The thought certainly crossed my mind a number of times throughout college that I should just drop out and re-enroll somewhere else to become a video game designer. I liked art, I liked games, so therefore that would be a great job for me. Unfortunately I never did it, but that doesn't mean it isn't too later for you. Check out these eight places that could fast track you to be the next Peter Molyneux. Just pretend that's a good thing.

1) DArTT – the Digital Arts Technology Training Institute

Location: Online

Website: link

DArTT may have an exceptionally annoying acronym to type, but it might be a good training choice for potential game designers who shun social interaction to the point where an all-online class schedule would be the way to go. Or just because it’s convenient.

They have programs in 3D character animation, graphic design and video game art & illustration, the last of which I don’t think is offered to many other places.

2) Westwood College

Location: Online…or in Denver

Website: link

You can earn a degree online here as well, and honestly the site seems a bit more legit and user friendly than DArTT. The degree is very specific, and you’ll graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Game Art & Design. Pretty cool.

They have courses like Color Theory, 3-D Modeling and Animation, and Cinematography and they emphasize critical thinking, logic, communication and problem solving, which all are probably good traits for video game design. Or just life in general.

3) USC – University of Southern California

Location: Los Angeles

Website: link

This is really cool. I had no idea USC had an entire program dedicated to game design, and better yet, it’s doing it in conjunction with Electronic Arts. They have an entire EA Game Innovation Lab which is a research space where new concepts in game design, gameplay and usability are developmend.

The program is under the umbrella of USC’s School of Cinema-Television. It’s really cool to see such a prominent university as USC embrace the rising popularity of game and game design. I highly recommend heading to the website to check it out more in depth.

4) UAT – The University of Advancing Technology

Location: Tempe, Arizona

Website: link

Kind of an intriguing name, and they were smart enough to buy the domain name “gamedegree.com.” UAT has actual class rooms and actual teachers, and they take students from the story boards to the final stages of a polished project.

Degrees are Bachelor’s in either Game Programming, Game Design or Game Art and Animation, or you can even earn a Master of Science in Game Production and Management. I don’t think there are too many of these places that offer Masters.

5) AiP – The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Location: Pittsburgh…duh, and online

Website: link

You can do AiP’s Bachelor of Science program completely online if you so choose. The degree claims to be able to land you jobs as a gameplay tester, 2D conceptual artist, 3D character builder, 3D object modeler, interactivity designer or a background artist.
This one seems to be pretty heavy on evaluating games in addition to designing them, so if you just want to play video games for a living, this might appeal to you.

6) Collins College

Location: Tempe, Arizona…or Phoenix

Website: link

Really, is Tempe like the video game design capital of the world or something? That’ two schools in one list. Impressive. The Collins College program is not online, so you’ll have to truck it out to “beautiful Arizona” to get your degree.

They have a billion types of video game related degrees they offer, too many to list here, so just go to the website to see them all. It’s very…pink.

7) DMAC – Digital Media Arts College

Location: Boca Raton, Florida

Website: link

The only site with a hot digital chick on the front page. I’m there! It looks like it would be all online, but it’s not, and it’s in Florida, which is sweet, and they claim they have labs available 24/7 and their instructors are from Sega, Disney, Sony and Imageworks.

You can either get a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Animation or Graphic Design or a Master of Fine Arts I special effects animation or Graphic Design. This may be more broadly related to computer graphics than games specifically, but I’m sure they’re very tightly intertwined.

8) Brown College

Location: Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Website: link

No you’re thinking of Brown University, so sorry, no ivy league video game degree here. And in case the heat of Arizona or Florida was too much for you, how about Minnesota for a change?

Career oppoprtunities for grads include animator, concept artist, modeler, programmer, texture artist and a bunch more. And because they wanted to inspire you to apply, here’s a bit of a boost from the staff:

“When you’re exploring the frontier of technology, you need to take a lot of imagination and skill.”
- Justin Spoelstra, Department Chair, Game Design & Development

Indeed Justin, indeed.