Aaron ThomasElectronic Arts and the USC School of Cinema-Television today unveiled the EA Game Innovation Lab at USC's Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts.
The EA Game Innovation Lab, based in the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, is a state-of-the-art research space and think tank where new concepts in game design, play, and usability are developed, prototyped, and play-tested. Lab users will push games beyond the currently defined genres, markets, and play patterns, creating a body of knowledge about players, games, and game playing that is informing the next generation of software and hardware.
"USC has always been on the cutting edge of entertainment education and now is home to a world class program that will help train talented people for careers in interactive entertainment," said Don Mattrick, President, Worldwide Studios, Electronic Arts. "This is the perfect marriage of creative leadership that will empower young storytellers to express themselves in a new medium."
On March 22, 2004, EA announced a multi-million dollar donation to the USC School of Cinema-Television to advance interactive entertainment education by creating a launch pad for the next generation of game designers. The historic contribution is part of EA's global educational and talent development effort. The gift will help fund a 3-year Master of Fine Arts program within the School's Division of Interactive Media. With this forward-thinking contribution, the School will grow its efforts to graduate visionary thinkers who have a deep understanding of the many facets of interactive entertainment.
