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The state of Illinois hosts a wide variety of gaming conventions each year and it is also home to a number of gaming companies such as the Wideload Games. Disney Interactive Studios acquired Wideload Games in 2009 and it is one of the regions most active video game companies. Popular games include Disney Guilty Party for Wii, Stubbs the Zombie, Hail to the Chimp, Cyclomite, and Texas Cheat'em. Other popular Illinois gaming companies include Day 1 Studios, Barbaroga, High Voltage Software, Volition Inc., and Incredible Technologies.

Columbia College is one of the nation’s oldest private arts colleges and boasts one of the largest film school enrollments. Sprawled across downtown Chicago, the urban campus is home to many budding animators who concentrate on both traditional and computer animation. From a state-of-the-art MoCap studio to a collective senior film, animation students can thrive in Columbia’s small classes situated in the heart of a big time city.

According to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Illinois is home to 181 Title IV degree-granting institutions. These schools are eligible for financial aid programs, making them more accessible to students with financial need. Title IV schools have five things in common. They (1) have been in business for at least 2 years, (2) they have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (3) they grant an associate's degree or higher,  (4) they have signed a participation agreement with the Department, and (5) they offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length. These requirements were established (and are enforced) by the U.S. Department of Education. If a school does not meet all requirements, it cannot state that it is a Title IV school, and is not eligible for Title IV financial aid programs.

Most people may think video games are a popular form of entertainment mainly for kids and young adults. If you think this is the case, think again! According to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the average age of a gamer is 34 and the most frequent purchaser of games is actually 39 years old. Even more surprising is, women represent 40 percent of the 67 percent of U.S. households that play video games. With statistics like these, it’s no wonder the video game industry is expected to reach $68 billion in sales in 2012.