Where else can computer science and engineering students work with artists and musicians?
The Game Design Initiative at Cornell (GDIAC) allows interested students at Cornell to be involved with game design through course work and hands on experience. The Game Design Initiative at Cornell University (GDIAC) is made up of faculty, staff, and students who believe in a collective goal to establish and pursue academic game studies. GDIAC started in 2001 as just an idea and an e-mail to the former chair of Computer Science, Charles Van Loan. Since then, we have expanded into two faculty, staff, over 300 hundred students, and several academic collaborators.
Yes, really. GDIAC is proud that we started exploring game design and development in 2001, just before academic game programs emerged. However, game studies (also referred to as ludology) has emerged as an engaging and dynamic field of study worldwide. You can also see a comprehensive (and ever-growing) list of hundreds of game programs at Gamasutra. We have also prepared a core list of recommended textbooks, references, and other materials on our Faculty and Resources pages.
GDIAC works with game industry to create opportunities for internships, co-ops (for Engineering students), and entry-level hires. GDIAC students are provided opportunities to conduct joint research with industry on projects in development. Refer to our Industry link for more information.
Game design is the process by which someone conceives of a game and specifies how the players and components interact. It incorporates computer science, engineering, art, and story-telling. Game development is the physical process of making a game. Our design courses focus on design education and involve development more and more as a student progresses through the game design curriculum.
GDIAC holds ties with industry leaders such as Electronic Arts, Vicarious Visions, Seven Studios, and Bethesda Softworks.
As shown by our Course Offerings, GDIAC offers four courses in which students can specialize and explore game studies. However, students must still pick a primary major. Students take GDIAC courses for a variety of reasons:
Students look at GDIAC as a way to meet several needs not typically offered in an academic institution. Where else can computer science and engineering students work with artists and musicians? In fact, many technically-oriented students take game design to explore non-technical skills. Students seeking jobs outside of the game industry develop sklill sets and portfolios that help enter a variety of industries.
For those students interested in the game industry, GDIAC provides an "outlet" and infrastructure in which explore games. Through the sequence of three core courses, students develop design and development skills. Students can quickly discover whether or not they enjoy the hard work and long hours involved in making a game.
Two of the three founders, Rama Hoetzlein and Mohan Rajagopalan are Cornell alums. So, GDIAC is fundamentally a Cornell alumni movement!
If you are in the game industry, we would love to hear from you. Perhaps you would like to be included in the Alumni or Industry pages? For those Cornell alums with kids interested in Cornell and games, we greatly encourage you to talk with us. Please e-mail gdiac@cornell.edu.
