| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine College of Art & Design | Portland |
Our 2024 ranking of the top game design school program in Maine. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) has one path to study games--the Animation and Game Art (AG) program. Leading to a BFA, the program provides 24/7 access to private studios and state-of-the-art production facilities and equipment such VR workstations; audio production and mastering studios; stop-motion animation workspaces; and the FabLab collaborative studio space.
The computer labs are MECA&D are outfitted with workstations and industry-level programs such as Unity Real-Time Development Platform, Adobe CC Premium Suite (Illustrator, Animate, Photoshop, After Effects, Muse, Audition), ToonBoom Harmony, MAYA and Mudbox, Dragon Stop Motion, and Stencyl.
The four-year AG BFA program begins with two years of preparation coursework. Course examples include Intermediate Advanced 3D Game Art; Game & Concept Art; 2D Game Design; 3D Modeling & Animation; Character Design; Stop Motion and FX; 3D Rigging & Animation; and Cinematic Storytelling.
During the third year of the program, students will spend most of their time in the Major Production Studio and the Collaborative Productions courses. The final year of the MECA&D AG program consists of elective coursework and the Professional Studio and Capstone Production courses. Students will leave the Maine College of Art & Design AG BFA program with a professional portfolio of their best work.
Graduates of the AG BFA program at Maine College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue roles across the games and entertainment industries, among others. Some alumni have also launched their own studios or freelance businesses. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Hasbro, Laika, Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Chickadee Games, Lone Wolf Media, Fort House Studios, Shoestring Theater, P3 Studios, White Dog Arts: Film and Media Production, Big Room Studios, Calypso Communications, and Digital Mill Production Studio.
Founded in 1882 as part of the Portland Society of Art, Maine College of Art & Design serves approximately 500 degree-seeking students and 1,500 continuing studies students. Degree programs at MECA&D lead to a BFA, MFA, or MAT. A Graduate Certificate program is also available. Maine College of Art & Design has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1973 and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) since 1978.
