Announcing the Transformation of the Entertainment Arts and Engineering Program into the Division of Games
We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking transformation for our program: the Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE) program is evolving into the Division of Games! This monumental change marks a significant milestone in our journey, as we embrace the ever-evolving landscape of games research and scholarship and teaching. Join us as we look back at the long and successful history of EAE and explore the exciting new horizons of the Division of Games.
A Legacy of Excellence
For over fifteen years, the Entertainment Arts and Engineering program has been at the forefront of gaming education, nurturing creative minds and producing top-notch professionals in the gaming industry. Our students and alumni have contributed to the development of award-winning games, immersive virtual experiences, and cutting-edge technologies. Our program has been ranked in the top six world-wide every year since 2013. Our graduates are credited on commercial games that have generated more than $2 billion in revenue, including over $1 billion from studios located in the state of Utah.
Throughout its existence, EAE has earned a reputation for its hands-on approach to learning, fostering collaboration between artists, engineers, and designers. By combining team-based, interdisciplinary skills with technical and artistic expertise, our graduates have been well-prepared to make their mark on the gaming world.
A New Chapter: The Division of Games
With the gaming industry experiencing exponential growth and innovations, and games and virtual worlds playing a role not only in entertainment but in learning, health care, training, and many other contexts, the transformation into the Division of Games is a natural progression for us. This shift reflects our dedication to expanding our influence beyond the traditional confines of a teaching program. Our new status as a division underscores our commitment to advanced games research, groundbreaking game development, the creation of new knowledge around games, and the impactful application of that knowledge to change the world. And of course, an abiding and passionate commitment to providing our students with the very best education in games.
A Bold New Mission: Advancing Games Education, Research and Scholarship for Broad Impact
As the Division of Games, we are committed to pursuing excellence in three main pillars:
- to create ideas that advance our understanding of games
- to share that understanding with our students, our community, and society
- with that understanding, to develop skilled, principled and innovative game makers who change the world
The Division’s graduates will lead the world in advancing new forms of games and play that improve entertainment, health, justice, learning & training, collaboration, safety & security, and many other aspects of individual and societal well-being. The ideas developed at the Division of Games will transform our capacity to create games that change lives. Our focus on excellence in education, research, collaboration, and community will catalyze partnerships across our campus and serve as a foundational element of a thriving games ecosystem in Utah and the nation.
Embracing the Future of Gaming
The Division of Games stands at the forefront of an exciting new era in gaming. We envision our division to be a hub of creativity, innovation, and critical thinking, where students, faculty, and industry professionals collaborate to shape an impactful, equitable, and pervasive future of interactive entertainment and virtual worlds.
As we embark on this transformative journey, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the passionate community of gamers, students, faculty, and industry partners who have been part of the EAE program’s success story. This change is just one of a number of major new steps for our unit, and we invite everyone to join us as we forge ahead, breaking new ground, and making an indelible impact on the world of gaming.
Together, let’s seek out new ideas and new ways of knowing, new designs and new technologies, and boldly use those new ideas to impact the lives of everyone who plays.
Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments from the Division of Games.
If you’re interested in more details about this change, please see the following pages: