Event Raised Funds for Get-Well Gamers Foundation
LOS ANGELES (May 4, 2010) –To help future interactive entertainment leaders learn more about this cutting-edge industry, Westwood College recently brought together 10 of the game industry’s most accomplished professionals to share their experience on getting started in gaming, what they’ve learned along the way and to discuss the future of the gaming profession. The event also raised money through donations made by attendees for the Get-Well Gamers Foundation, an organization that brings video game systems and games to dozens of children's hospitals across the country.
Speakers touched on several aspects of the gaming industry including casual and mobile games, the open world of games and what to expect next in the electronic entertainment industry. They also offered valuable advice to attendees interested in entering the gaming industry. Dave Perry, co-founder of Gaikai, Inc., emphasized the importance of obtaining a college degree in gaming. “An education in gaming forces you to become an expert on the full subject of game development and design,” said Perry. “Many people know bits and pieces of it, but understanding every element of a game is critical and that only comes from studying the field.”
“Attendance at this year’s Gathering of Video Game Legends was exceptional and the level of interaction between guests and participants provided a unique opportunity for everyone involved,” said Lou Osborn, president of Westwood College’s Anaheim campus. “Current and future students of gaming were able to gain valuable insight into how they can get started on a career path they are passionate about. And to top it all off, we were able to raise funds for a very worthy charitable organization,” Osborn added.
More than 400 people attended the event at The Diamond Club at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. It was hosted by Westwood College’s gaming program which offers two bachelor’s degrees in gaming – one in Game Art and the other in Game Software Development. Approximately 18 percent of Westwood and Westwood College Online students are enrolled in a gaming degree program, making it one of the College’s most popular programs.
The full lineup of participating Legends included: Brian Fargo, CEO of inXile Entertainment; Bill Fisher, president and founder of Quicksilver Software, Inc.; Dave “Fargo” Kosak, 11 years with gamespy.com, Cecil Kim, Lead Concept Artist with Sony Computer Entertainment, Justin Lloyd, founder of Infinite Monkey Factory; David Perry, co-founder of Gaikai, Inc.; John Say, founder of Say Design; Voldi Way, founder of WayForward; Ru Weerasuriya, co-founder of Ready At Dawn Studios; and Harvard Bonin and Rusty Buchert, both senior producers with Sony Computer Entertainment.
About Westwood College
Westwood College is an institution of higher learning with 17 campuses across the country, as well as a top-ranked online college. Westwood offers a unique hands-on, career-focused curriculum providing three-year bachelor’s degrees in in-demand fields. More than 20,000 Westwood graduates have transformed their lives by obtaining the skills, tools, experience and connections necessary to achieve meaningful careers. Westwood College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), depending on the campus. Westwood is also a candidate for regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, please visit http://www.Westwood.edu
About Get-Well Gamers Foundation
The Get-Well Gamers Foundation was founded in 2001 with the goal of bringing video game systems and games to children's hospitals. Video games are an effective and proven pain management tool and provide needed entertainment during long hospital stays. The Foundation currently serves dozens of children's hospitals across the U.S. in an ever-expanding donation network that has already brought much-needed entertainment to hundreds of thousands of children each year. For more information, please visit www.get-well-gamers.org.