SGI serves as the applied research, business development and corporate education arm of the Computer Game Design Program in Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Photo by Alexis Glenn
This month, George Mason University and Prince William County will officially open the doors to a new Simulation and Game Institute located on George Mason’s Prince William Campus within Innovation Park.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Tuesday, Dec. 10, was postponed due to inclement weather. It will likely be rescheduled for early January.
SGI serves as the applied research, business development and corporate education arm of the Computer Game Design Program in Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. The new location serves as one of four international affiliates of the Serious Games Institute, which is an operating division of Coventry University in England. Other affiliates include locations in Singapore, South Africa and Mexico.
Among the attendees at the opening will be Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors; William Schrader, chief executive officer of LeaseWeb USA Inc.; W.S. Wally Covington III, vice chairman of the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors; Annie Hunt Burriss, chief executive officer of the Prince William Campus; and Scott Martin, director of the computer game design program at Mason and SGI.
“The establishment of SGI in Prince William County will allow Mason to support this rapidly growing academic and commercial market in the area of game design,” says Martin. “We’re happy to be partnering with Prince William County where there is a highly educated workforce that is already contributing to advances in related technologies.”
The 4,000-square-foot facility will offer cutting-edge game design research and development, simulation and game training and certification; visualization and simulation software development and rapid-prototyping. The facility will also provide offices, studios, research space and a product development lab for individuals, entrepreneurs and companies in the field of simulation, modeling and game design.
The space will also provide access to leading commercialization and marketing channels; student development talent; research faculty; industry experts; mentors; business counseling support; and the potential of financial investment from foundations and equity partners.
In October 2013, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors granted $32,000 from the County Economic Development Opportunity Fund to the George Mason University Foundation Inc. to help establish SGI. Emerging companies chosen to reside in SGI will receive business assistance services through the Prince William County Department of Economic Development.
The six emerging businesses already accepted into the institute are Bruxe Studios; Little Arms Studios; Prime Health PC; WellBee LLC; Zaah on Campus LLC; and the American Association of
Colleges and Pharmacy – Education Development Co.