Massachusetts Digital Games Institute to Launch Summer Innovation Program Providing College Students the Opportunity to Develop & Market Video Games

MassDiGI to Kick Off Program in May, with Application Process Opening March 15

WORCESTER, Mass., Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI), based at Becker College, announces a new program for college and university students who are looking to break into the interactive entertainment industry. The MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program gives eligible students the chance to work on the winning video game concepts resulting from the MassDiGI Game Challenge competition being held April 13-15. The Summer Program will kick off in May 2012, and the application process will run from March 15 - April 30. Students can learn more about the program at www.MassDiGI.org.

Students participating in the Summer Innovation Program will work on a game prototype from the ground up with the help of industry mentors and alongside a team of other students on the campus of Becker College in Worcester, Mass. Students entering their junior or senior year at any regionally accredited four-year college or university program are eligible to apply, starting on March 15. Students accepted into the program will receive free housing over the summer, as well as a weekly stipend to cover expenses.

"The MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program is not just another internship, but really provides aspiring students with everything they need to get involved in the video game industry," said Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D., president of Becker College and chair of the MassDiGI Advisory Board. "We are pleased to host this new program at Becker College and to welcome students from a variety of colleges and universities to our campus this summer."

"One of the founding principles of MassDiGI was to support higher education institutions and game companies as we work across academia, industry, and government to better prepare graduates for careers in the digital games space," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray.  "As we work towards reaching this goal, the MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program will help connect digital games professionals with educators and students in an academic setting to foster greater collaboration, helping students and companies thrive in Massachusetts." 

The MassDiGI Game Challenge (#digichallenge) and Summer Innovation Program are sponsored by Penny Arcade, Microsoft, Hitpoint Studios, Research in Motion, Muzzy Lane, Mass Technology Leadership Council, and Lycos/Gamesville. For more information about MassDiGI, the Summer Innovation Program, or to register for the April 13-15 Game Challenge event visit www.MassDiGI.org.  

About the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI)

The Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI) is a statewide center, designated by the Commonwealth, for academic cooperation, economic development, and job creation in the Massachusetts digital games cluster. Based at Becker College, MassDiGI is the result of innovative collaboration among academia, state government, and industry, aimed at fostering the growth of the creative economy in Massachusetts. In addition, MassDiGI is a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center.

Since starting up, MassDiGI has launched several initiatives that support entrepreneurship and enhance the talent pipeline between higher education and the digital games industry. Specific initiatives include the Reverse Sabbatical Program and the Virtual Production Lab -- both of which bring student teams, faculty, and industry professionals together to work on creative projects in a real game development environment. Numerous other initiatives, including the MassDiGI Game Challenge and Summer Innovation Program and those that focus on STEM/K-12 education and industry data gathering/benchmarking, will also be rolled out in 2012.

For more information about MassDiGI, visit www.massdigi.org, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contact: 

Elicia Basoli
For MassDiGI
617-877-7497
[email protected]

Sandy Lashin-Curewitz, Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs
Becker College
Phone: 508-373-9529
Cell: 508-887-2388
[email protected]

SOURCE Massachusetts Digital Games Institute