Tomorrow’s leading video game developers are being built today at UCF.

The university’s graduate video gaming program, , and undergraduate program continue to develop a pipeline of talent to fuel Florida’s economy at a standard of excellence few can match, affirmed by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer’s Top Video Game Design Schools 2026 rankings.

The Princeton Review and PC Gamer has recognized FIEA as one of the top two programs of its kind in the world six of the past seven years.

GaIM improved two spots from last year to its highest ranking, rising to No. 3 in the world. Both programs continue to hold the title of No. 1 in the South.

Strategy for Success

Since their inception, FIEA and GaIM have modeled their classrooms as close to a real-world, studio-like environment as possible, led by faculty with industry experience. That real-world perspective shapes every course, every project and every student who graduates.

“Our program intentionally emulates a collaborative ecosystem with a range of diverse talent in artists, designers and programmers, which is crucial to developing products and intellectual property,” says Nicholas Zuccarello, a 3D art instructor at FIEA who has previously worked for Sony Online Entertainment and Electronic Arts Tiburon. “We even structure projects to emulate real-world development pipelines as closely as possible within an educational setting.”

Orlando: A Leading Tech Hub

With Electronic Arts (EA) and Iron Galaxy Studios located less than a mile from the programs’ home base in downtown’s , Orlando is the perfect setting to transition from college to career and now mentioned in the same breath alongside traditional tech-giant territories San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Many alums go directly into the game industry including Epic, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and more.

FIEA has graduated 1,160 students since its first class in 2006 — about 100 of whom worked on several of the most popular games sold in the U.S. in 2025, including EA SPORTS College Football 26, EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

But it’s not just the gaming companies that eagerly hire FIEA and GaIM graduates. The skills taught in the two programs align perfectly with some of Orlando’s top industries.

Graduates land roles in the modeling, simulation and training sector. Others find their footing in medical technology, where interactive systems and game-based design are transforming how clinicians train and how patients heal. Knights can be found at many of the region’s big-name employers, including Disney, EA, Lockheed Martin, and Universal Destinations & Experiences, among others.

“Our students don’t just make games, they develop the creative and technical fluency to work wherever those skills are needed.” — Associate Professor Peter Smith ’05MS ’12PhD

“Our students don’t just make games, they develop the creative and technical fluency to work wherever those skills are needed,” says Associate Professor Peter Smith ’05MS ’12PhD, who serves as the associate director of GaIM. “That’s what makes GaIM graduates competitive across industries. It is a true honor to see The Princeton Review recognizing this accomplishment of our students and faculty.”

Nitin Bakshi ’21, who joined FIEA’s faculty as a technical art instructor after graduating with his master’s in interactive entertainment, says the program takes great pride that many of our alumni continue to live and work in Florida, contributing directly to the local economy.

“These companies rely on artists, designers and programmers who understand real-time production,” he says. “That is exactly the kind of training our program is built around.”

Serious Business

Interest in the program has risen in the past year. FIEA recently drew its largest applicant pool with more than 200 applicants resulting in 90 new enrollees, the largest cohort to date.

For good reason.

The average starting salary for a FIEA graduate is $83,000, and 80% of graduates are in their desired fields at over 400 companies around the world.

The global market size for gaming, hardware and software sales is more than $189 billion (NewZoo’s 2025 Global Games Market Report), overshadowing music and movie industries combined.

“Adapting to the needs of the industry has always been one of our strengths,” Bakshi says. “Whether it is new real-time technologies, new platforms, or new ways of collaboration, we work hard to make sure the program grows along with the field. Seeing the program attract more talented students each year, while continuing to evolve with the industry, is what makes me most excited about the future and about the impact these programs will continue to have.”

Climbing the Leaderboard

�����’s GaIM improved two spots from last year to its highest ranking, rising to No. 3 in the world and continues to hold the title of the No. 1 program in the South.

The bachelor’s in digital media with a track in game degree design blends theory and practice with a sharp focus on industry readiness. The program stands out as one of the few programs that combine a strong emphasis on both art and technology.

Students develop skills in programming, game design, game programming, as well as 2D and 3D art and visual effects.

The GaIM Maker Space lab, located on the UCF Downtown campus, reflects that commitment in concrete terms: nearly $500,000 in mixed-reality technology including augmented and virtual reality, motion capture, physical computing, 3D printing, and web and mobile development equipment, alongside dedicated research space for applied work.

The impact on the quality of the students’ education and training is undeniable.

“The tools the maker space provides are integrated deeply into virtually every class in GaIM,” Smith says. “Students in early classes are printing board games and 3D printing game pieces, seniors are recording audio and motion capture sequences that are integrated directly into their capstone projects.”

The Rankings’ Methodology

The Princeton Review and PC Gamer’s game design school rankings are based on more than 40 data points derived from the company’s survey of administrators at 150 schools offering game design courses and/or degrees. Most of the institutions are in the U.S., with two in Canada and four abroad. The 50-question survey covered four areas: academics, faculty, technology and career topics.

This year, UCF honored 84 faculty members during the fifth biennial Faculty Authors’ Celebration, held Feb. 17 in the Solarium Room at the John C. Hitt Library on the university’s main campus. The event celebrates faculty whose published books — from novels and poetry to textbooks and manuals — contribute to scholarly excellence and creativity in their respective fields.

The event, which is sponsored by the Office of Research�����Ի���, drew many guests, including Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter and Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld.

Professor of English and Director of Graduate Programs Anastasia Salter delivered the keynote address. Salter is the author or co-author of 10 books on digital culture and electronic literature, including most recently Undertale: Can a Game Give Hope, which invites readers to rethink their relationship with gaming and game characters.

2026 Faculty Author Honorees

• Yara Asi ’07MA ’15PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jonathan Annand,
• Greg Autry, College of Business Administration
• William Ayers, College of Arts and Humanities
• James Bacchus, College of Sciences
• Morris Beato, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• James Beckman, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Martha Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities
• Andrea Borowczak ’92, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Wayne Bowen, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sarah Bush, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jessica Campbell ’12MA ’20PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Shannon Carter, College of Sciences
• Robert Cassanello, College of Arts and Humanities
• Necati Catbas, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Thomas Cavanagh ’06PhD, Center for Distributed Learning
• Karl Chai, College of Medicine
• Baiyun Chen ’07PhD, Center for Distributed Learning
• Amy Cicchino, College of Arts and Humanities
• Brian Collins,
• Ilenia Colón Mendoza, College of Arts and Humanities
• Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences
• Aimee Denoyelles ’00, Center for Distributed Learning
• Taseen Desin, College of Medicine
• Ahmad Elshennawy, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Katia Ferdowsi, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Julie Feuerstein, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Scot French, College of Arts and Humanities
• Martha Garcia ’97 ’00MA, College of Arts and Humanities
• Amrita Ghosh, College of Arts and Humanities
• Carolyn Glasshoff ’11MA ’21PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Donita Grissom ’14PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Gulsah Hancerliogullari Koksalmis, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Kenneth Hanson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Duncan Hardy, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities
• Bari Hoffman ’96 ’98MA, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Emily Johnson ’15PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Naim Kapucu, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Lauren Kehoe,
• Haidar Khezri, College of Arts and Humanities
• Nolan Kline, College of Medicine
• Alla Kourova, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lanlan Kuang, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Lerner Schwartz, College of Arts and Humanities
• Hsiu-fen Lin, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Robert Littlefield, College of Sciences
• Ty Matejowsky, College of Sciences
• Stephen Masyada, College of Sciences
• Jonathan Matusitz, College of Sciences
• Kevin Meehan, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lisa Nalbone, College of Arts and Humanities
• Hakan Özoğlu, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jason Phillips, UCF Libraries
• Laurie Pinkert, College of Arts and Humanities
• Ghaith Rabadi ’96MSIE ’99PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Luis Rabelo, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sherry Rankins-Robertson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jorge Ridderstaat, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Lee Ross, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Mary Rubin ’12 ’19MA, UCF Libraries
• Houman Sadri, College of Sciences
• Anastasia Salter, College of Arts and Humanities
• Scott Carter, College of Sciences
• Melina Sherman, College of Sciences
• Marwan Simaan, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Christopher Spinale ’04MEd ’24PhD, College of Sciences
• Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sandra Sousa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Bulent Soykan, Institute for Simulation and Training
• Sidney Turner, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jennie Wagner, College of Nursing
• Linda Walters, College of Sciences
• Chung Ching (Morgan) Wang, College of Sciences
• Keri Watson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Taylar Wenzel ’11EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Amanda Wilkerson ’16EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Florence Williams, Center for Distributed Learning
• Andrew Williams Jr., College of Community Innovation and Education
• Ross Wolf ’88 ’91MPA ’98EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Sharon Woodill, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Kuppalapalle Vajravelu, College of Sciences
• Jill Viglione, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Staci Zavattaro, College of Community Innovation and Education

