Students aspire to level up in game design despite limited resources
Computer Science and Design Media Arts Students search for campus resources in video game programmin
The UCLA Game Lab fosters the production of experimental computer games and other game forms. Its artistic vision is to advance exploration of Game Aesthetics through experimentation in the look, sound, language, and tactility of games. Founded in 2009, the lab is a leading advocate for games-related research, education, and awareness, hosting public lectures, residencies, workshops, exhibitions, and festivals.
Students substitute video game controllers and joysticks with food and live cacti at the UCLA Game Lab in Broad Art Center, while students across campus in the classrooms of Boelter Hall strap on virtual reality headsets to program imaginary environments for new video games.UCLA’s Design | Media Arts and computer science departments, as well as student clubs, offer opportunities for aspiring game developers to strengthen their skills. However, students and staff remain divided about whether enough classes and networking resources exist on campus for the school’s growing video game creation community.
Some colleges, such as the University of Southern California, offer video game design minors, but UCLA lacks a formal degree program, said Ray Cothern, a fourth-year computer science student.— Allison Ong, Feb. 9
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