UW-Whitewater is home to many different majors and departments across a variety of interests and areas. A unique major is the Media Arts and Game Development program (MAGD).
“Our program is unique within Wisconsin and the UW System. Only UW-Stout has a similar program,” MAGD associate professor Fred Leighton said. “People think that UW-Madison has the big fish, but they don’t have a program like we have here.”
The program is divided into three different tracks, or emphasises: media arts, communication/gaming and gaming technology. These tracks have separate focuses regarding game, app and web development
Regardless of what track a student chooses, everyone has to take MAGD 150, Introduction to Media Arts and Game Development, for basic skills all students need to progress. It is a lecture and lab class where the lecture teaches different topics that preview different types of media that students could go further into, while the lab is more technically focused.
“It’s more about students making things, whatever that happens to be, within the program. We have a wide umbrella of areas,” Leighton said.
The program is home to two student organizations: Tabletop and Game and Media Entertainment Developers (GAMED). Tabletop is an organization that plays non-technological games, such as board games, card games and other types of tabletop games. GAMED is an organization that allows students to make their own video games, which other members can help with.
“The program is a big part of my life. A lot of the relationships I’ve made have prepared me for my future career,” said GAMED president and computer science major Brian Micheal. “It’s really cool to see game development programs show up more and more, which is why I choose Whitewater. It’s accompanying in many different areas.”
Outside of the program, most MAGD students participate in Game Jam, a weekend where students spend their time in Andersen Library making their own video games before the weekend is up. This tradition is not only special to Whitewater, it is a worldwide event that lots of game designers and developers take part in.
Even though the MAGD program is best known for its game-making skills, it is not the only thing they do.
“We have people working on things like developing tabletop games, designing 3D characters and environments, creating sound effects and music, editing and producing and even more,” said MAGD program coordinator and associate professor Bill Miller. “A cornerstone of our program is coordinating and working in teams where everyone, regardless of their specific role or career interest, can contribute to large projects.”
In April, GAMED will be sharing work at the Midwest Gaming Classic as part of the Future Classics showcase. Soon after, UW-W will be hosting the annual MAGD EXPO 2025 on Wednesday, May 7, in the Hamilton Room inside the University Center. This event is the program’s big showcase of student work.
“The goal of the program is to give students some specific skills that can be connected to specific tools, but the tools are always changing. We try to teach them ways of processes and ways of thinking so that when they graduate they can think for themselves and work for a company,” Leighton said. “We have a mix of students which reflects what the world is. You have designers and project managers, a bunch of people who all work together.”