A Leader in Simulation

The study noted Orlando’s strength in the simulation technology field and the robust talent pipeline from UCF. The Institute for Simulation and Training, based at UCF and partnering with government and industry for more than 40 years, boasts a statewide economic impact of $11.6 billion. Within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, �����’s School of Modeling, Simulation and Training has awarded more than 550 graduate degrees since its founding in 2018, advancing both research and workforce development in the field.

“At UCF — and especially within the Institute for Simulation and Training — we have a long-standing commitment to cutting-edge research at the intersection of humans and technology, particularly through simulation and training,” Agere Chair Professor in Computer Science Carolina Cruz-Neira says. “Our integration of advanced research with academic programs has become a cornerstone of Central Florida’s simulation ecosystem. We produce a strong talent pipeline, graduating thousands of well-trained professionals each year, from undergraduate to highly specialized graduate degrees, many developed in close collaboration with industry and government.”

The university’s impact in the simulation sector also includes startups developed through �����’s Business Incubation Program, which has supported more than 1,000 companies in the region over the past 25 years. One of the most recent simulation-based businesses includes ZuLeris Interactive, a Knight-founded startup that develops virtual training for the defense industry.

Developing Game Design

Orlando has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions for video game development — part of an industry that generated nearly $455 billion in global revenue last year. Ů��AV is contributing to the industry through talent educated in the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), �����’s graduate game design program located at UCF Downtown and surrounded by major companies. FIEA has ranked No. 1 in the world for four of the last five years, and the undergraduate program holds the No. 5 spot globally.

“Most great and growing cities have university presences in their downtown,” says Ben Noel, executive director of FIEA. “In terms of FIEA and UCF Downtown, we are a short walking [distance] to thousands of developers and dozens of video game and simulation companies. The UCF Downtown campus investment near Creative Village, as well as FIEA’s reputation in the video game industry, have provided proven results.”

�����’s FIEA program maintains strong partnerships with major game companies like Electronic Arts (EA), Epic Games, Iron Galaxy Studios, Microsoft’s Undead Labs, Ubisoft and Universal Creative. These companies provide scholarships, guest lectures, adjunct faculty and internships that often lead to full-time employment for UCF graduates. Over 100 FIEA alumni work at EA’s Tiburon studio, and many employees at Iron Galaxy and Undead Labs are FIEA graduates. The close ties formed during students’ time at UCF Downtown help maintain ongoing collaboration, with alumni frequently returning to recruit new talent.

“Orlando has the advantage of having [thousands of] college students within [15] miles and UCF as its hometown university,” Noel says. “The quality of life, comparable affordability to other media hubs and critical mass of industry [here] have Orlando and Central Florida on almost all economic development maps.”

Advancing with AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most impactful technological developments today, influencing nearly every industry. More than three-quarters of respondents say their organizations use AI in at least one business function, according to a report from global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

To meet the growing demand for expertise in the field, UCF launched an Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which includes hiring 30 new faculty members across five colleges to elevate the university’s expertise and education in AI.

UCF researchers are already exploring ways to use the developing technology, particularly in healthcare. Under the mentorship of College of Medicine Associate Professor Laura Brattain, six students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science recently developed an AI system to increase efficiency during robotic surgeries at Orlando Health. Brattain is also working with College of Health Professions and Sciences Assistant Professor Colby Mangum to study how AI can be used to diagnose and treat back pain by using AI with ultrasounds — a cost-effective alternative to MRI and CT scans.

The complex imaging of these medical scans is related to another advancing technology connected to AI: computer vision.

Enhancing Computer Vision

Computer vision is a field of AI that teaches computers to process and interpret meaningful information from digital images, such pictures and videos. Key challenges include detection and recognition of objects, features, or actions; segmentation of videos; and using image or video data in computational processes.

