UK minister Woodward calls for video game academies

Posted Jan 6, 2007 at 2:45PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Tags: Financial Times, interviews, Shaun Woodward, UK

First we had the self-proclaimed French "Prime Minister of Video Games", and now the video game industry has a new supporter in the form of UK Minister for Creative Industries & Tourism, Shaun Woodward.

In an interview with the Financial Times, he notes some very interesting points on why exactly an academy for video games should be established. These reasons include the fact that a) the UK is the third largest game manufacturer in the world, and b) if there are schools that are dedicated to television and film, then why not a school which is dedicated to preparing and instructing students about the making of video games and the video game industry in general?

One has to admit that the man has a point. On top of that, he also notes that this may be one efficient way of putting some members of society (who are traditionally perceived as lazy teenagers) to good use, when he says that, "You might have kids who traditionally have quite a difficult time coping with traditional academic subjects but happen to be the most amazing gamers..."

In the meantime, we're hoping that Woodward's visions bear fruit, as not only will they have economic and social benefits, but it's also about time that the general public recognizes that video games are not just a past time anymore, but an entire industry unto itself. Also, with countries like Japan, Korea, and the U.S. already having established educational institutions that specialize in video games, then maybe it's about time that Europe follow suit.

This story sucks? This story rocks!

Vote Now!

(0)

(0)

i'm studying for an MA in game design, and i reckon people need to learn the nuances of game design, one gets to appreciate the whole industry a lot more.

i don't really know if an academy would do it though, there are lazy people who play games and non-lazy people you'd still need to pick the non-lazy ones and use them to create good games. it's lazy game design which has got us into this whole mess where most people think games are a waste of time. - and you know what? they're right! what good is a game? it occupies you, that's it...

i think things need to change, an academy would certainly help that, but also people need to start considering what games it is they really ought to play.

anyway, enough of me.

# :D — Guest 2007-01-07 02:17

Finally! Employment!

# excellent, get them going within 2 years... — aguycalleddave 2007-01-07 02:20

So that when I finish up college I have something to learn other than 3d modelling.

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

HOT GAMING NEWS | LATEST GAMING SEARCHES | FORUMS

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

PSP Categories

• Accessories
• Add-ons
• Applications
• Artwork
• Batteries
• Cheats
• Deals
• Emulators
• Events
• Featured Articles
• Firmware
• Flash Applications
• Flash games
• Game Demos
• Games
• Hacks & Exploits
• Homebrew Applications
• Homebrew Demos
• Homebrew Development
• Homebrew Emulators
• Homebrew Games
• Homebrew Themes
• How-To
• Humor
• Imports
• Interviews

• Magazines
• Mods
• MY QJ
• News
• Off Topic
• On Shelves This Week
• Opinions & Analysis
• Podcasts
• Previews
• PSP Go
• PSP Minis
• PSP Slim & Lite
• QJ How-To Series
• QuickJump QuickGuide
• QuickJump QuickPeek
• Reviews
• Rumors
• Scans
• Screenshots
• Site News
• Titles
• UMD Movies
• Videos
• Weekend Warrior
• Wi-Fi

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/22/2012 - 05/27/2012

RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012
Mobile Assault 1.8.2	05/24/2012
PSP Tools Alpha 0.1	05/22/2012
Newton War	05/22/2012
DaedalusX64 r766	05/22/2012
PSPMarble	05/22/2012
The Undead 4 - Nazi Zombies	05/21/2012
3DSExplorer v1.2.1	05/21/2012
J-Runner v0.2 Beta 275	05/19/2012
Priiloader 0.8 Beta 3	05/19/2012
Quake Rev PAK release 4	05/19/2012

Most Comments this Month
Sound Off: On Game Expirat..	(57)
Pokemon Liquid Crystal! K..	(12)
neur0n Knocks Out An Updat..	(4)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 PKG Dec..	(3)
Hellcat Working On Recover..	(3)
Japanese gamers fire back..	(2)
PSP homebrew - Lamecraft o..	(2)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx PRO Onl..	(2)
PSP homebrew - Lamecraft o..	(2)
FreePlay: eLoader for the..	(1)
PSP homebrew - CFW 6.20, 6..	(1)
PSP homebrew - GoTube v1.2	(1)
Custom Firmware PRO-B9 for..	(1)
PSP homebrew - Prometheus..	(1)
Bust Out Your PSP For This..	(1)
PSP homebrew - PSP Install..	(1)
GTA:LCS Cheat Trainer for..	(1)
Custom Firmware 6.35 PRO-B..	(1)
GTA: LCS Cheat Device v0.3	(1)
Square Enix announces Fina..	(1)
LUA Little Fighter 2 v1.60..	(1)
PSP homebrew - LameCraft	(1)
VSHPong Gamma now with On/..	(1)
CSPortable 0.74 - added ne..	(1)
Modern Warfare 3 visits Ji..	(1)

Top Jumps this Month
neur0n Knocks Out An..	(94)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(84)
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(78)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(61)
PSP Comics Reader v2..	(48)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx P..	(41)
Hellcat Working On R..	(39)
PSP homebrew - DSonP..	(38)
PSP Homebrew - PSPDi..	(37)
neur0n Gives You Mor..	(36)
PSP GBA v1.2: Gamebo..	(30)
Sound Off: On Game E..	(29)
Another CFW Goodie F..	(27)
Soywiz Releases PSP..	(25)
Sound Off: Should Ap..	(24)
GTA: Liberty City St..	(22)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 P..	(22)
PSP Google Chrome po..	(19)
EA Shuts Down More S..	(19)
PSP homebrew - Mario..	(19)
PSP homebrew - PSP L..	(17)
PSP homebrew - PSP..	(17)
PSP homebrew - Audio..	(17)
PSP CFW: 6.60 ME & L..	(16)
PSX2PSP v0.7: a new..	(16)

Quick Jump Daily Digest

UK minister Woodward calls for video game academies

Related Stories:

Comments

Add comment

Newest Downloads