EA Makes Multi-Million Dollar Gift to USC

An anonymous reader writes "The University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television, thanks to a multi-million dollar gift from game industry powerhouse Electronic Arts, have started a game design track within the Interactive Media Division. 'The School's rich storytelling tradition and long-standing commitment to technological experimentation make it an ideal partner for EA,' said Don Mattrick of EA. The entire press release can be read from the department's weblog." Interestingly, this donation funds a Electronic Arts-branded degree: "...the EA Interactive Entertainment Program... a 3-year Master of Fine Arts degree program."

An EA Degree?

[oO Peeping Tom Oo]

Gentlemen, you can do better! I'ma hold out for an Epic certification! Honestly, what happens when these guys go under or are aquired?

Re:An EA Degree?

[Marc_Hawke]

"Yeah I know the degree says it's from Electronic Arts, as if I got it as a special offer for Pre-ordering Battlefield: Vietnam. But really, it's from an actual University, it's an actual degree. Okay, you're right, it's a Fine Arts degree, and not a tech-degree, but I'm actually a tech-minded person."

Oh well...good luck. :)

An [insert game company here] degree.

[irokitt]

An Id degree.
Now that sounds intelligent, doesn't it? Although, if you think about it, Id tends to put out some of the least intelligent games. [sigh]But it's all about the buzzwords these days [/sigh]

Bad choice

[LordNimon]

And after you spend three years and thousands of dollar to get your degree, EA will still not hire you [slashdot.org].

Re:Bad choice

[trompete]

It's sad when the coolest programming out there is outsourced.

Re:Bad choice

[andy_fish]

Maybe one of the goals of this venture is to help make American coders more competitive?

Re:Bad choice

[mgs1000]

According the the PHBs, the only way to make American coders "competetive" is to cut their wages 75%.

Does a college education do that?

Re:Bad choice

[fireduck]

I think it's important to note that this is a masters in fine arts, not science. The people being trained in this program are not coders. They'll be the art directors, sound producers, and game designers. They'll be the ones in charge of the outsources units.

Re:Bad choice

[L7_]

Whats funny is that the computer science technical program that I'm currently in, the MSCS with a specialization in Multimedia and Creative Technologies, is no longer even mentioned as an option on the USC Computer Science graduate program page [usc.edu]. However, it is still mentioned in the CS Program Brochure [usc.edu]

I think that the department is transitioning the programs over to new requirements, moving the Multimedia and Creative technologies MS degree to something called the Master of Science in Integrated Media Sy [usc.edu]

Homework

[elasticwings]

I wonder if homework in any class includes Battlefield Vietnam sessions?

All for marketing

[superpulpsicle]

Even if you hate EA games, you ought to give credit to their advertisments. Now they'll bring

- EA mascots
- EA football field logos
- EA banners in every classroom
- EA jog strap
- EA beer mugs
- EA sports uniform
- EA frat Epsilon Alpha will now be called Electronic Arts.

A degree to die for!

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow! That EA Degree is going to look really great when its framed and hung over my burger-flippin' station!

USC's ITC (CS)

[MiceHead]

I'm surprised that this is being offered through the school of Cinema and Television, and further surprised to hear that USC's Anthony Borquez [usc.edu] has nothing to do with it. From what I understand, he was pretty active in bringing game development to USC's curriculum, going so far as to establish a minor degree in game development to the USC School of Engineering [wired.com]. Regardless of what the degree will get those who obtain it, (somewhere else in these comments, I believe someone mentioned french fries), I think this is the first step in the right direction.

Remember that Computer Science was once a tiny, poorly-regarded field within EE. It'll take some well-respected work (and maybe a change in title) before a Bachelor of XYZZY in Game Development means anything positive.

Re:USC's ITC (CS)

[MalleusEBHC]

The difference between CS breaking away from EE and game development possibly breaking away from CS is huge. CS is an much different field than EE. Game development is just a subset of CS. There is nothing that is so unique to game development such that a well grounded CS major wouldn't be able to pick things up quickly.

I doubt a Bachelor in game development will ever mean anything. Any company with half-decent hiring practices would rather have a solid CS major who is able to adapt to new programming envi

Re:USC's ITC (CS)

[L7_]

There is already a Masters in Computer Science with a specialty in Multimedia and Creative Technologies (MSCS:MCT). Basically, as close to 'Game Development' can be without being called such.

I think that this is just the artistic complement to the technical degree.

They go hand in hand

[Torgo's Pizza]

The School's rich storytelling tradition and long-standing commitment to technological experimentation make it an ideal partner for EA

I'm assuming that this will directly translate to more beer, bigger boobs and bigger guns in my new games.

Re:They go hand in hand

[PedanticSpellingTrol]

2. ...more beer, bigger boobs and bigger guns...

Hmm, maybe they're going to 'embrace and extend' Duke Nukem Forever.

EA Sports: It's in the game

[elasticwings]

So I wonder if their next college football/basketball games will have their own team, with extra high stats of course.

Where do I sign up?

[MWoody]

No, really - Where do I sign up? I'm a recent graduate with some game-modding agreement with some capital to burn and some time to kill while I wait for the economy to start actually hiring people again. I'd love a game-centric degree when I hit the market. But USC's site has no mention of the program; when can we expect to see signups begin?

Re:Where do I sign up?

[Anonymous Coward]

the games program is part of the overall interactive media division at the Cinema School. Currently, there are a number of game projects being developed, but the games lab will be built over the summer, and the track will officially start next semester (Fall 04)

So what?

[Rallion]

A Fine Arts degree for gaming? Can't you just go to Digipen or something? It seems to me like that would be a better choice...