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# Santa Monica College adds game industry classes and three new certificate programs
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/020105-story-20050201-2/
- Published: 2005-02-01T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T06:03:14.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Responding to explosive growth in the game industry, the Santa Monica College Academy of Entertainment & Technology announced it’s offering a cluster of new classes in the field this spring.

The new classes — added to two game courses introduced in the fall — will lead to three new certificate programs that will officially be launched in fall 2005\. The certificate programs are in game development, special effects and post production.

“The game industry is exploding, and we’re jumping on this so that we can get students trained and into exciting careers,” said William Lancaster, chair of the design technology department at SMC’s Academy of Entertainment & Technology.

“The growth and impact of the game industry are staggering: The film industry grosses $8 billion, compared to $14 billion-plus by the game industry,” Lancaster said. “Another example is Sony, which derives 70 percent of its revenues from Play Station products.”

Included in the new course lineup at SMC are game play mechanics, software authoring and prototyping for games, digital video effects and multi-track audio editing. The courses will feature advanced instruction in software tools such as Unreal Engine, Director MX, After Effects, Pro Tools, Final Cut and Maya.

The game development courses are added to current offerings in 3D animation, web design, and digital audio and video.

Registration for spring semester classes is currently underway. Classes begin Feb. 14\. For information, call (310) 434-3720.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 1, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)