interactive Media Alliance on PEI. Benefits include attracting new talent to the province so local companies can hire locally, spurring the creation of new game companies, and generating awareness of PEI as a game development location.
UPEI Specialization in Video Game Development
The video game programming specialization is built on top of a normal major in computer science. This is a four year program that leads to a BSc. Students follow the normal course of study for a computer science student during their first two years, taking a few of the video gaming courses as electives. At the end of year two, interested students may apply for acceptance into the specialization. If accepted, the next two years will be a challenging submersion into the nuts and bolts world of video game creation. Working with academic staff and industry mentors, students will learn the process of creating video games from initial idea to finished product. Students will have access to state of the art equipment and the latest industry products. At the same time, students will have to complete the normal requirements for a major in computer science. Upon completion of the program the student will receive their BSc degree and a certificate noting completion of the specialization.
Holland College Video Game Art and Design Program
The first year of the 2 year Program will provide training in the fundamentals of art and design with a specific focus on how these fundamentals apply in the video game industry. The second year will develop student's proficiency in art and design skills for the video game industry through a combination of specific curriculum, in-house projects sourced from industry and on-the-job training opportunities when an appropriate match can be made between industry needs and student ability.