Given how big the domestic social gaming market already is and how quickly it is projected to grow, it’s not really a surprise that Japan gets a “Social Game Academy”. Needless to say, it’s the first company (this obviously isn’t an NPO) of its kind anywhere in the world.
The plan is to open the academy this April, the beginning of the fiscal year for many Japanese companies. It will be located in Roppongi Hills in Tokyo’s Minato ward (GREE has its HQ there, too).
The CEOs of Japan’s main social gaming companies (DeNA, GREE, Mixi, and CyberAgent) are personally endorsing the Social Game Academy on its official website (see the column on the right):
Classes will start at 6pm to make it possible for college students and workers alike to join the program. Initially, the academy is ready to accept a total of 50 people for a six-month period (in October, a new group of students will enter the program).
Students can expect a curriculum covering 800 hours a year (usually from 6pm-9pm, four days a week plus intense training in winter and summer). The curriculum will cover courses in social game marketing, development, “network infrastructure”, and design.
Tuition: US$2,570 as the entrance fee, US$10,300 for a whole year.
