Southwestern College has classes to develop writers, artists, musicians, dancers and actors but fails overlooks one of the fastest growing industries in American today. Video game production is a booming part of our stagnant economy, but SWC is sitting on the sideline.
Video game production has been sweeping the best and brightest in many artistic fields. Musicians score the soundtracks, artists create the visuals, and actors bring the digital characters to life. There are also plentiful and well-paying jobs in marketing programming, management, public relations and legal affairs.
Now, more than ever, is the time for the SWC to align with the gaming industry. In November 2011, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” sold 6.5 million copies and made more than $400 million in its first 24 hours, the biggest entertainment launch of all time. That was the third time the series had broken the same record. Games are consistently upping the ante on all fronts of development, and without the people behind each title, these games would not be made.
Modern Warfare 3 required collaboration from a number of different companies. Infinity Ward, the main development team, with about 100 employees and Activision, the distribution company for the title, holds employs 4,000. That is a total of 4,100 possible jobs at two companies. 4,100 jobs that SWC students could be qualified for with proper training.
Student can develop a simple 99 cent game for a smartphone or a half-realized idea for release on the computer and they can make almost as much as the fully-funded companies like Activision and Infinity Ward. Independent developers are some of the most successful in the business. A perfect example would be Swedish independent developer Mojang. Their team, that started out as one man with an idea, created a simple but popular block-building game called Minecraft. It made millions. There are thousands of grass roots success stories similar out there such as Angry Birds and Tiny Tower. SWC needs to acknowledge this growing industry. With the economy slowly building and the job market on the rebound, SWC should open itself up to preparing students for all possible job opportunities, including the growing market that video games represent.
Grossmont College and San Diego City College offer basic level game-centric courses and specialty schools offer more advanced classes. Many community college students cannot afford the money to enroll at these exclusive schools, so those at SWC with dreams of entering the video game industry have limited options. SWC’s Computer Information Systems department has a number of classes that can help direct students toward pursuing potential jobs in the video game industry, but each lacks the specificity needed to prepare students for industry jobs. SWC, unfortunately, is stock on level one.
Video games continue their slow trudge to the top of the entertainment world and with the proper support, Southwestern College can join the pack in producing the next big aviary slinging hit.
