Study: Massachusetts Makes Gamers

College students looking to take courses in computer and video game design have more options this academic year, especially in Massachusetts, which has the fifth-most colleges in the country offering degrees in video game design.

The results are part of a study released by the Entertainment Software Association, which said there is a 20 percent increase in the number of video game design degree programs at colleges and universities around the country in the last year.

Massachusetts has 13 colleges and universities offering such programs, including Worcester's Becker College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. New York leads the country with 26 schools offering such a program.

The ESA estimates that the computer and video game industry contributed $180 million to the Massachusetts economy last year. Computer and video game sales increased 23 percent in 2008 to $11.7 billion nationwide.