No Existing Community
PCM has 24,000 students, but no community of game developers. The school includes full computer science, fine arts, music, and management curricula - the core disciplines involved in developing games. These departments could collaborate to cultivate and nurture interest in the games industry in an organized way. Certificate programs, such as the one in Film Studies, draw on courses in many departments, and set a valuable precedent of working together. The new Information Technology minor shows that when a sufficient number of students show interest in a program that doesn't presently exist, PCM will take notice.
Unnecessary Unemployment
Many students from the art and music departments have trouble finding work after graduation. This is in large part because their skills are not currently in high demand through traditional venues like education and performance. Even if they do find work, many are disappointed by low salaries and vulnerability to economic conditions. They may not know that game companies are looking for their talents, and won't explore careers in this industry. Actually, Jupiter analysts predict the music industry will see a large part of its growth come from cooperation with video games. A game development community could advertise these opportunities, potentially helping students find otherwise elusive jobs.
High Barrier to Entry
For students who've already decided to enter the games industry, the challenge of acquiring the necessary skills without institutional support has been daunting. Game companies require prior experience making games before hiring an applicant. Students could gain this experience working on projects while still in school. Unfortunately, PCM offers no guidance to students in this area. A game development community could enable students to meet their peers and form project groups, and could encourage the university to provide more formal support.