Game designers, producers, programmers and technical
directors will be among the panelists at the "Establishing a Career in
Video Games" event set for April 15, 2011 at Harrisburg University of
Science and Technology.
The free event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon in the Auditorium of the
University, which is located at 326 Market Street in Harrisburg.
Panelists will include representatives EA™, Schell Games, THQ, and Firaxis
Games who will share insights on what it takes to bring a product to market,
how to land a career in the video game industry, and provide tips on how to
make it in the fastest growing segments of the entertainment industry. Charles
Palmer, executive director of the University’s Center for Advanced
Entertainment and Learning Technologies, will facilitate the panel discussion.
There is no charge to attend and participation is open to all! An RSVP is
requested and can be sent to Connect@HarrisburgU.edu
Harrisburg University is the only higher education institution in Central
Pennsylvania currently offering an academic program in video game design,
development, programming and art during the 2010-11 academic year, according to
research from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
The private comprehensive science and technology-focused university offers New
Media Design and Production as an academic program for undergraduate students.
Additionally, the University is pursuing innovative approaches to games and
learning for performance through its Learning Technologies Master of Science
program and its Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies.
The University also offers an annual Summer Gaming Academy and hosts the annual
Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum (LEEF).
"Prospective students interested in game design and development careers
can now stay in this region and pursue the field of study which can lead to a
rewarding career in healthcare, education, business or government as well as
the gaming industry itself," says Palmer. "The engine behind some of
the favorite first-person shooter games is being used to create training
simulators for everyone from firefighters to dock workers to medical
professionals. Public and private sector organizations in the fields of
healthcare, education and business are increasingly relying on computer and
video games to modernize and improve their operations."
According to the ESA's 2010 Essential Facts about Computer and Video Games
Report, 67 percent of American households now play computer and video games,
and 70 percent of major employers utilize interactive software and games to
train employees and more than 75 percent of businesses and non-profits already
offering video game-based training plan to expand their usage in the next three
to five years.
You can literally take planes, trains and automobiles to the event. The
University’s location in downtown Harrisburg is near Interstates 83 and 81 and
the Pennsylvania Turnpike, making it an easy drive to the University from any
of Pennsylvania’s major cities. And it’s only a two-hour drive from the
University to Baltimore, Washington, DC or Philadelphia. The Amtrak Passenger
Train Station and Greyhound Bus Station are one block from our location. And
the Harrisburg International Airport is only nine miles from the University.
Harrisburg University is located at 326 Market Street in Harrisburg. Parking is
available in the Harrisburg Parking Authority operated garage accessible via
Fourth Street. Cost for parking in the garage is $5.00 for 0-2 hours. Kiosk for
parking accepts cash only.
Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased
opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious
private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence
and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the
nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented
students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private
University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only
STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh.
Contact:
Steven Infanti
HU Communications
326 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717.901.5146
