Letter of Intent for Dawson IVGD Program (Independent Video Game Design):
Hello IVGD,
I am interested in applying for the program for a few different reasons. First and foremost is my life-long interest in and passion for games in general, and especially video games. I first started playing console video games at around eight years of age when I received a Nintendo Entertainment System as a Christmas gift. I remember well the hours of satisfaction from playing, and the boost in self-confidence that came with “beating” some of the first games I played. Super Mario Brothers, Excite Bike, Blades of Steel, RBI, Knockout, Olympics, and many more. I have always found games to be a fascinating expression of a given culture, and one of the few human activities that are universal across cultures. Playing games is a fundamental aspect of being human, and beyond the entertainment value that doing so can provide, are also enmeshed in how we learn, develop, and grow as people.
Another reason for my interest in this field is that despite Video Games being a still very young medium in comparison with for example, literature or drama, their interactive nature allows for experiences not possible in other artistic disciplines. The seemingly exponential pace that both the medium and industry has grown at since its beginnings only a few decades ago is another reason I believe video games are and will continue to be an important and (more and more) central aspect and expression of our culture.
Yet another reason I am interested in pursuing this program is a more practical one. We are fortunate to live in a city that is a video game production hub, and I have been working in functionality quality assurance for games myself since July 2012. It is an area where there are many jobs available, and it seems to me that globally the size of industry is increasing all the time. I see no reason why I shouldn’t be able to carve out a career for myself in it.
While I have enjoyed most of the work very much, I have been sometimes frustrated by the growing corporate influence on the industry. Particularly when it comes to labour issues, I find there is a dire need for better worker protection in this area. The “independent” part of the program is therefor of particular interest to me. While this is a political issue, and so somewhat outside the scope of this letter, it is an area I am also very interested in. In 2016 I led a small discussion on the subject at GameLoop, the Mont Royal Games Society’s conference held that year at the Google Montreal offices.
My ambition is to work in a more creative side of video game design and production, specifically narrative design. My BA from Concordia is in Creative Writing, so ideally I would like to apply the skills and knowledge I acquired during my time there to working on games. I have noticed in the past five years or so a resurgence in the popularity of games that are driven primarily by their stories, as opposed to their art, gameplay, or other elements.
Games like Gone Home, Life is Strange, and Kisima Inŋitchuŋa (Never Alone) to name just a few are games that focus first and foremost on relaying a compelling story in order to engage the player. While I enjoy blowing up bad guys, slaying monsters, completing a difficult level in a platformer, or outsmarting a rival player in a strategy game as much as anyone, it is story that I am most interested in. All the additional interactive elements that can be included in game design, I believe, can help to tell a story in a uniquely compelling fashion that does not exist in any other medium.
Finally, I am also interested in the academic study of video games, and particularly how games can positively impact society. This area of interest was spurred largely by a course I took at Concordia titled Video Games and/as Literature. You can read my final assignment for that class, a research paper on the value of Games Studies, here: https://gamesandaslit2016.wordpress.com/ .
I have had several issues with my academic pursuits in the past, unfortunately. All of these were caused by medical factors, and since early 2016, with the help of new medication and ongoing follow-up with a new psychiatrist, have been much improved. While I feel my issues have been a bit too complicated to adequately describe in a single paragraph, basically Depression and Anxiety, which in turn have also led to substance abuse issues, have hampered my success (both at school and life in general) since a young age. Please see the attached documents for more info.
Currently I am not working, though I am actively looking for a new job in the industry. I also recently moved home to my parent’s house in Westmount to reduce financial strain as I am carrying a fairly heavy debt load. I am hopeful that the IVGD program might lead eventually to a career that not only can accommodate my medical and financial issues, but can potentially also be one in which I can feel satisfied by my level of self-expression and contribute something of value (whether entertainment, education, or otherwise) to society.
To conclude, my interest in the program is multifaceted. First and foremost I am seeking to improve my skills and knowledge in as many areas related to video game design as possible, with the ultimate goal of working full-time in a creative role in the video game industry. Secondly, I am seeking to learn as much as possible for my own personal satisfaction and to continue to stoke the fires of my passion for games. As well (while I realize this is not a focus of the program) I am interested in both the political and academic aspects of the video game industry and the study of video games, respectively.
I hope this letter of intent has shown the multiple different, though often intersecting, areas of video game design I am interested in, and that I would be a good fit for this program. Thank you for considering me.
Best Regards,
Tim Case
Letter of Intent – Tim Case – Dawson IVGD Program Application
Timothy Case 