As Orlando’s tech hub evolves, UCF computer vision studies will contribute to the region through strategic investment in AI education, says Mubarak Shah, UCF trustee chair professor of computer science and founding director of �����’s Center for Research in Computer Vision.

“AI is the future,” Shah says. “It will have much more impact than what [the] Industrial Revolution had on our society.”

UCF has been a leader in computer vision for most of its existence. The university has been home to the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Computer Vision for 37 consecutive years — the longest-running REU in the nation. It is also the only public university in Florida offering a computer vision master’s degree program, with plans underway to launch an online version of the program.

The Center for Research in Computer Vision is consistently ranked among the top 10 in the country, recognized for conducting prominent research that evolves with the growing field. But to stay competitive with other countries, Shah emphasizes the importance of preparing  the nation’s AI workforce.

“The U.S. still has an edge in AI research. However, the majority of AI workforce consists of foreign nationals, who are not eligible to work in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other national security organizations,” Shah says. “The nation needs to prepare an AI workforce for the future to be competitive with other countries.”

Orlando has a great opportunity to lead the nation in tech sectors, Shah says. In addition to innovative research and strategic partnerships driving tech forward, the city offers enticing advantages for companies considering relocation: no state income tax, a low cost of living and great weather. The Orlando metro area accounted for approximately 74,000 tech workers in 2023 — an increase of 2,000 from the previous year and 9,500 more than five years ago, according to CompTIA, a nonprofit American trade association.

“Orlando can attract some of these tech companies if we can keep strengthening our AI research and education,” Shah says. “This will create lots of new jobs and improve the local and state economy. Our professors and students will continue to create startup companies, which will help Florida’s economy and living standards.”

Since 2017, the KB Foundation has supported Philadelphia’s youth through educational experiences and mentorship. This immersive Orlando trip combined two of the organization’s programs to advance learning for its KB Foundation mentees, including youth from 20 high schools who have participated in college prep or lunch and learn programs since middle school. Founder and CEO Kirk Berry says that he wants the students who participate in the program to learn about careers through immersive experiences and make the right choices for their future.

“At the KB Foundation Inc., our approach to career exploration activities is about exposing our youth to what it is like for a day in the life of any given career,” Berry says. “Hearing about a career is one way to learn, but spending time doing a small part of the career is a more impactful way to learn about it.”

College Possible, an organization working to broaden educational opportunities for youths, also attended this exploratory Orlando field trip for KB Foundation mentees.

Tyler Cholminski, a high school junior and mentee, says the KB Foundation and College Possible programs are helping him prepare for his future.

“I just started with the program a month ago,” Cholminski says. “They have already taught me so much. More than just preparing for college, I’ve learned about life.”

The KB Foundation recognizes �����’s strong ties to the gaming industry through its successful FIEA alumni, which inspired them to visit the university.

“This partnership came about because our vice president of operations and programming, Justin Fishman,” Berry says. “He saw it as an opportunity to give our youth an opportunity to experience an extremely specialized career field. Since the Ů��AV has a direct career path to the gaming industry, it will show our youth what is required to pursue such a skilled profession.”

Berry says the trip will give students a fresh perspective on gaming, which already plays a significant part in many of their lives.

“This trip will have a tremendous impact on our youth because many of them play games and only participate as consumers,” Berry says.  “The opportunity to learn about the pathway into this specific industry will be life-changing for the students.”

During the students’ trip to FIEA, they had the opportunity to listen to executive director Ben Noel speak about what their future could look like with a career in gaming.

“FIEA has one of the top graduate programs in gaming for the past six years,” Noel says. “Electronic Arts, Microsoft, and Iron Galaxy are all up the street from us. Twenty years ago, game development was not prevalent in Downtown Orlando. Today, there are 2,500 developers working in Orlando. Things like this happen in cities when they really focus on doing things.”

After Noel finished his talk with the students, they had the opportunity to tour FIEA to immerse themselves in the technology utilized for game development and education.

Students learned about the technology and work that goes into creating virtual reality games and, through a demo, stepped onto the sets of popular shows, movies, and games such as Mario Kart, Harry Potter, and Stranger Things.

Students went behind the scenes to learn more about the magic behind motion capture and try it for themselves. They geared up in motion capture suits and showcased their basketball skills on the court and the big screen.

Rahim Gardner, a sophomore attending high school in South Philadelphia, shares why this trip means so much to him.

