STUDIO TRACK

Designed for emerging adults pursuing careers in game development and creative technology who are serious about professional production work, the Studio Track is a multi-year, large-scale game development experience.

Members participate in a 40+ person development team within their Hub (or #99’s Studio), working across disciplines such as design, programming, art, audio, writing, production, and more.

As members progress from Studio Tyro to Practitioner to Fellow, they take on increasing responsibility, deepen their communication skills, and demonstrate the professional habits required for industry readiness.

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Who Is Studio Track For?

The Studio Track is designed for members who:

Are majoring in or hold a degree in an approved, related discipline
Intend to pursue careers in game development or creative technology
Want experience working within large, interdisciplinary teams
Are ready to take responsibility for their work, handle feedback maturely, think through problems, and work through conflict as part of a team.

Members must meet academic alignment requirements established by their Hub.

The Studio Track is not required for all members — it is one pathway within EGD. Those who prefer service, research, event production, or leadership-focused projects may pursue the Strategic Track instead.

Progression

The Studio track is designed as a multi-year pathway.

Each award level — Tyro, Practitioner, and Fellow — represents an important milestone. Members may complete one award or continue forward as their goals and availability allow.

Fellowship is earned through long-term commitment, but each award is a complete achievement on its own.

One Year: Studio Tyro

Tyro marks a student’s successful entry into a large-scale studio environment and focuses on exploration of self, skills, and career direction. Tyros learn the games production pipeline, communication norms, and how collaborative development operates within a 40+ person team.

Two Years: Studio Practicioner

Students move beyond participation into active ownership of their work and their team’s success. Practitioners take on coordination or specialist roles, manage constraints, and learn to handle conflict.

Three Years: Studio Fellow

Fellowship is EGD’s highest honor and emphasizes innovation, mentorship, and long-term impact. Fellows graduate with experience that goes beyond a typical entry-level profile and are prepared to compete for early-career roles that often ask for prior professional experience.

What Makes the Studio Track Different?

Members operate within a 40+ person structure with defined roles, production timelines, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and long-term accountability.

Unlike traditional academic projects, advancement is based not only on output, but on demonstrated growth in reliability, teamwork, and leadership. Two older adult guides, in collaboration with HQ, evaluate readiness for progression to ensure consistency and integrity across the program.

This combination of scale, duration, and developmental accountability distinguishes the Studio Track from most student/junior-run or classroom experiences.

Outcomes for Fellows

Over the past decade, Fellows from the Game Studio Program (GSP) have landed jobs at some of the biggest companies in gaming, including Activision Blizzard, EA, Roblox, and Riot. Others pursue alternative careers within the technology and arts fields, or something entirely different. Regardless of their paths, our fellows are united by a shared commitment to excellence, accountability, and a desire to create a better world.

The Studio track represents the next evolution of that program — building on the same large-scale, mentorship-driven foundation that supported those outcomes while strengthening developmental evaluation.

Expand Your Horizons

To broaden their perspectives on games and game-making, members pursuing the Studio track visit cultural institutions and special events on a monthly basis. Build games with unique stories and deeper mechanics by bringing fresh ideas and inspiration to your design work.

Mentorship & Resources

Members in the Studio track receive one-on-one academic and career advising, support with internship and graduate school applications, and portfolio reviews. CUNY students additionally receive up to $500 in fully funded trips, access to select CUNY courses with reserved seats, and eligibility to earn up to 18 college credits, depending on enrollment status and program requirements.

Award Completion Requirements

Attendance & Hours

This program requires an average of 6 hours per week.

NYC and Studio #99: Available for 3.5 hours, Fridays between 3:00PM-9:00PM ET for both Fall and Spring semesters.
- There are 4 sections, 3:00-6:30, 4:00-7:30, 4:30-8:00, and 5:30-9:00. Section placement is determined by your skill level and discipline. Accommodations for section placement are only granted in the following circumstances: religious observance, documented disability, a 9–5 work schedule, parenting responsibilities, or a scheduling conflict with a required major course that is offered only at a conflicting time.
2 specific weekends will be required in the spring semester (Global Game Jam & Waffle Games).
There is a required trip component that will be discussed during the interview.
We will observe winter break.

Quests

Studio Tyro - PD I, Compass I, Compass II, Travelling, Versus, and one choice

Studio Practitioner - Iterative Leadership, Collective Governance, and three choice

Studio Fellow - PD II, and three choice

It gives you the resources and the community to push yourself and to allow you to pursue something you may have only dreamed of. I never thought I'd be in a position to have to choose between internship offers, and I have to thank EGD in part for that!

Eva Yan

Hunter College '22

Senior Software Engineer, New York Times Games

The Career Center

The Career Center

The Career Center

Studio Track

Progression

One Year: Studio Tyro

Two Years: Studio Practicioner

Three Years: Studio Fellow

Award Completion Requirements

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