PLANO, TX -
Video games are the fastest growing entertainment industry. In just the last year, the number of colleges and universities offering gaming degrees increased by 27 percent. One of the leaders in the movement is right here in North Texas.
People like Armando Villarreal are getting in on the game.
"I grew up in a financial type industry. It's a good job, but so is this," he says.
Villarreal graduates this December from Southern Methodist University's Guildhall. Guildhall is one of top Graduate video game development programs in the country. Villarreal is now a game-level designer.
"Gaming gives you a lot of skills to be creative and to express yourself," says Villareal.
What's being taught in the classroom today was once created in basements and bedrooms. Today video games bring in nearly 30 billion dollars a year in sales. Consumers expect sophisticated games, which means designers have to be highly-trained.
"You can't just sit here and say this will be fun," says Rebecca Richards. She just started her studies at SMU's Guildhall. "You have to literally say 'Why is this fun? Why would somebody want to sit here and pay 60 dollars to do this?'"
California leads the way with the most video game-related degrees, followed by New York, Texas and Florida. But video games are not just for entertainment anymore. They are being used in education and business for professional training and e-learning.
"This is, frankly, only the beginning," says Peter Raad. Raad is the founder and director of SMU's Guildhall. "I believe every university, every college will have courses about video games as a cultural movement and as a form of video rhetoric."
So like Villarreal did, tell mom and dad you're not going to school to play games.
"You're learning how to make them. You're learning a valuable trade."
People like Armando Villarreal are getting in on the game.
"I grew up in a financial type industry. It's a good job, but so is this," he says.
Villarreal graduates this December from Southern Methodist University's Guildhall. Guildhall is one of top Graduate video game development programs in the country. Villarreal is now a game-level designer.
"Gaming gives you a lot of skills to be creative and to express yourself," says Villareal.
What's being taught in the classroom today was once created in basements and bedrooms. Today video games bring in nearly 30 billion dollars a year in sales. Consumers expect sophisticated games, which means designers have to be highly-trained.
"You can't just sit here and say this will be fun," says Rebecca Richards. She just started her studies at SMU's Guildhall. "You have to literally say 'Why is this fun? Why would somebody want to sit here and pay 60 dollars to do this?'"
California leads the way with the most video game-related degrees, followed by New York, Texas and Florida. But video games are not just for entertainment anymore. They are being used in education and business for professional training and e-learning.
"This is, frankly, only the beginning," says Peter Raad. Raad is the founder and director of SMU's Guildhall. "I believe every university, every college will have courses about video games as a cultural movement and as a form of video rhetoric."
So like Villarreal did, tell mom and dad you're not going to school to play games.
"You're learning how to make them. You're learning a valuable trade."
