To better prepare Ferris State University students in a growing field, the university has partnered up with Gen Con to offer a Game Design Certificate at its summer convention.
Students interested in starting a career in designing tabletop games and board games can now earn Ferris State University credits by taking part in a new Game Design Certificate Program that is set to be offered at Gen Con’s summer convention. Gen Con is North America’s biggest and oldest tabletop gaming convention.
This summer Gen Con will run from July 30 through August 3, and will take place in Indianapolis. It is expected that around 120,000 people will attend the convention.
The Game Design Certificate program is based around practical learning and uses insights from established experts with the goal of improving the knowledge of design methodologies and game based learning for aspiring game designers, enthusiasts, and educators.
Those who participate in the certificate program will learn from distinguished game designers, experienced educators, and industry leaders, all within an interactive and collaborative setting.
Lead developer on the program and Ferris State University adjunct professor Dr. Andrew Peterson talked about the benefits of completing the program, mainly that finishing the Game Design Academy will allow them to transfer three credits to Ferris State, which takes the place of the Digital Animation and Game Design 150 class. In an article posted on Ferris State’s website, he was quoted as saying, “We’re combining the creativity and community associated with Gen Con with the structure and rigor that characterize an academic learning experience. This certificate bridges the gap between game design as a hobby and a viable professional career.” Dr. Peterson will be one of the instructors at the event.
Ferris State University has entered into an articulation agreement with Gen Con for this Game Design Certificate program, so that participants interested in gaining Ferris State credit from completing the program will be able to do so thus kicking off or bolstering their path to the game design industry.
Ferris State University’s Digital Animation and Game Design degree is designed so that graduates will be able to have access to a wealth of career options. So far graduates of the program have found themselves working not only for film companies and game studios, but also in production design, health care, automotive, software, and many other industries.
The partnership between Gen Con and Ferris State University also serves as a badge of credibility for the university’ program, using the convention’s legacy as a means of ensuring academic and professional legitimacy for the program.
A projection from Fortune Business Insights suggests that the board game field is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, with an increase in market size from $14.37 billion in 2024, to almost $16 billion this year, and a projected $32 billion by 2032.
Registration for the Game Design Certificate program opens at noon on February 9, and spaces are limited.
Gen Con is the longest running and biggest North American convention focusing on tabletop gaming culture.
The convention began in 1968 and occurs every summer in Indianapolis. Things to do at the convention include hundreds of game demos, shopping, and thousands of ticketed events ranging from entertainment events, seminars, roleplaying games, card games, board games, and more.
More information about the Gen Con Game Design Academy in general, and the Game Design Certificate program, as well as signup information can be found at Gen Con’s website.
More information about Ferris State University can be found at the school’s website here.