Chances are, you do it.
So do your friends.
Maybe even your parents.
“It” is computer gaming, and these days practically everybody is in on the action. More than 2.5 billion people around the world play video games, and almost two-thirds of all American adults — men and women, in almost equal numbers.
COVID-19 related lockdowns have made the industry stronger than ever. In 2020, people spent $180 billion on gaming, according to market-research firm IDC. That’s more than the global movie business and North American sports, combined.
Turn gaming into a career with a degree from TU.
A degree in computer simulation and gaming from The University of Tulsa can help curious students plug into a career in this growing industry. This multidisciplinary degree combines computer science, art, music, film and storytelling, putting you in a position to either design or develop games. Video game designers are responsible for the creative decisions that go into a game: its plot, its character development and its overall look and feel. Game developers translate those ideas into a playable game using programming skills.
In TU’s gaming program at the Tandy School of Computer Science, you’ll learn the different gaming industry roles and pick a track that’s right for you.
As a TU game designer, you will explore the possibilities of programming to invent new worlds for others to enjoy. You will understand the language of gaming and gain the skills needed to translate your vision into (virtual) reality.
Game designers and developers are in high demand. According to PayScale, video game designers earn $65,886 a year, while developers make $64,562. But gaming is far from your only career path. Other businesses find uses for the same types of virtual worlds built by game designers and developers. As the technology becomes cheaper and more advanced, TU alumni find more and more outlets for their talents and options for their careers.
- Aerospace/aviation. Pilots have relied on flight simulators for years. Increasingly sophisticated models that mimic complex meteorological conditions and other variables make this training even more versatile.
- Medicine. Researchers use computer simulations to understand how drugs can shut down viruses. In England, for example, researchers are using computational models to show weak points of SarS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19.
- Cybersecurity training. The SolarWinds hack showed how vulnerable even our largest corporations can be. Software that simulates cyberattacks can show organizations where they need to improve, without putting any data at risk.
- Transportation. The dream of a traffic jam-free highway full of driverless cars may be just that — a dream. In a 2021 study, traffic engineers in Australia used computer models to find that one type of autonomous vehicle actually increased congestion when used alongside human-controlled vehicles.
- Surgery. They say practice makes perfect. However, when you’re under the knife, you want a surgeon who’s ready to go. In Canada, a pair of video game veterans have launched a new company that uses VR to put surgeons in a virtual operating room, where they can practice techniques long before trying them on patients.
Learn more about computer gaming at The University of Tulsa
TU’s computer simulation and gaming major features two tracks: A design or development option.
- The design option mixes classes in computer science and programming with art, game design, film studies and other courses to sharpen your creativity.
- The development option combines courses in computer science and programming with advanced mathematics, physical science and game design.
No matter which you pick, you’ll learn the skills necessary to work as part of a game-development team or build a game independently. And because we’re a member of the Unity Academic Alliance, you’ll have access to technology used to build more than half of all games titles released today.