“This experience means the world to me because I was granted the opportunity to come here,” he says. “I’m learning a lot, and I get to see what is outside of Philadelphia in the world.”

�����’s , the university’s graduate video gaming program, has produced more than 200 graduates who worked on several of the most popular games sold in 2024 — including No. 1 seller Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, No. 2 EA SPORTS College Football 25, No. 6 EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 and No. 10 EA Sports MVP Bundles.

“[It’s so important to] have a school like FIEA where you are actually in an industry-simulated environment versus just reading textbooks and watching lectures,” says EA SPORTS Development Director Zachary Karlins ’19, who was one of 42 FIEA alums who worked on College Football 25.

A Legacy of Leading Graduate Gaming Education

With such highly talented students and world-class faculty who bring academic and industry experience into a class setting that mimics real-world gaming studios, it’s no wonder The Princeton Review and PC Gamer have recognized FIEA as one of the top two programs of its kind in the world five of the past six years.

�����’s undergraduate gaming program, , ranks No. 5 in the world and continues to hold the title of the No. 1 program in the South.

Both �����’s graduate and undergraduate programs are sought after by hopeful students — and for good reason.

The average starting salary for a FIEA graduate is over $80,000, and 85% of graduates are in their desired fields at over 400 companies around the world. FIEA has graduated 1,078 students since its first class in 2006.

“FIEA continues to be a premiere pipeline for university talent coming into EA SPORTS and our EA-Tiburon studio,” says Senior Vice President and Group General Manager for Electronic Arts (EA) Tiburon Studios & American Football Daryl Holt. “Our ability to collaborate directly with FIEA as neighbors in the Creative Village in downtown Orlando creates a unique opportunity for us to share the latest developments in our industry with FIEA students who are impressively prepared to contribute from day one.”

The global market size for gaming, hardware and software sales is more than $400 billion — overshadowing music and movie industries combined.

“Due to the program’s success, FIEA is receiving a record number of applicants for the Fall 2025 class, up 40% from the average year,” says Benjamin Noel, executive director of FIEA since its inception. “It’s the best year for our grads ever, and we are pleased at the recognition of the program mission to create talented high-wage developers for the growing video game business.”

Excellence in Undergraduate Gaming Education

�����’s GaIM undergraduate game design program ranks No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in the South.

“Our faculty pursue innovative and impactful research and creative work in areas including immersive media; games, web, and mobile design and development; and artificial intelligence, while teaching state-of-the-art games and interactive media industry design and production techniques,” says GaIM Professor and Associate Director Natalie Underberg-Goode. “Students leave our program having created industry-caliber work. The hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff helps ensure students receive a high-quality education in a program that is noteworthy for its affordability and accessibility.”

The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media program mixes theory and practice with an emphasis on industry awareness. Students learn top-tier programming, game design, 2D and 3D art, animation, and visual effects for games. The GaIM Maker Space lab, located on the UCF Downtown campus, is outfitted with about $500,000 worth of mixed-reality technology — such as augmented reality and virtual reality, motion capture, physical computing, 3D printing, games, and web/mobile-development equipment, as well as research space.

The Princeton Review’s game design school rankings are based on more than 40 data points derived from the company’s survey of administrators at 150 schools offering game design courses and/or degrees. Most of the institutions are in the U.S., with two in Canada and four abroad. The 50-question survey covered four areas: academics, faculty, technology and career topics.

This year, we are honored to welcome guest speaker Daryl Holt, senior vice president and group general manager for EA Tiburon Studios and American Football. By leveraging industry partners such as Electronic Arts (EA), UCF Downtown strengthens Central Florida’s talent pipeline and contributes to the region’s economic vitality. Daryl will be joined by moderator Thad Seymour Jr., former interim president of UCF and current president of the Lake Nona Institute.

The , �����’s graduate program in game design, has been ranked No. 1 in the world for four of the past five years. Additionally, the emergency management graduate program has earned a No. 1 national ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

Crossroads will take place Thursday, Nov. 21, in room 106 of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons at the UCF Downtown campus. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Parking is available in the Parramore parking garage at 316 N. Parramore Ave.

Five years ago, with the support of Dr. Phillips Charities, the largest private gift was made to create the newly developed UCF Downtown campus for UCF and Valencia College students. It is these deep roots in industry partnership that inspired UCF to commemorate the campus’s fifth anniversary with the fourth annual Crossroads Speaker Series.

