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Any student who’s looking to create the next “Mario Kart” or “League of Legends” will be drawn to Carthage’s newest academic offerings in game development, but the program’s unique flavor promises to deliver an even more versatile skill set.

Beginning in fall 2021, the College will offer a pair of options in game development: a minor, as well as a concentration for computer science majors.

Computer science professors Rick Bingen ’15 and Perry Kivolowitz designed the curriculum in collaboration with communication and digital media professor Nick Pilarski — a cross-disciplinary approach that sets the Carthage program apart.

The Computer Science Department at Carthage is a dynamic group of faculty and students who collec... Even with the global video game market projected to top $200 billion in value by 2023, faculty see untapped potential.

“The technology normally associated with games as entertainment also underpins future simulation, training marketing, storytelling, and more,” explains Prof. Kivolowitz.

The 24-credit minor can be paired with any major except computer science.

“Our rigorous minor compares favorably to other schools’ majors in game development,” Prof. Kivolowitz adds, “providing our students a solid grounding in the fundamentals of software engineering in addition to the more visual aspects of game technology.”

For computer science majors, the optional concentration in game development can lead to associate-level Game Developer certification through Unity, a leading technology provider. As of 2020, more than half of mobile, console, and PC games were made using the company’s platform.

“Certification in the Unity technology stack can be a powerful credential,” says Prof. Kivolowitz.

Students in the program will also consult with members of Carthage’s new competitive esports team when creating and refining original games.