george mason university video game design

Powered by George Mason University

Turn your passion for gaming into a game plan for success. At the Game & Technology Academy, powered by George Mason University, you will spend six incredible days* on the campus among like-minded, game-loving high school students. During this amazing program, you will learn directly from serious game gurus, use the latest technology, and create the games you want to play.

*Reflects one-week residential session. Multiple-week sessions are also offered, as are five-day synchronous virtual sessions.

About the Envision Game & Technology Academy

At the Game & Technology Academy, you will be immersed in the world of computer game design and have access to the latest software, tools, and equipment, as well as the vast knowledge and experience of the leading game and design gurus at George Mason University. You'll apply your new skills in hands-on workshops on a range of gaming technology topics, such as:

Life as a Game Artist
Training Machine Learning Models
Unreal or Unity?

See your dream become reality! Throughout the program, you'll collaborate with other like-minded future gamers and designers, as you create and ultimately showcase what could be the next Triple A title to your peers.

Opt for the residential program and get an inside look at gaming and design industries with a visit to the Virginia Serious Game Institute, where you'll meet the founders of cutting-edge start-up companies, learn about the latest serious game technology discoveries and research and explore the different career paths available in the field of game design.

Level up! Beyond the game and graphic design experience, you'll learn skills that will help you succeed in college, your career, and in life, like time management, information analysis, communications, team building, and problem solving.

By attending Game & Technology Academy, you can also receive one college credit per week through George Mason University for an additional fee.

Choose Your Specialty

Art, Modeling & Animation for 3D Games
Master the fundamentals of Concept Art; 3D design, modeling, and animation; digital painting and building game-ready and optimized 3D and textured objects.

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Machine Learning/AI with Python
Learn the Python programming language from scratch and participate in projects using data analysis and machine learning. Train, trim, and correct datasets using a series of machine learning/AI algorithms.

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Game Programming & Design
Learn the ground rules of game design, play scenarios, and programming. Get an insider's look at the game industry and explore publishing and marketing games using the Unity or Unreal platforms.

GMU

Students attending select high school and college programs are eligible to receive college credit(s) through George Mason University.

Program Highlights

Mason Game & Technology Academy Facility

The Future of Gaming

The career opportunities in the game and technology fields are booming. You'll use the latest in technology, get into the world of machine learning and AI, explore the Unreal or Unity game engines, see what's cool about 3D game art, and much more!
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Mason Game & Technology Academy Professors

Game Design Gurus

Students will tap into the vast knowledge and experience of the leading experts from Mason's Computer Game Design Program like Dr. Scott Martin. Dr. Martin is the Founding Director of George Mason's Computer Game Design program and the Virginia Serious Game Institute (VSGI). LEARN MORE

Mason Game & Technology Academy Video Game Design

Flexible Scheduling

Learn on your schedule! The Game & Technology Academy offers three different one-week residential sessions and three five-day virtual sessions for your convenience. Take one session, or take them all! All residential sessions take place in George Mason University's cutting edge, state-of the art labs.

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Mason Game & Technology Academy Games

Game Changers

In addition to making friendships that will last a lifetime, you'll work together to create your own game or animation and demo it for Mason gurus and your new peers at the program's Indie Showcase! Students attending the Residential program also have the opportunity to visit the Virginia Serious Game Institute and meet with working game design professionals and start up companies. LEARN MORE

Game Design Gurus

Dr. Scott Martin
Founder, Mason Computer Game Design Program

Dr. Scott Martin,
Founder, Mason Computer Game Design Program, Founding Director, Virginia Serious Game Institute ×

Dr. Martin is an educator, inventor, composer, entrepreneur, and mentor. He is the Founding Director of both the Mason Computer Game Design Program and the Virginia Serious Game Institute, a game and simulation focused start-up accelerator. Dr. Martin possesses education and research expertise in both the sciences and the arts, studying both Music Composition at the Peabody Conservatory, and Electrical and Audio Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University. At Mason, Dr. Martin has taught courses from philosophy, theory, and criticism, to audio engineering, digital arts, and business entrepreneurship. He is also a visiting fellow at the Serious Game Institute at the University of Coventry in England, and Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed publication Journal of Computer Games and Communication (Macroworld Press). Doctor Martin sits on multiple for-profit and nonprofit boards in the Washington DC region, and holds several education technology-related patents. His areas of research include virtual inter-professional education and practice, game education pedagogical theories and structures, and next-gen K-12 distant education solutions and virtual pedagogical assessment.

