University of Louisiana to Offer Classes in Video Game Design

Life isn't a game, but if it were, students at the University of Louisiana will soon have a chance to design it the way they want.

Next spring, the computer science department will offer a new concentration in video game design as part of the department's curriculum.

And the Video Game Alliance on campus couldn't be happier. The group of about 20 members formed about a year and a half ago to commiserate in their interest in design.

The group lobbied for the design course and found little opposition from Magdy Bayoumi, department head and director of UL's Center for Advanced Computer Studies, said Joel Gonzales, club founder and computer science grad student.

"We have a vice president of academic advancement and that person's job is to work with faculty on campus toward designing the implementation of video game curriculum," Gonzales said.

The group didn't wait around for the university to offer a design course. They've already created a game for submission in an international competition. They're now redesigning it for next year's competition.

"Usually since we're creating games, we don't have time to play them," Gonzales said.

The group came along at the right time, Bayoumi said.

He said he had knocked around the idea since he became department head in 2000 and continuously met high school stude