FAQ

Q: What kind of computer should an IMGD student have?
A: WPI provides computer labs throughout the campus that are suitable for IMGD work. That said, a student's life will be easier with their own computer. WPI does not officially support anything other than Windows. Many students use Macs with dual-boot capabilities (OSX/Windows), but most WPI students use Windows-based laptops.The three things to look for are the graphics card, the amount of RAM, and the processor speed. As a general rule, you should buy the best you can afford, knowing that in 3 months it will be obsolete anyway.
Q: When do I have to choose whether I want to be IMGD-Technical or IMGD-Artistic?
A: There is no formal method for declaring which track you would like to pursue. Most students make the decision by the end of their sophomore year. You can construct your curriculum to be mostly tech, mostly art, or fairly balanced.
Q: What tools/languages do you use?
A: We teach methods and concepts, as opposed to tools, but use specific tools as examples. The actual tools used in a given class are up to the individual instructor, but you will have the opportunity to become well versed in most of the tools used in the game industry by the time you graduate. In terms of languages, again, we focus on concepts rather than specific languages, as languages will change over time. You will have the opportunity to become proficient in the main languages used in the industry while in the program.
Q: What are your graduates doing now?
A: We are a young program, and so only have a few graduates. Of those, a number are working in the industry. A number of graduates from WPI who pre-date the IMGD program are currently working in the game industry as well. We have forged close ties with local game developers and expect a high placement rate.
Q: Can I double major in Computer Science?
A: Yes! Many of our IMGD-Technical students double major in CS, as there is a significant number of courses that can be double counted. We also have many students who double major in IMGD-Artistic and CS.
Q: When do I get to start building games?
A: Many of our freshmen take IMGD-1001: The Game Development Process, their first semester here, and as part of that class, you will take a game from concept to playable prototype.
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Last modified: February 03, 2009 14:37:31