2020 Summer Innovation Program | MassDiGI
The 2020 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program (SIP) is a twelve-week internship program that includes the mentoring, guidance, housing, stipends and game development tools to help student teams finalize an original digital game and prepare it for launch.
This is not just another internship but a chance to hold the fate of a game in your hands. There are industry mentors and faculty to help you – but in the end it is up to your team to build a successful game.**
The Summer Innovation Program is open to students who will be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too) at a regionally-accredited college or university.* Students must be able to commit full-time to a typical work week for the entire duration of program – from May 19 to August 16, 2020. Certain eligibility requirements, as noted above and in the application, must be met.
The application process is very competitive. For example, last year 253 students attending 66 different colleges and universities from around the world applied for the 25 available slots. For more information on the 2019 program please visit our blog.
What disciplines can apply?
Students studying game design, development, programming, animation, art, production and computer science will make up most of the teams, but there is room for marketers, writers and musicians, as well as others, too.
What will you build?
In addition to team-generated projects, on occasion, MassDiGI also works with a number of sponsors that are building everything from mobile entertainment games to educational titles. You will work on a team that is focused on one title – though you will have a chance to help out on some of the other titles.
What is the deal with a free place to live?
Becker College, MassDiGI’s founding academic partner, contributes housing on its Worcester, MA campus for SIP students in a residence hall.
Wait, does this include food?
No, we do not have the ability to provide meals on campus. There are a number of local restaurants and grocery stores as well as kitchen facilities in the residence hall/dormitory.
What does this cost?
Nothing. In fact, you will receive a modest bi-weekly stipend for your work.
What is a stipend?
Money. You will receive around $175 per week for the 12 work weeks. The exact stipend amount will be determined by April 15, 2020.
Where have SIP alumni gone on to work?
SIP alumni have gone on to work or intern at a range of companies and organizations including Sony, Google, 2K, Nickelodeon, USA Today, Harmonix, Disruptor Beam, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, MIT Lincoln Lab, EA, Amazon, Turbine/Warner Bros., Wooga, Uber, Pilot Studio, SAP, Wizards of the Coast, Wayfair, Filament Games, Epic Games, Magic Leap, Disney, Adult Swim, OtherSide Entertainment, Teach for America, Roosterteeth, Vivox, Zapdot, Brightcove, Jibo, Insomniac Games, Epic Games, Zenimax, Hi-Rez Studios, Kongregate, Philips, ZAM Network, Niantic Labs, Zynga, Goldman Sachs, Wellington, Bungie, Disbelief, Legends of Learning, Zenimax and Hasbro or startup their own studios such as Zephyr Workshop, Starcap Games and Petricore Games.
What games have come out of SIP in past years?
Last summer, The SIP created Save the Flame, Bloom Blast, Roller Riot and Merge Critters, all of which are still available on the App and Play Stores. The SIP18 teams created Lead the Light, Line Slider: Paint the World, Spell Strike and CyberDrive 2077, all of which are still available on the App and Play Stores. The SIP17 teams created Raise the Bass, Hyper Thunder Run 198X, Leap A Head and Little Grimm, all of which can be found in the App and Play Stores now. In 2016 the teams created Comet Cats, Smash Crusaders, Colosseum Coach and Takeover Trail all of which are also currently available in the stores. In 2015 the teams created Hibachi Hero, Fusion Galaxy and Ophidia all of which are also available in the stores (Ophidia can be found on Steam and itch.io as well) – and MegaloMalady (aka Germy’s Adventure).
Do I have to be a student at Becker to participate?
No. The program is open to all college and university students who will be entering at least their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too) at a regionally-accredited college or university.* In past years students from institutions such as MIT, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Smith, Champlain, Tufts, WPI, Mt. Holyoke, RIT, RPI, NYU, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Emerson, UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, UMass Amherst, Brandeis, Union, Colby, Hampshire, Union, Brown, Cornell, Pratt, LYIT (Ireland), IUPUI, Wheaton (MA), Mt. Ida, Northeastern, Lesley, SVA, RISD, Southern Maine, Penn and Berklee have been accepted.
How many students are accepted into the program?
We plan to accept 25 students into SIP.
* The regional-accreditation requirement may not apply for applicants enrolled in non-US institutions. International students must handle their own visas and documents as required.
** All of the above is subject to change including housing, stipend, remote work option, shorter duration etc.
Are you a company looking to sponsor the program? All sponsors receive:
Please contact Monty Sharma (monty.sharma(at)massdigi.org) if you would like more information on SIP or sponsorship.