Vera Lichtenberg
Founding Director, Mason Game & Technology Academy

Vera Lichtenberg, Founding Director, Mason Game & Technology Academy ×

Vera works closely with Mason Game Design Program faculty to develop courses and curriculum for K-12 students, to design teacher training programs for Middle and High School teachers, and to facilitate partnerships with local schools, community programs, and industry professionals. MGTA was honored with a 2015 Business Partnership of the Year Award by the Prince William County School System, for innovative school partnerships that provided student workshops and teacher training in Game Design and programming. In 2015, Vera was a finalist in the Small Business / Entrepreneur category for the 16th Annual Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Awards. Vera brings to MGTA multiple established relationships in the mid-Atlantic region's technology, arts, philanthropic, and public and private education communities. She has over fifteen years of administrative and managerial experience developing major new organizations, building strategic and tactical partnerships, and managing multiple cutting-edge national and international projects. Her professional activities include several years designing and coordinating international training programs and policy briefings for the International Research & Exchanges Board, in conjunction with multiple U.S. government agencies including USAID, USIA, and the U.S. Department of State.

Sang Nam
Director, Mason Computer Game Design Program

Sang Nam, Director, Mason Computer Game Design Program ×

Sang Nam teaches technology-intensive courses in Computer Game Design at George Mason University. He holds an M.F.A. in Electronic Integrated Arts from NYSCC at Alfred University and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts and a B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of California, San Diego. Nam's work metaphorically explores how technologies are used in various art disciplines and how people perceive these art products in various dynamics. Nam has explored new possibilities when art and technology merge, and his work has been exhibited worldwide, including the US, UK, Korea, and Hungary. As a teacher-scholar, Nam has actively pursued his research on the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning. He has been selected as 2010 National CASTL Teaching Scholar, 2010-2012 Elon CATL Teaching Scholar, and 2008 Wisconsin Teaching Fellow.

Eric Piccione
Assistant Professor,
Computer Game Design

Eric Piccione, Assistant Professor, Computer Game Design ×

Eric Piccione is Assistant Professor of Game Design. He has 20 years of experience developing video games for companies such as Sega, Activision, and Electronic Arts. He has launched games for mobile, PC, and console platforms, and served as art director for three massively multiplayer online projects. Eric has taught 3D animation at George Mason University and the George Washington University, and conducted workshops in visual storytelling and comic book design at the Arlington Art Academy. His approach is to adapt traditional art and storytelling techniques to the digital medium in a hands-on game development setting. He holds a BA in English from Western Michigan University, where he focused on graphic design, creative writing, and journalism. Before video games, Eric was an illustrator for comic books and various print media.

Gregory Grimsby
Assistant Professor,
Computer Game Design Program

Gregory Grimsby Assistant Professor, Computer Game Design ×

Gregory Grimsby, Assistant Professor in Computer Game Design, has 14 years of experience in computer game development. He has extensive experience in 2D and 3D artwork and creating textures, models, animations, and interface elements for various computer games. Mr. Grimsby has worked as a lead 3D Artist for Kesmai Studios and Bioware, where he most recently held the position of Art Director for 6 years. Projects have included work on games such as Air Warrior II, Aliens Online, Multiplayer Battletech: 3025, Dark Age of Camelot, and Warhammer Online. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting and drawing from James Madison University.

James Casey
Associate Director, Virginia Serious Game Institute

James Casey, Associate Director, VSGI, Assistant Professor of Computer Game Design ×

James Casey, Associate Director at VSGI and Assistant Professor Computer Game Design at George Mason, has over 12 years of experience developing video games. He has extensive knowledge in the production and live management of games, working on titles from Mythic Entertainment, Bioware, EA, and EA Mobile. James worked in a number of roles including customer service, design, content lead, and producer. The majority of his tenure in the industry was in the producer role with production experience on live and in-development titles. His portfolio of work includes such PC titles as Dark Age of Camelot, Ultima Online, Imperator Online, Warhammer Online: Age of Chaos, Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes, as well as the mobile titles Ultima Forever and Dungeon Keeper. In addition, James worked on a number of prototype projects and co-development titles for the studio and helped to lead the transition to mobile for the studio. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees in Business Administration as well as a creative writing minor.

