Vt. (WCAX) – Students at the Center for Technology, Essex are leveling up their skills in video game animation and web design
Matt Cronin teaches the game animation and web development class.
“Right now, they are working on some literal animations, where they are practicing the basics of computer animation. And we’re doing some pre-production for next week where we’re making game levels using Unreal Engine,” Cronin said.
Throughout class, students work together on a whole slew of skills including animation, sound design, concept art and more.
Cronin says working together on projects is key.
“Not everyone is going to drive the bus in terms of what you’re going to do. So we’re going to have a team idea, a creative director who will shepherd that to completion and some worker bees that will be going through and build those assets,” Cronin said.
Student Josiah Montgomery hopes the class acts as a springboard for his future career.
“At some point, I do want to become a game developer by myself, and be able to make a popular game,” said Montgomery, a junior.
A gamer himself, Montgomery says he has a new appreciation for the work that goes into building one.
“It just really goes to show how much like, effort people put into certain games to actually make them like, popular,” Montgomery said.
His classmate Jack Burridge has similar aspirations.
“Ever since I started playing games, I was compelled by the idea of making my own,” Burridge said.
He says one of the biggest learning curves from playing video games to building them is learning how to use new software. Like anything else, he says it just takes time.
“I think it takes some time, but it’s worth it,” Burridge said.
But it’s not all about games. Cronin says the skills they learn here can follow them in a variety of career fields.
“There are more and more ways where we are finding interactive media and 3D graphics are in the ‘standard world.’ It doesn’t all have to be ‘Grand Theft Auto’; it can be educational games, architectural engineering and construction-type visualizations,” Cronin said.
Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.
