Vega School will offer a degree in game design from 2017

South African institutions are steadily embracing video game design courses, and Vega has stepped up to the plate by offering a degree in game design.

In a press statement emailed to Memeburn, Vega said that there has been a growing need for formal training in the field.

“Heeding calls from industry to fulfill this need, Vega School, a division of The Independent Institute of Education, has announced that it will introduce a Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development into its 2017 academic calendar, making it one of the first degrees of its kind in South Africa,” the institution explained.

Vega said the three year course will enable students to develop 2D and 3D gaming content for everything “from home consoles and computers and other platforms such as mobile phones and other hand held devices”.

A Vega representative said the course combines visual design with programming and database skills.

“This is only the second degree I’ve seen being offered in South Africa where the students are being equipped with the range of skills that will prepare them for working in the industry,” said Megan Hughes of leading local studio RetroEpic Software.

Wits University is the first major South African institution to offer a degree programme in game design, having kicked off its course in 2012.

“If only this [Vega – ed] degree was available when we were students; it has a unique approach providing a balance between the design and development of games, with a strong real-world application ensuring industry ready students. The programme supports the possibility for a student to launch their own game, and make money from it, even before they graduate, which is significant,” Lighthouse Games added.

Vega said the country’s gaming industry “is believed” to be worth R2.5-billion and would grow to R3.3-billion in 2017.