For more information and to register, .

Guests are encouraged to submit questions in advance for Daryl Holt via email to donorrelations@ucf.edu.

EA SPORTS College Football 25 returned July 19 after an 11-year hiatus. The simulation-style football game’s focus provides an authentic college football experience that is specific to each school, including UCF.

Game day elements that Knights fans are accustomed to are featured as part of College Football 25. Before kick-off, fans perform the signature U-C-F arm sign, while the team runs out the tunnel, running past the virtual Marching Knights playing �����’s fight song, Charge On. When the ball is kicked off, the fans yell out “U-C-F Knights,” just as they do in real life. For the first time, real-life players will also be featured in the game, further replicating a realistic experience for gamers. �����’s reputation of being a leader in space research and education is showcased through an occasional in-game rocket launch, like the real-life SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch during a game against Kent State in Fall 2023.

Behind the scenes, dozens of UCF alums, including 42 graduates of the university’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), helped to create College Football 25. FIEA, the world’s top-ranked graduate video gaming school, is located at UCF Downtown, across the street from EA Orlando and is a strong pipeline of talent to the game developer.

Torres, a digital media alum who earned a minor in marketing, is one example of the invaluable experience UCF students can gain through internships. Last summer, she modeled and textured indoor and outdoor environmental assets based on real-life photographs taken at FBC Mortgage Stadium and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for College Football 25 and the Madden NFL series.

Torres and her team used many tools, including LiDAR scanners to capture the lighting in the stadium. One scanner was placed in the middle of the stadium and scanned the entire facility, creating a 3D model. They also used individual scanners to capture models ranging from trash cans to cleats, which were then modified to the smallest detail. For example, a trash can in the stadium was scanned, then designers patched up any topology errors or holes, and added digital trash cans into the game.

Beyond scanning, the team took pictures of everything. Torres captured chairs at every angle, so artists were able to replicate them easily. She used a color palette, placing it next to the chairs, to help pinpoint the exact colors. Torres also worked with a pen-like scanner that identified the exact hex color of an object, adding further detail.

When scanning 3D objects, Torres says the main thing she tried to keep in mind was making sure the environment, whether it’s a prop or a whole scene, tells a story. An example of this was the first prop she created for EA, a coffee table for Madden NFL. The designers wanted the table to be around one or two years old, so she referenced her own coffee table that was around that age, mimicking details such as rings left from cold glasses and hot plates.

“That’s something that you really need to have as an environment artist, you need that eye to tell a story of things as simple as a coffee table, that maybe most people won’t even notice,” Torres says. “I think that’s the main thing, and that’s something that I still follow today. And working on portfolio pieces now, just doing my very best to tell stories without there being text.”

The lessons Torres has learned over her career come from a variety of places and mentors, such as EA SPORTS Environment Director Ingrid Aguero ’07 ’08MS, a graduate of �����’s FIEA program. As a student at UCF, the most useful information Torres says she learned was in the 3D modeling classes. Under the instruction of Nicholas Hunter ’17 ’18MS, an instructor in and a FIEA alum, Torres gained knowledge on how to make assets that have good topology and UV mapping, which serves as a bridge between 2D textures and 3D objects. Torres also learned how to use Autodesk Maya, the industry standard program.

After being gone for over a decade, College Football 25 means many things to fans who have clamored for the game. For Torres, it’s a combination of her favorite things — Knight Nation, UCF football and video games.

“It honestly doesn’t feel real, I have a piece of my work inside my alma mater, in a game that is making a comeback after 11 years,” Torres says. “Everyone’s hyped, and it’s … really cool to see the game.”

The undergraduate game design program, in �����’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media, achieved its highest ranking ever, advancing to No. 5 in the world.

The Princeton Review ranks top college programs for video game design after surveying administrators at 150 institutions in the United States, Canada and five European countries offering game design coursework and/or degrees. The survey covers a wide range of topics, from academic rigor to faculty credentials and graduates’ career outcomes.

“Led by world-class faculty with strong industry backgrounds, �����’s gaming programs excel at providing students with the skills and real-world experiences they need to unleash their potential in their careers,” says Michael D. Johnson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We’re pleased that The Princeton Review and PC Gamer recognize our exceptional faculty and how our talented graduates thrive as innovators and leaders, often right here in Central Florida, home to many of the nation’s leading gaming, film and animation companies.”

