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The [[University of Southern California]]'s [[USC School of Cinematic Arts|School of Cinematic Arts]]'s '''Interactive Media Division''' first accepted students in 2002. In addition to coursework in film production, screenwriting, and animation, students in the division study across three disciplines within interactive media: [[virtual reality|immersive media]], [[mobile phone|mobile media]], and [[video games]]. The IMD has a group [[weblog]] edited by the students and faculty, sharing the results of their research.
The [[University of Southern California]]'s [[USC School of Cinematic Arts|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.<ref>[https://cinema.usc.edu/interactive/degrees.cfm Degrees Information at USC SCA site], Cinema.usc.edu/interactive</ref>


In 2010, 2011 and 2012 USC was named the the number one design program for games in North America by the Princeton Review. <ref>[http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design-press-release.aspx Top Video Game Design Press Release], Princeton Review, March 1, 2012</ref>
Major funders of the USC IMD include [[Electronic Arts]], whose [[Bing Gordon]] took a faculty chair at the school in 2005.

Major funders of the USC IMD include [[Microsoft]] and [[Electronic Arts]], both of which companies have endowed faculty positions in the program.<ref>[http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/microsoft-endows-gaming-initiative-usc-21843 Microsoft Endows Gaming Initiative at USC], The Wrap, October 19, 2010</ref> <ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/08/technology/ea_chair/index.htm Electronic Arts endows chair at USC's School of Cinema-Television for interactive gaming studies], CNN Money, Feb 8, 2005</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/16088.html Fullerton Installed as Endowed Professor], USC news, Dec. 17, 2008</ref> The Microsoft Endowed Professorship is held by user research pioneer Dennis Wixon.<ref>[http://news.usc.edu/#!/article/41830/wixon-installed-as-microsoft-endowed-professor-at-sca/ Fullerton Installed as Endowed Professor], USC news, Sept. 25, 2012</ref>


==Projects==
==Projects==
* [http://interactive.usc.edu/projects/ Projects Gallery]
* [http://interactive.usc.edu/research/ Research Projects Pages]
* ''[[Cloud (game)|Cloud]]'' - an experimental computer game from 2005, funded in part by a grant from [[Electronic Arts]].
* ''[[Cloud (game)|Cloud]]'' - an experimental computer game from 2005, funded in part by a grant from [[Electronic Arts]].
* ''[[flOw]]''
* ''[[flOw]]''
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* [http://www.thenightjourney.com/ The Night Journey] - A video game/art project based on the universal story of an individual mystic's journey toward enlightenment.
* [http://www.thenightjourney.com/ The Night Journey] - A video game/art project based on the universal story of an individual mystic's journey toward enlightenment.
* [http://www.redistrictinggame.org/ The Redistricting Game] - A video game designed to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting.
* [http://www.redistrictinggame.org/ The Redistricting Game] - A video game designed to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting.
* [http://www.thecatandthecoup.com/ The Cat and the Coup] - A documentary video game about the life of Iranian Prime Minister [[Mohammed Mossadegh]].
* [http://reality.usc.edu/ Reality Ends Here - An alternate reality game experience for incoming School of Cinematic Arts freshmen.
* [http://collegeology.usc.edu/ Collegeology Games - A suite of college knowledge games.
*''[[Journey of Jin]]''
*''[[Journey of Jin]]''


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===Faculty & Staff===
===Faculty & Staff===


Currently, the division is headed by [[Scott Fisher]], a pioneer in [[virtual reality]] research, with help from [[Jen Stein]], a media and communications scholar and [[Marientina Gotsis]], a new media artist and lab manager for the division. Faculty have included [[Steve Anderson]], [[Anne Balsamo]], [[Julian Bleecker]], [[Mark Bolas]], [[Peter Brinson]], [[Tracy Fullerton]], [[Perry Hoberman]], [[Michael Lew]], [[Erik Loyer]], [[Jacki Morie]], [[Michael Naimark]], [[Eddo Stern]], [[Jeff Watson]], [[Chris Swain (game designer)|Chris Swain]], [[Peggy Weil]], [[Sam Roberts]] and [[Richard Lemarchand]].
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, Sam Roberts, and Akira Thompson. 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 [[Jen Stein]], [[Anne Balsamo]], [[Chris Swain (game designer)|Chris Swain]], [[Peggy Weil]], [[Julian Bleecker]], [[Michael Lew]], [[Erik Loyer]], [[Michael Naimark]], and [[Eddo Stern]].


===Alumni===
===Alumni===
Notable alumni have included the founders of [[thatgamecompany]], including [[Jenova Chen]] and [[Kellee Santiago]].
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).


==External links==
==External links==


* [http://interactive.usc.edu/ Interactive Media Division Weblog]
* [http://interactive.usc.edu/ Interactive Media Division Weblog]
* [http://cinema.usc.edu/programs/interactive-media/ Official Academic Information About the Division]
* [http://games.usc.edu/ USC Games homepage]
* [http://cinema.usc.edu/interactive/ Official Academic Information About the Division]


{{University of Southern California}}
{{University of Southern California}}

Revision as of 04:56, 29 November 2012

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.[1]

In 2010, 2011 and 2012 USC was named the 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]

Projects

Personnel

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, Sam Roberts, and Akira Thompson. 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 Jen Stein, Anne Balsamo, Chris Swain, Peggy Weil, Julian Bleecker, Michael Lew, Erik Loyer, Michael Naimark, and Eddo Stern.

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).

34°01′26″N 118°16′45″W / 34.02400°N 118.27919°W / 34.02400; -118.27919

  1. ^ Degrees Information at USC SCA site, Cinema.usc.edu/interactive
  2. ^ Top Video Game Design Press Release, Princeton Review, March 1, 2012
  3. ^ Microsoft Endows Gaming Initiative at USC, The Wrap, October 19, 2010
  4. ^ Electronic Arts endows chair at USC's School of Cinema-Television for interactive gaming studies, CNN Money, Feb 8, 2005
  5. ^ Fullerton Installed as Endowed Professor, USC news, Dec. 17, 2008
  6. ^ Fullerton Installed as Endowed Professor, USC news, Sept. 25, 2012
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