WE ARE GAME CHANGERS

Shaping the future through video game development

EDUCATION THAT TOPS THE CHARTS

SMU Guildhall is a premier graduate video game education program located in Plano, Texas. We are the #2 Graduate School for Video Game Design and the first in the world to offer a Master of Interactive Technology degree. We also offer a Professional Certificate, and are the only program with specializations in all four cornerstones of video game development:

Art Creation Level Design Production Programming

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EQUIPPED FOR SUCCESS

Our 600+ alumni have worked at more than 200 game studios around the world. Check out a sampling of their published titles below.

Want to be one of our next success stories? Apply Now!

ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS

We equip our students with the skills and instincts needed to succeed in the gaming industry and beyond — just ask them!

J.R. Briggs

Sr Combat Programmer, Bioware Austin

"Attending the Guildhall was one of the best things I ever did for my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the skills and experience I gained from the program."

Drew Murray

Game Director, Insomniac Games

"It’s not an exaggeration to say that [the Guildhall] completely altered the direction of my life. I’d always wanted to become 'great' at something, but hadn’t found that thing that inspired me enough to want to pay the price in blood, sweat and tears. I’ve definitely found my passion."

Navin Supphapholsiri

Producer, Studio Wildcard

"I chose the Guildhall because I wanted to join one of the premier graduate programs that focuses on game development skills and talent. In addition, I heard many great things from the alumni I spoke with at game developer events. [The Guildhall’s] TGP projects and individual class work helped acclimate me to the industry work environment."

Daniel Rivin

Sr Software Engineer, Disney Interactive

"The Guildhall changed my life and my career certainly for the better. By working on real gaming projects and doing real coding, I had the confidence to perform in the 'real world.'"

Grace Liu

Environment Artist, Riot Games

"The Guildhall got me prepared enough to get into the game industry, and I found my first game-related job in a Guildhall career fair. Guildhall has been a crucial step for me in getting to where I am today."

Brian Harris

Programmer, Nvidia

"[The program was] hard, but worth it... I have no idea what I’d be doing right now if I hadn’t made the decision to attend the Guildhall."

Ben Jones

Lead Designer, Battlefield Premium

"By allowing me to work with diverse teams that closely resemble those in actual studios and with a rich curriculum, [the Guildhall] changed my communication and development skills. It truly changed my life by getting me back into an industry I’d always dreamed of calling my own."

Stephen Chew

World Designer, BioWare

"Guildhall was [an] investment, but it paid off by giving me the opportunity to work at a AAA studio. Compared to my Bachelor’s, which emphasized a lot of theory, Guildhall’s curriculum is hands-on and immediately useful in the field."

MAKE GAMES WITH THE PROS

Industry-driven independent and group work prepares our students to excel in their careers.

Led by a faculty of industry veterans, students create 3+ professional quality 2D and 3D games using engines like Unity, Unreal Engine 4, Half-Life 2, and Skyrim. Students also complete independent coursework, research, and a master's thesis or Directed Focus Study. Student games have won many awards, the most recent of which was 1st Place for Best Visual Quality at the GDC Intel University Games Showcase for Cohort 22's game, Inua. This marks the third year in a row of Guildhall wins at the competition.

Coursework Student Work Student Game Trailers

OUR CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

The Dallas/Plano area is recognized as one of the birth places of the video game industry.

It is home to more than 40 video game studios and a vibrant AAA and indie game development community. It's also the nation's fourth-largest metropolitan area and one of the nation’s leading centers for business, innovation, culture and service.

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BECOME A GAME CHANGER

Video games are a $20 billion industry. And YOU can be part of it!

Take the first step toward your future by applying to SMU Guildhall today.

Fall 2016 Application deadlines: 2/15/16 (early), 3/15/16 (regular), 4/15/16 (extended)

Apply Now