A New Pathway for Aspiring Game Industry Professionals
VoxPop Games, Inc., a platform dedicated to independent game development, has officially launched a career readiness program aimed at assisting college students with aspirations of entering the video game industry. This innovative program is the result of VoxPop Games’ collaboration with several leading universities, including Marist College, Bradley University, and Stony Brook University, with plans to extend its reach to additional institutions in 2024.
Facilitating Connections Between Students and Indie Developers
VoxPop’s initiative offers a unique approach by integrating its platform with the academic world, enabling students to discover job opportunities and connect with indie developers. This collaboration is designed not only for those looking to become game designers but also for students from various majors, offering them a chance to apply their unique skills in the gaming sector. Whether it’s through building their own games or joining forces with experienced developers, students have the opportunity to bring their creative visions to life.
Success Stories and Strategic Support
A testament to the program’s potential, a project titled Disaster Golf, developed by Bradley University graduates, has already seen success on Steam for PC & Mac players. VoxPop supports these endeavors with its profit-sharing middleware, ensuring that all collaborators are compensated fairly upon a game’s launch. Additionally, the platform offers strategic counseling in areas such as localization, licensing, and direct access to major gaming platforms like Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Expanding Opportunities Beyond Traditional Fields
Marc Anthony Rodriguez, COO of VoxPop Games and a Stony Brook University alumnus, highlighted the program’s inclusive approach, which aims to attract students from non-STEM fields. By partnering with humanities departments, VoxPop is creating broader career opportunities in the video game industry for students with diverse academic backgrounds. This strategy acknowledges the industry’s need for a variety of talents, including artists, animators, localizers, producers, and storytellers.
Building a Creative and Professional Pipeline
The initiative began with Rodriguez’s connection to his alma mater’s Latin American & Caribbean Studies (LACS) department at Stony Brook University. Dr. Lori Flores, Associate Professor and Director of the LACS center, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing its potential to provide students with early exposure to creative and professional opportunities.
A Vision for the Future
VoxPop Games’ partnership with universities represents a significant step towards diversifying the talent pool in the video game industry. By opening doors for students from a wide range of academic disciplines, the program not only nurtures budding developers but also enriches the gaming world with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
