Games explore complex ideas, systems, and how we engage with one another and communities. As a student, you will learn how to create games from the ground up, researching, designing, and developing emergent narratives and worlds that connect people through play.
The Game Arts program offers a comprehensive education in the art of game design. In the program, you will learn all the necessary skills to work in AAA studios, indie game startups, game-adjacent fields, or as independent artists exploring the medium. The curriculum emphasizes game history and theory alongside collaborative group projects where students learn to navigate the complexities of team dynamics, problem-solving, and project management, found in professional game development environments.
Students dive deep into game creation within our studio courses, honing their craft through a variety of approaches. They master 3D modeling, unravel the intricacies of game development and programming, craft compelling narratives, and design intuitive user interfaces and experiences. Additionally, our students explore the nuances of level design, tabletop game design, animation, and XR (extended reality) design. This broad spectrum of skills prepares them to address the dynamic challenges of modern game development.
The Experience
The Game Arts degree introduces an amazing range of tools and techniques taught by internationally renowned faculty. Studio courses factor in every semester, lending ample opportunity to create an impressive graduation portfolio. Most courses are located in our award-winning Myrtle Hall facility, which is less than 30 minutes away from hundreds of New York’s world famous cultural institutions, many of which sponsor our students through internships, and employ them upon graduation. When not in class, our students are soaking up the limitless screenings, openings, festivals, shows and exhibitions that are occurring throughout the year in New York City.
Digital Arts Facilities
Students in the Game Arts BFA have excellent facilities with access to state of the art Windows/PC computer stations. These computers are loaded with top of the line software including Unity, Maya, Houdini, TouchDesigner, Unreal, Nuke, Adobe Suite, ProTools, and much more. BFA students also have access to shared Digital Arts facilities that include a green screen room, audio editing suite, a variety of 3D printers, laser cutter, ink-jet printers and a world-class surround-sound VR production/presentation suite. Further access to Pratt Institute facilities is also available, including fine art workshops and a large photogrammetry volume.
Internships
The Department of Digital Arts and Animation offers an internship program tailored to digital artists. Throughout the academic year, students partake in internship opportunities at a variety of studios and companies in the metropolitan New York area, gaining skills and experience in areas covering animation, visual effects, motion graphics, game design, interaction design, fine arts, and publishing.
The internship program places students on their career paths, providing experiences that aid in determining their educational and professional goals. Internships may be taken for college credit by both undergraduate and graduate students. While the Department has our own Internship Coordinator, students may also want to visit Pratt’s extensive network and dedicated staff that supports and facilitates Internships and Industry Connections.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. See where you can go.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learn more.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s Digital Arts faculty of talented artists and professionals bring to the classroom their experience as exhibiting artists or creatives for leading production studios. See all Digital Arts and Animation faculty and administrators.
Game Arts graduates become leading contributors to the arts with a commitment to the cultural enrichment of their world. After graduation, Pratt Alumni can be found featured in important publications, exhibiting in galleries and new media institutions and working in major creative industries.
Ready for More?
HERE’S HOW TO APPLY
PORTFOLIO HELP
OUR CAMPUS & BEYOND
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
Building your portfolio can be daunting. We’ll answer your questions and help you feel confident about the portfolio you submit with your application. Start building your portfolio, now.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
FALL 2024 workshop is coming
For sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIqv7TMOZCzs21MJgupbd5EvKwQMBfR62Iakovj-yjzgTB5g/viewform
Generative AI for modeling and 3D printing
Explore the future of 3D form-making with this 2-hour hands-on workshop.
We will explore various image-to-3D and text-to-3D techniques and harness the power of Generative AI to create 3D models and characters.
By the end of the workshop, you will have created a unique 3D model or miniature, ready for 3D printing.
*A basic working knowledge of Blender is required.
Workshop on November Monday 11th 2024
4:00-6:00 pm / 6:30-8.30 pm
Generative AI for Animation
A 2-hour workshop where we dive into the transformative world of generative AI for animation.
We will introduce you to a range of cutting-edge generative AI techniques and workflows.
With hands-on demonstrations, you’ll explore AI rendering techniques in Blender, discovering how AI can automate and enhance your animation processes.
We‘ll also delve into various image-to-animation workflows, showcasing innovative approaches to bringing static images to life.
*A working knowledge of Blender is required.
Workshop on November Monday 25th 2024
4:00-6:00 pm / 6:30-8.30 pm
Generative AI for Game Design
In this 2-hour workshop on Generative AI for Games you’ll explore how AI can transform game development, from asset creation to character design.
This hands-on session will introduce you to experimental tools and workflow, helping you integrate generative AI into your own projects.
*Basic knowledge of Blender is required.
Workshop on November Monday 18th 2024
4:00-6:00 pm/ 6:30-8.30 pm
A huge thank you to Bianca Bosker (@bbosker), bestselling author of Get the Picture, a must-read account about navigating the contemporary art world. Bianca visited Prof. Steven Pestana‘s ”Emerging Practices in Art, Technology, and Culture“ class to share her wide-ranging insights, offering invaluable advice on understanding art, its contexts, and the craft and nuances of writing about it.
Thanks to Suzanne Anker for welcoming Prof. Steven Pestana’s class ”Emerging Practices in Art, Technology and Culture“ to SVA‘s Bio Art Lab for an inspiring conversation about the exciting field of Bio Art!
STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF +ALUMNI OF DDA LET US BRAE ABOUT YOUR WORK!
EMAIL YOUR PROJECTS, AWARDS, AND COLLABORATIONS WITH A DESCRIPTION TO
ddasocialmedia@pratt.edu
TO BE DISPLAYED ON OUR
INSTAGRAM AND NEWSLETTER!
Today from Best of DDA we feature:
“Honey Tears” by Meah Nizan. Meah was awarded Best 3D BFA in Show.
Also featured is “Project Sisyphus” by Emma McJessy.
From Best of DDA: Today we feature two more films...
First we have a still from “Fight & Flight” by Michelle Yu
Featured second, “Memory Motel” by Vivian Vazquez
Today from the Best of DDA we feature:
“Wasm” by Loujain Alzahrani. Loujain was awarded Best MFA in Show.
“So Disgusting!” by Fran Moore. Fran received the award for Best MFA Story.
Here are some stills from best of DDA…
First we have “Último Día” by Sofia Arbaiza Martinez. Sofia is this year’s winner of Best 2D BFA in Show.
Also featured is a still from the 3D film “Wormhole”. Wormhole was created by Logan Shanahan. Logan received the award for Best 3D BFA Story.
Congratulations to the both of you.
Students in the BFA in Game Arts use technology and play to explore complex ideas. In this program, students have access to a wide variety of high-quality technology in an environment that can only be described as invigorating and innovative. The Digital Arts department is populated with a faculty of talented artists and professionals who bring the experience of exhibiting artworks or creating for leading production studios to the classroom.
Many write for trade and professional journals, and several have authored trendsetting books. Students in this program combine artistic practice and technical skill to create rich games that use play to explore complex ideas. From quirky to challenging, aesthetics and ideas are the conceptual focus while programming and game theory ensure that students have the skills to deliver fully realized games.
Courses include game theory, game design, animation, mechanics-dynamics-aesthetics, programming, and a range of gaming studio courses. Recommended electives include special effects, AR/VR, physical computing, and animation narrative.
The BFA in Game Arts is a rigorous concentration that engages this medium with the philosophical underpinnings of Instrumentalized Design, explored through the acquisition of technical skills. Upon graduation students are prepared to be immediately engaged in the gaming industry.
