I'm a student in the Media Arts & Digital Technologies program at Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, working toward a BFA. I'm in my final year of the four-year program.

Some students who are interested in video game development attend Alberta College of Art and Design's Visual Communications program, a graphic design course. Visual Communications students are trained to work on tight deadlines and cater to a client's specific graphical requirements. However, graphic design is almost purely technical, which is why I opted for the Media Arts & Digital Technologies (MADT) program instead.

The program is suited toward someone with an interest in or intention to work in game industry. The focus is on the study and practice of new media art. The course description on the school's web site says the program "offers the opportunity to explore the use of electronic, digital, interactive, immersive and motion media," which includes game design.

Some of the skills taught in the program that would benefit someone hoping to enter the game design industry are: programming, 3D modeling and animation, electronics, audio and video editing, interactive applications, building a virtual world, design concepts, and the social study of digital worlds. Some of the technical skills such as programming are only introductory; however, they offer an excellent stepping stone into that field professionally.

MADT not only offers the opportunity to explore games and virtual worlds, but also looks critically at gaming culture in general. Gaming is part of new media. It is influenced by it, and it has not only influenced artists, but also given them new tools. Machinima for instance, happens to be a well-researched medium at my school.

In effect, graduates gain both the tools and skills necessary to work in the gaming industry, and a deep understanding of the history, trends, and vast culture of video games. This alone is extremely valuable when it comes to knowing what gamers want and in what specific direction the industry is heading.

Path to New Media
I personally fit into the program in three ways: as a new media artist, cartoonist, and beginning indie game designer. My one true passion has always been games, since I was 4-years old, when I first played a tabletop version of Pacman. For the last 8 years, with more game design resources and newer software becoming easily available, my passion has expanded to include design. My particular areas of interest are level design, 2D games and multiplayer games. A large part of my passion has become social interaction in video games, especially in first-person shooters and MMORPGs. I like looking at new ways people can interact online. I have my sights set on working with an established company producing 2D games for mobile platforms in the near future.

Because I consider myself a multi-disciplinary new media artist and designer, Alberta's program seemed like the perfect choice for me. All my projects are centered on two basic human elements: exploration and social interaction. My work experiments with not only visual and physical exploration, but psychological exploration as well. I especially love working with atmosphere and color to incite even the most subtle changes in mood. I have been employing different ways of using minimal color, visuals and sound effects in 2D level design. Recently, I've been playing with the notion of alienation in some of my interactive pieces.

At the School
The program is open and friendly. It's designed to tailor to the individual's interests and needs to help the student enrich his or her own artistic practice. Completion of assignments and classes almost completely relies on a student's self-discipline and self-motivation.

All classes are small, usually no more than 16 students. Students are graded on assignments and personal reviews, which are held by the heads of the department, though other instructors can and will sit in on the reviews. All the instructors are also professional artists, and their practice is usually specific to the classes they teach. The instructors are also well versed in all forms of new media and work closely with students. In my experience, I've found that the instructors always make themselves available to me when I need them.