�����’s gaming graduates thrive in a video game industry that’s projected to be worth more than $360 billion by 2027 — dwarfing the movie and music industries combined. Since 2022, dozens of FIEA alumni have had a hand in developing some of the world’s most popular video games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Madden NFL 24, Remnant II, Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy, The Last of Us Part I, and God of War �鲹���Բ���ö��.

FIEA has graduated 1,000 students since its first classes in 2006. Students form industry-like teams to develop video games together, sharpening their skills in project management and collaboration as well as animation, computer programming and software engineering.

“When our legislature approved the development of the FIEA program at Ů��AV in 2004, we envisioned an environment where students, faculty and industry practitioners explored, learned and developed the world’s best video games,” said Benjamin Noel, executive director of FIEA since its inception. “Twenty years later, the Creative Village is the thriving home to over 2,000 video game students and professionals.  It’s been good for our community and we are positioned for the brightest game development future of any global media hub.”

On average, 85% of FIEA graduates find employment in their desired fields — with a mean starting salary of $81,300 a year for gaming grads. Roughly half remain in Florida and most stay in Central Florida. More than 250 companies have hired FIEA graduates, including leading gaming companies like Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Iron Galaxy, Microsoft, Universal and numerous simulation and entertainment businesses.

Electronic Arts moved to Orlando’s Creative Village in 2022, strengthening the industry’s presence downtown and enhancing the strong partnership between EA and FIEA.

“FIEA is a major source of new talent at our Orlando location, and we have been fortunate to benefit from that thriving talent pipeline since the program’s inception,” says Daryl Holt, senior vice president and group general manager, Tiburon Studios & American Football. “When we meet a FIEA student, we are confident they have the skills needed to succeed in our industry, integrate quickly with our teams and make an immediate impact on our EA SPORTS titles.”

The undergraduate GaIM and graduate FIEA programs have developed a robust academic pipeline that brings qualified GaIM students into FIEA’s program after they graduate. While most of UCF graduates come to FIEA from the Games and Interactive Media program, there’s also high demand from computer science and character animation students.

FIEA faculty also instruct some classes in the undergraduate GaIM program, which is also based at the UCF Downtown campus.

GaIM joined FIEA in being ranked first in a new regional category from The Princeton Review: the best schools in the South region.

“I am extremely proud that The Princeton Review has recognized our program in this way,” says Professor Natalie Underberg-Goode, assistant director of the Games and Interactive Media program. “The GaIM faculty do innovative research and pioneering creative work in areas such as interactive and transmedia storytelling, games for change, and extended reality, and they are passionate about leveraging this expertise to help students succeed.”

A total of 16 undergraduate and 12 graduate/professional teams gathered in the largest classroom at UCF Downtown for the inaugural FIEA Collegiate Game Jam on Jan. 12. Teams made up of artists, programmers and other game developers raced for 43.5 hours with the difficult task of designing and developing a video game based on a theme that was announced at the beginning of the jam: sunshine.

Each team was comprised of up to four undergraduate students or graduate students from universities across Florida, alumni, or working professionals from several tech industries. While many UCF students and alumni participated, others from Full Sail University, Stetson University, University of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Florida Polytechnic University also participated. At the graduate/professional level, many FIEA alumni and grad students formed teams, as well as grad students from Full Sail. Professionals working at Third Time Entertainment, Iron Galaxy, Electronic Arts (EA), Game Sim, Netflix, Ubisoft Red Storm and other tech companies brought their experience to compete as well.

By 3 p.m. on Jan. 14, all teams concluded development and made their games ready for testing. Judges, participants, and supporters walked around and playtested a variety of games developed during the jam. While most games were developed for PC, a few virtual reality games made an appearance, and one-person team Day of the Dev — represented by Day Cho, a graduate student from UCF — created a game playable and loaded on a Gameboy.

Judges for the undergraduate division consisted of Paul Weiler and Stephen Cano from Iron Galaxy, and Raghib Tyler from EA Orlando. At the graduate/professional level, two judges from Florida Polytechnic, Christian Navarro and Brad Towle, and University of Florida’s Nick Heitzman, stepped in to decide the winners.

