These skill standards were developed in 2003 by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. They are the result of the collaborative work of industry, education, labor, and government. Their development was facilitated by Lake Washington Technical College through a grant provided by the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. The developers also produced comprehensive industry-identified curriculum modules for use by community and technical colleges in their design of curricula and assessment of industry skills.

Importance to Texas

The video game development industry generated revenues close to $12.5 billion in the U.S. in 2006. According to Digital Games: A Technology Forecast, a publication of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas is a recognized leader in digital games although employment statistics do not distinguish game development services from other types of software publishing and online services. As a consequence it is not possible to accurately derive the scope of employment in this sector or its relative importance to Texas through available traditional labor market data. But a significant event gives an indication of the industry's growing impact in the state.

In August, 2007, Governor Perry signed a bill approving up to $22 million in production incentives for the entertainment sector, including video game companies. The grants were recognized as a workforce opportunity - that the incentives would stimulate growth in the industry that would, in turn, create a stronger demand for qualified technicians. The grants are an important statement of the growing economic impact of the game development industry in Texas. According to Digital Games: A Technology Forecast, in the absence of employment data, a survey of more than 50 digital game development companies in Texas implied that Texas game development companies expected to make 400-500 new hires in the year following the 2004 survey. Nationally, a technical artist with three or fewer years of experience earns an average salary close to $40,000 annually.

TSSB Recognition

Several Texas-based representatives of the game development industry, including creative directors, studio directors, and members of the International Game Developers Association and the Digital Media Council served on a subject matter expert panel and reviewed the skill standards, ensuring that the content was still valid and current. The panel included representatives from the following Texas employers: Amaze Entertainment, Critical Mass Entertainment, BioWare, and KingsIsle Entertainment. The panel requested that the TSSB recognize the Electronic Game Content Development skill standards.

The TSSB recognized the skill standards at its October 23, 2007 meeting.