Leveling Up: Fostering Growth in Game Design at Wichita State

Teaching Efforts

Brian Foster is one of two faculty members leading the game design department at Shocker Studios. He focuses on the technical side of the field, including coding and level design. Some of the most notable courses he teaches are Game Design I, II and III. These hands-on classes help students build game components and refine their skills, going beyond traditional classroom instruction.

Now in his third year at Wichita State University, Foster previously taught game design at Butler Community College.

He considers one of his greatest achievements to be the growth he sees in his students.

“My students this year are farther along than last year’s students. I can craft the classes to give students more information earlier on so that by the end of the semester, we can cover more complex information,” he said.

With each semester, students gain confidence and knowledge, reaching new heights in the game design program.

Game design is the fastest-growing concentration within the School of Digital Arts under the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State. The program currently enrolls 130 students and is expected to continue growing in fall 2025.

When asked about his goals as an educator, Foster said:

“I want to have more time to help students, because industry practice is kind of like having one-on-one time with students. In the industry, you sit down with the lead programmer and show them what you’ve been working on, and then they give you feedback and more things to work on.”

In addition to teaching, Foster encourages students to participate in Game Jams—intensive weekend challenges to create a game in a short timeframe. These events stretch creativity and problem-solving skills, helping students discover what they can achieve under pressure.

Recent Adventures

Helping students prepare for the industry is Foster’s top priority. Each year, Shocker Studios sponsors students to attend major conferences in animation and game design.

This spring, Foster traveled with students to the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco and attended the Everything Procedural Conference at Breda University in the Netherlands.

“We’re on the right path, with other schools having a similar setup, technology-wise. Some larger European companies have the money to spend on two of everything, so it was cool to see what they were doing and see what we could bring back to our studio,” he said. “While other schools had a similar setup to ours, it was nice to know that we are on a good path.”

Shocker Studios continues to invest in technology to enhance the student experience. Key resources include a motion capture room and, most recently, the addition of an LED volume wall.

“I hope to find a way for animation and game design students to use more of the equipment for their projects within Unreal Engine,” Foster said.

Motion capture uses cameras and sensors to record human movement in real time, which accelerates animation and VFX workflows. The LED volume wall—a curved digital screen—projects immersive virtual environments for use in production.

Having access to professional-grade tools allows students to study industry workflows and strive to replicate them in their own projects.

Words of Advice

Foster closed the interview with this advice for students:

“Go look for someone within this field and see what they are doing. Whatever interests you, go try it. Analyze how you’ve failed and improve. You shoot for the moon, and you land on the clouds.”

Pursuing the arts is a unique journey, but Foster believes that growth comes from consistent learning and dedication.