"I want to give others the same gaming experiences I've had!"

I'm very happy that I got in here," says Inga Sigurros Thorhallsdottir (22), who arrived in Levanger in the autumn of 2024. "We learn an incredible amount of interesting things. It's fun to study something you're really passionate about."

International student environment

Games and Entertainment Technology is one of three international study programs within the creative media subjects at Nord University in Levanger. Students from all over the world come here to learn film and TV production, game design, and CG art and animation.

"In my class, about half are Norwegians, while the others come from a variety of countries," says Inga.

"It creates a very vibrant and social environment. It's also nice to have many fellow students around who are in the same situation. We came here on our own, we have to stand on our own two feet and can't just go home on weekends. We are a good support for each other."

Growing interest in gaming

At 20, Inga moved to Denmark to attend folk high school, where she met her boyfriend and became seriously interested in game development.

"I got a Nintendo DS when I was nine years old, but beyond that, I didn't play much until high school. Then I started playing some Minecraft with my friends. But it was after high school that I really started gaming, and then I quickly became very curious about how such games are actually made," she says.

"I started thinking about all the people behind the games and the creators making these experiences for us. I wanted to return the favor and help keep it going. I want to give people the experiences I've had because it's been really fun," says Inga

Followed Mom's advice

Both she and her boyfriend began looking for further education in the field. Inga's mother then gave her a tip.

"A friend of my mother had a son who had just finished Games and Entertainment Technology here at Nord. My mother immediately thought it must be something for me. I thought it looked really good, so I applied and got in," she smiles.

She does not regret that today. "I have a lot of fun with my studies, and I enjoy living in Levanger. It is a beautiful city, not too big and not too small. And it's such a nice location here by the fjord," she says, looking out at the beach just below campus.

I started thinking about all the people behind the games, and the creators making these experiences for us. I wanted to return the favor and help keep it going.

Inga Sigurros Thorisdottir, Games and Entertainment Tecnology student

After just six months, she has gained a good insight into the field.

"There's so much more behind a game than you think," she says.

"You have to know a lot about programming just to get a character to move from one side of the screen to the other. Imagine how much knowledge it takes to create today's high-end games with high-quality graphics and endless possibilities. It is not done quickly. Specialists in design, programming, 3D modeling, animation, and so on are required here."

"In the first year of the program, we learn about all these fields to gain a broad understanding. The teachers encourage us to try everything and not just set ourselves to one role. Later, we will probably choose a specialty."

Simulating Game Development Teams

Creating your own games is a large part of the curriculum, where students collaborate in what is called a "Game Lab."

"This is a kind of work simulator, where we work together in development teams similar to those in the game industry," says Inga.

Here, students are given different roles and work together to pitch ideas, create prototypes, and gain basic knowledge of storytelling.

"We also have game history, and right now my team is working on designing a game inspired by the first version of Animal Crossing, which was released in 2001."

Although most students in the program have a background related to gaming, Inga emphasizes that you do not need special knowledge beforehand to join.

"We learn everything from scratch," she says. "I didn't know anything about programming, 3D modeling, or animation, but now I've made two games myself already. They are simple, but it's really fun that I can do it," she smiles, opening her laptop to reveal an advanced program.

A tough industry, but with several opportunities

Inga believes that the knowledge she gains in her studies will open many doors in the future.

"The gaming industry is very big, and the audience is just demanding more and more. Gamers are impatient and constantly want something new, expecting bugs to be fixed quickly and games to be updated frequently."

However, she is aware that the competition can be hard.

"There are so many games out there, and creating something new and unique is difficult. So you really have to be creative," she says.

At the same time, there are several other arenas in society where game developers, animators, and creators are attractive.

"The knowledge we gain here in the program can be used for many things, not just to create entertainment for entertainment's sake. In education, health, marketing, and web design, elements of games and programming are used. Many digital learning materials are basically games. Take the app DuoLingo, for example; it is technically a game," she points out.

"I imagine working a bit as a freelancer first, to get a feel of how it's going to be. It will also give me the opportunity to travel around, and I can really work from anywhere," she smiles.

But before that, she intends to enjoy student life in Levanger to the fullest, studying something she is really passionate about. She encourages all applicants to do the same.

"Don't study just to study; find something you're really interested in," she advises.