Nobody could have predicted the massive changes that are taking place in the gaming universe thanks to the rise of indie games. Video game designers are taking advantage of this new trend in some interesting and exciting ways.

It used to be that everybody could count on one hand the major gaming consoles that were available on the market, and the companies that controlled these consoles were on top of the gaming universe. But now games are available through a variety of outlets, from smartphones and tablets to the traditional consoles and handheld devices, to right on your computer. With a wider variety of formats available, indie game designers are now able to compete where it used to be that only the big guns ruled.

The world of video game design has recognized this, and new incentives are being offered every year to those who want to make their own games. One popular new program is the Indie Fund, which recognizes independent game designers and offers them the funding that they need to get their ideas off the ground, developed and published. Because of the indie fund, and other funds like it, those developers who might not otherwise have had the means to develop and design their games have seen them brought to life.

This is especially good news for those individuals who are still involved in video game design programs, because a number of scholarships are available based on the design of games as apps. Video game designers with creativity and interesting ideas are hot commodities and many small, independent companies are seeking them out in hopes of finding the next big breakthrough in gaming.

There is also a stronger sense of community in the world of video game design and in video game design degree programs than ever before. This is because games aren’t just about profit anymore. Games have gone back to their roots as fun, exciting, and meant for a variety of individuals. This is especially true of independent video game designers, who are as interested in creating games for the sake of fun as for creating games to turn a profit.

Video game design degree programs are beginning to recognize the changes in the industry due to independent games and are beginning to accommodate students because of it. Students may learn a wider variety of tasks in order to be able to produce games without the large design teams that larger studios may have, or they may learn to think more creatively in the hopes of being the next genre-buster. As it is, indie games are here to stay, and they have already made their mark on the way we think about games.