USC Interactive Media Division
The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts's Interactive Media Division first accepted M.F.A. students in 2002. The division currently offers both undergraduate (B.A.) and graduate (M.F.A.) programs in interactive media and game design. The programs include courses in game design, development, audio, animation, and user research as well as experimental work in gestural and immersive interfaces, transmedia design, and interactive cinema.[1]
In 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, USC was named as the number one design program for games in North America by the Princeton Review.[2]
Major funders of the USC IMD include Microsoft and Electronic Arts, both of which companies have endowed faculty positions in the program.[3][4] Game industry executive Bing Gordon was the first holder of the Electronic Arts Endowed Chair in Interactive Entertainment, which is currently held by game designer Tracy Fullerton.[5] The Microsoft Endowed Professorship is held by user research pioneer Dennis Wixon.[6]
In 2012, the school announced plans for a new building to house the Interactive Media program and associated research labs, including the Game Innovation Lab.[7] In early 2013, Tracy Fullerton, the Electronic Arts Endowed Chair of Interactive Media, announced that IMD will be renamed the Interactive Media and Games Division.[8]
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[edit] Projects
- Research Projects Pages
- Cloud - an experimental computer game from 2005, funded in part by a grant from Electronic Arts.
- flOw
- Darfur is Dying
- PMOG - A vast social meta-game that can be played by completing missions on the Web.
- The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom - A game set in an early silent film world that plays with temporal space.
- The Night Journey - A video game/art project based on the universal story of an individual mystic's journey toward enlightenment.
- The Redistricting Game - A video game designed to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting.
- The Cat and the Coup - A documentary video game about the life of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh.
- Reality Ends Here - An alternate reality game experience for incoming School of Cinematic Arts freshmen.
- Collegeology Games - A suite of college knowledge games.
- Journey of Jin
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Faculty & Staff
Currently, the division is chaired by Tracy Fullerton, a game designer and author. Full-time faculty and staff include Scott Fisher - founding chair of the division, Mark Bolas, Steve Anderson, Richard Lemarchand, Dennis Wixon, Perry Hoberman, Peter Brinson, Jeremy Gibson, Marientina Gotsis, Andreas Kratky, Jeff Watson, Jen Stein, Sam Roberts, Akira Thompson and Kurosh ValaNejad. Adjunct Faculty include Laird Malamed, Danny Bilson, Mark Essen, Heather Desurvire, Vincent Diamante, Tom Frisina, Chevon Hicks, William Huber, Michael Kontopolous, Robert Nashak, Joseph Olin, and Scott Rogers.
Former faculty and staff include Anne Balsamo, Chris Swain, Peggy Weil, Julian Bleecker, Michael Lew, Erik Loyer, Michael Naimark, and Eddo Stern.
[edit] Alumni
Notable alumni have included the founders of thatgamecompany, including Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago. Also, Justin Hall, Matt Korba and Paul Bellezza of The Odd Gentlemen, and Sean Plott (Day9).
[edit] References
- ^ Degrees Information at USC SCA site, Cinema.usc.edu/interactive
- ^ Top Video Game Design Press Release, Princeton Review, March 1, 2012
- ^ Microsoft Endows Gaming Initiative at USC, The Wrap, October 19, 2010
- ^ Electronic Arts endows chair at USC's School of Cinema-Television for interactive gaming studies, CNN Money, Feb 8, 2005
- ^ Fullerton Installed as Endowed Professor, USC news, Dec. 17, 2008
- ^ Wixon installed as Microsoft Endowed Professor at SCA, USC news, Sept. 25, 2012
- ^ New building to house interactive media, Daily Trojan, April 4, 2012
- ^ Tracy Fullerton's Blog Post, IMD Website, March 7, 2013
[edit] External links
- Interactive Media Division Weblog
- USC Games homepage
- Official Academic Information About the Division
Coordinates: 34°01′26″N 118°16′45″W / 34.02400°N 118.27919°W
