University of Utah video game program fuels $2 billion industry


Rice–Eccles Stadium, an outdoor college football venue at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, stands against a stunning mountain backdrop.

University of Utah

This article is part of CNBC’s Cities of Success series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs with an entrepreneurial spirit and attracted capital, companies and employees.

The video game industry in Utah has become a powerhouse, growing more than 230% in the last decade and bringing in more than $2.3 billion in revenue last year.

And it’s not stopping: The market is expected to reach an impressive $4.5 billion in economic contribution within five years, according to market research firm IBISWorld.

One of the key drivers behind the growth is the University of Utah’s cutting-edge video game program.

Inside a classroom in Salt Lake City, students here are immersed in studying video games — not just playing them, but also creating them, fueling an industry that has deep roots at the campus.

Those were the kind of people I wanted on my team.

Donald Mustard

Former Epic Games chief creative officer, ‘Fortnite’ co-creator

The university boasts a legacy that includes industry luminaries Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, and Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and creator of the iconic game “Pong.”

Alumni of the school have gone on to create games generating more than $2 billion in lifetime revenue, according to the university.

“There were just a whole host of people who came here to go to school and then graduated and were pivotal in the games industry,” Michael Young, chair of the University of Utah’s division of games, said in an interview for CNBC’s “Cities of Success: Salt Lake City,” which premieres Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET.

Leveling up

Name Achievement
Doug Bowser President of Nintendo of America
Nolan Bushnell Founder of Atari, Creator of “Pong”
John Blackburn Vice President and Studio Head at WB’s Avalanche Studios, Lead on “Hogwarts Legacy”
Ed Catmull Co-founder of Pixar, Former President of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Richard Evans Pioneer in AI for Video Games, Known for “The Sims”

Top-grossing games

John Blackburn, vice president and studio head at Avalanche Software, a division of WB Games, Inc., and a University of Utah alumnus, credits the success of 2023’s bestselling game, “Hogwarts Legacy,” to a talented team in Salt Lake City that includes many graduates of the university.

The game surpassed $1 billion in revenue last year.

Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

“There are probably at least 30 people here directly from that program,” Blackburn said.

According to Blackburn, the University of Utah’s contributions to the gaming industry extend back to pioneering work in 3-D graphics, including the creation of the first 3-D graphics image and the development of early flight simulators by companies such as Evans & Sutherland.

“That has really bled into the local games scene,” said Blackburn. “And so people leave those companies and then make game companies.”

Blackburn cofounded Avalanche Software in 1995, initially gaining recognition for its development of “Mortal Kombat” for the Super Nintendo and Genesis and later developing a reputation with titles such as “Cars” and “Toy Story 3” during its collaboration with Disney.

In 2017, Epic Games, headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, launched “Fortnite” — one of the world’s most popular games, which now has more than 500 million registered users.

Teams from around the world contributed to its creation, including some in Salt Lake City, where Donald Mustard, former chief creative officer at Epic and the game’s co-creator, was based.

“The University of Utah and [Brigham Young University], as well as some of the other schools in Utah, have done a really good job building relationships with the developers that are in the area,” Mustard said.

He also highlighted Utah’s unique approach to education: “While some of these students are in school, they have to make their own video game. That’s a very unique skill set that not a lot of people have.”

“Those were the kind of people I wanted on my team,” Mustard said.

Cities of Success: Full coverage



Source link

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

LATEST POSTS

Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO Day 2: Check Subscription Status, GMP Today

Last Updated:December 23, 2024, 13:19 ISTUnlisted shares of Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd are currently trading at Rs 611 in the grey market, reflecting a premium...

Indian IT CEO Pay Soars 160% In Last 5 Years, While Fresher Salary Rises Only 4%

Last Updated:December 23, 2024, 13:24 ISTThe data comes amid softening demand in India, where corporate profits haven't kept pace with wage growth in the...

Sterling and Wilson Shares Soar 8% on Securing Rs 1,200 Crore LoI

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 Shares of Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Ltd soared 8% on Monday, 23 December, after the company announced receiving a...

Follow us

653FansLike
201FollowersFollow
467SubscribersSubscribe

Most Popular