Turku Game Tech & Arts Lab

Where technical and artistic students come together

Turku University and Turku University of Applied Sciences build a game laboratory in the ICT-House

Turku University and Turku University of Applied Sciences have taught game development together for two years by now. The work continues with a joint game project where people from different fields are put to co-operate. The strength of two schools are combined to bring a broad game development curriculum and establish a development environment in the ICT-House. This is funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation - TEKES' 100-year institution. The gap between artists and programmers is narrowed and the curriculum is improved to better suit the needs in the working life.

A future field is raising interest

Projects in the working life often need the cooperation of many experts from different fields but the technical and artistic people don't meet with eachother enough. Game Tech & Arts Lab -project will bring more students together and broaden their view on game development and working in teams.

Computer game industry is one of the most profitable fields of culture export. It's value was roughly 75 million euros in the year 2008. Canada is one of the top countries in the games industry and this is because of government funding and having one of the first game development curriculums in the year 2000. In Finland the situation of game development studies and it's capability to respond to the needs that come from the companies is being talked about. There is uncertainty in the future whether there is enough workforce and education in the Finnish games industry.

The game development laboratory will serve companies as well

The laboratory in ICT-House will be a place of workshops, events and lectures. Research and testing services are made possible with the laboratory built on the principle of a Living Lab. Collaboration is made with game companies in form of visits and knowledge sharing on the needs of game development education.

Game Tech & Arts Lab is a joint academic 3-year long development project that has started in the beginning of the year 2009.

More info

Teacher Taisto Suominen, Turku University of Applied Sciences

Tel: +358-4-4907 2053, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Adjunct professor, PhD Jouni Smed, Turku University

Tel: +358-2-333 8537, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.