“Through all the grind and sleepless nights, we knew that we could trust and support one another, and that was absolutely my favorite part of the game jam.” — Jeffrey Zhang, CAT 4 Team Captain

The first place prize for the graduate/professional division team went to FIEA’s own Cohort 20 team, CAT 4. Team captain Jeffrey Zhang described the object: “In CATastrophe: Sunshine Shenanigans, you play as a pair of greedy cats who are fighting the other cats for the perfect sunbathing spot. Your goal is to hog all the sunlight to yourself by creating a giant Rube Goldberg machine to lure, scare, or otherwise remove all the other cats from the center of the cafe.”

For CAT 4, developing a winning game under such a quick turnaround was no easy feat.

“We had set a goal to include all of the cats of our fellow classmates in the game,” Zhang says. “That sounds like a cute goal, but it’s much less cute when you’re up at two (o’clock) in the morning retopologizing four different 3D models of cats. Programming the game was filled with just as many challenges, like when I presented eight hours worth of work to the other programmer, and he responsed with a simple, ‘Wait, none of that is going to work with what I have.’”

Playthrough From CAT 4’s Winning Video Game Submission

All four members of CAT 4 received a $200 Universal Orlando gift card and a trophy for winning first place in the graduate/professional division. Team Chasm from Florida Polytechnic University took first place in the undergraduate division with a cat-themed game, and each member received a Nintendo Switch Lite. Second place winners in both divisions received $50 Best Buy gift cards, and third place winners received $25 Best Buy gift cards.

“Despite all the hardships, I loved working on this game, and I loved working together with my teammates,” Zhang says. “From the beginning, it was clear that we all had the same passion — not only for cats, but also for creating a game we could all be proud of. Through all the grind and sleepless nights, we knew that we could trust and support one another, and that was absolutely my favorite part of the game jam.”

FIEA — ranked as one of the top two graduate programs globally in six of the past eight years by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer — is intense, mimicking the environment of industry studios, as game producers, designers, software programmers and artists collaborate over two semesters to develop a full-scale game.

The gaming industry is projected to be worth more than $300 billion worldwide by 2026.

As of Summer 2023, 85% of FIEA graduates are employed in the video game or simulation industries. The average starting salary of current, full-time employees is $80,539 — which is continuing to grow due to the heavy competition for talent.

More than 250 companies have hired FIEA graduates, including leading gaming studios like Activision Blizzard, Bungie, Electronic Arts (EA), Epic, Iron Galaxy, Microsoft, Sony and more. Some graduates also have advanced to successful careers in the modeling and simulation industry.

Tristani, 23, has thrived at FIEA since she started in August 2022, learning C++ programming language to become a software engineer.

“I was really interested in becoming a game developer, but I wasn’t sure I had all the necessary skills,” she says. “I came to FIEA because I knew it was one of the best places to learn to make games professionally and pursue that as a serious career.”

She found those skills at FIEA, a rigorous program that continues to be a top talent pipeline that drives economic growth for Florida’s economy. She also landed a paid internship at EA, a global leader in digital interactive entertainment, with a studio across the street from FIEA in downtown Orlando’s Creative Village.

“FIEA prepared me with a lot of data based on C++ knowledge that I am now using at EA,” she says. “There’s a course that takes a very deep look at C++ in the programming track and that is something I’m using almost every day at EA. It’s the language to develop games, and having that deeper knowledge is incredibly important working at any game company.”

Tristani aspires to join many of her peers and other FIEA alums who have worked with the company after graduation.

“FIEA is a major source of new talent at our Orlando location, and we have been fortunate to benefit from that thriving talent pipeline since the program’s inception,” says Daryl Holt, senior vice president and group general manager, Tiburon Studios & American Football. “When we meet a FIEA student, we are confident they have the skills needed to succeed in our industry, integrate quickly with our teams and make an immediate impact on our EA SPORTS titles.”

FIEA started in 2005 with just 12 students. It quickly advanced to become one of the nation’s top programs, ranking in the top five for the first time in 2010. EA’s move from Maitland, Florida, to Orlando’s Creative Village in 2022 strengthened the industry’s presence downtown and also enhanced the already strong partnership between FIEA and EA. Other video game developers have set up shop downtown, including Iron Galaxy Studios, Microsoft Games Studio and Undead Labs.