This partnership is set to grow Australia’s video games industry

For Australians who are considering a prospective career in the video games industry, now couldn’t be a better time to get started on the right track.

With a growing consumer market that’s breaching the AU$4 billion mark in spending and an industry worth approximately AU$143 million a year, Australia’s video game industry is exhibiting tremendous growth in recent years and it’s clear that this will be a highly sought after industry to work in. 

According to the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA), the Australia gaming industry has grown by 21 percent in the past 12 months with 61 percent of gaming studios expecting to employ new staff in the coming year. 

To prepare young talents for jobs in this growing industry, the University of South Australia is collaborating with Adelaide-based video game development company Mighty Kingdom to offer the state’s first course in front-end games design and development.

The course will be offered as a major in UniSA’s Bachelor of Creative Industries (BCI) degree and will centre on the design and art aspects of gaming including developing computer-generated imagery, writing narratives, developing characters and producing and managing games production.

According to a media statement, Mighty Kingdom founder and CEO Philip Mayes said the course will give South Australian’s a head start in the industry and will enable future Australian game developers to remain relevant in the global sphere. 

“This is an opportunity for South Australia to take a leadership position in the industry, increasing its nine per cent share nationally by preparing students to hit the ground running from day one,” he said. 

“Game design draws from a vast array of human experience so it’s not just for school leavers. It appeals to people from a diverse range of backgrounds and ages. One of our designers was a chef before we hired him!” 

The course encompasses a wide range of skills in technology and art, providing graduates with a full range of opportunities. The interdisciplinary skills that will be gained during the course include visual effects and virtual reality among others. 

“This course is for people who have a strong creative bent, understand data, enjoy collaborating with others and want to take the step from being a consumer to a creator. It will open doors to an incredibly dynamic career built on the fundamentals of design, creativity, collaboration and, of course, fun!” Added Mayes.

According to UniSA’s Programme Director for the Bachelor of Creative Industries, Dr Carolyn Bilsborow, students who are interested in learning the full gaming experience with skills revolving both front-end and back-end game development can opt to pair this course with a Games major offered within the university’s Information Bachelor of IT.

The course adds on a focus on the programming and software development side of the games industry which will provide students with a well-rounded skill-set in all facets of game development.

Prospective students who are interested in signing up for this course have until February 28 to apply for the BCI degree which will commence in early March 2020.