Tuition

Tuition for the Game & Technology Academy covers most of the expenses incurred during the program. Tuition DOES NOT cover transportation to and from the program. LEARN MORE

Scholarships

Envision offers a limited number of scholarships to qualified students each year based upon financial need, scholastic leadership, achievements, and other factors. LEARN MORE

Fundraising

Let us show you how other students use fundraising to cover some or all of their tuition costs. Make fundraising part of your personal success story. LEARN MORE

Payment Plan

You may pay in full today or choose to use one of our payment options.
PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the 2021-2022 NASSP List of Approved Contests, Programs, and Activities for Students.

Envision Game & Technology Academy FAQ

Is the Envision Game & Technology Academy for me?

This summer program is for you if you are a high school student interested in exploring the latest game design tools and learning about the various career options available in the field of game design and technology. Game & Technology Academy is your springboard to achieving tremendous success in college and in a future career in games.

To attend Game & Technology Academy, you must be in grades 9–12 during the 2021–2022 school year.
What is included in tuition?

Residential

Your tuition for Game & Technology Academy includes housing, on-campus meals, supervisory personnel, program materials, use of equipment, all program activities, site visits, a Certificate of Completion and local transportation during the program.

Your transportation to and from home and the program location is NOT included in tuition. While attending the program, you will only need money for off-campus meals, souvenirs, snacks, and other incidentals.

Virtual

Your tuition for Game & Technology Academy virtual programs includes live faculty lectures/instruction with "office hours" & tutorials by Teachers Assistant's during hands-on project work time and a Certificate of Completion. Each course may require a specific technology device that is NOT included in tuition. Any software or platform needed will be provided at no additional cost to you.
How will I be supervised?
Your safety and well-being during the program is our highest priority. The program is structured so that you will reside and work in a safe, controlled environment. You will be closely supervised by professionally trained staff, including advisors who serve as educational facilitators and chaperones, security personnel, operations personnel, and a program coordinator.

For over 30 years, Envision has achieved a stellar record of safely and successfully enriching the lives of students, providing them with superb educational experiences and professional supervision. Other Envision safety measures include:
- Greeting students at the designated airport upon their arrival, and providing shuttle service directly to the program site as well as providing shuttle service back to the airport on departure day*
- Maintaining a student-to-staff ratio of 17 to 1
- Providing same-sex rooms and same-sex floors for residential programs
- Requiring all students to attend all activities
- For residential programs, checking rooms nightly and ensuring that students remain in their rooms, and having night monitors in place to support students who may become ill or who have an emergency during the night
- Equipping all Envision team members with two-way communication devices
*There is a $80 nonrefundable roundtrip fee for shuttle service or a $40 fee for one-way shuttle service.
Where will I stay?
For the summer 2022 Game & Technology Academy, students who choose the residential option are housed on the campus of George Mason University.
How many students share a room?
Each room will house two to three students. You will have your own bed.
Can my parents attend the program?
No. Your parents or guardians are not allowed to accompany you during the program. Gaining independence, including experiencing new things on your own, is an essential part of your growth during the program. However, it is perfectly fine for your family to travel with you to the program location and stay in the area while you are attending the program.
I am a student requiring specific accommodations. Can I still attend?
Yes, we encourage you to enroll.Envision by WorldStrides believes in working with families to accommodate student needs and encourages the participation of students who feel prepared to meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional demands of the program environment. We may be able to provide appropriate auxiliary staff and services to assist students as needed if notified in advance. We encourage families, guardians, legal representatives, or educators to contact the Office of Admissionsfor more information and to discuss particular accommodations before applying for enrollment in the program.
Do I need to make my own travel arrangements?
Yes. Your tuition does not include transportation to and from your home and the program location. We recommend that you make necessary travel arrangements only AFTER you receive confirmation that you are officially enrolled.
Can special dietary needs be met?
Vegetarian options are always available. Kosher and Halal meals can be made available to you, provided the request is submitted prior to the start of the conference. When you complete the Student Information Form, you will have the opportunity to make special dietary requests.
What is the difference between the residential and virtual options?

You have two options when enrolling in Game & Technology Academy: a residential option and a virtual option.

Students who choose the residential option work and stay on the George Mason University campus for the one-week program duration. Residential students will visit the Virginia Serious Game Institute and hear special addresses from Dr. Scott Martin and James Casey, and enjoy fun evening activities. Students who attend multiple sessions will also enjoy weekend activities, including trips to downtown Washington, D.C.

Students who choose the virtual option complete course work, lectures, and project time from the comfort of their homes. The virtual option provides flexibility in scheduling and travel.