2024 Summer Innovation Program
The 2024 MassDigi Summer Innovation Program (SIP) is an eleven-week internship program that includes the mentoring, guidance, housing, awards (aka stipends) and support** to help student teams finalize an original game and prepare it for launch.
- A chance to work on a game prototype from the ground up
- Work with a team of peers to help create the next big hit
- Industry mentors to help guide you
- A free place to live and an award (aka a stipend)
This is not just another internship but a chance to hold the fate of a game in your hands. There are industry mentors and faculty to help you – but in the end it is up to your team to build a successful game.**
- The application period will close on March 15. Applicants will receive their acceptance, wait list or denial notification on or before March 21.
- Pending funding, SIP24 is tentatively scheduled to run from May 14 to August 2, though final dates are subject to change.** Please read the FAQ’s before applying.
** Pending funding, all is subject to change including housing, stipend, duration etc.
FAQs
Who can participate?
The Summer Innovation Program is open to students who will be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too) at a regionally-accredited college or university.* Students must be able to commit full-time to a typical work week for the entire duration of program – from virtual onboarding (May 14-17) to the core program (May 20-August 2)**. Housing availability is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 28**. Certain eligibility requirements, as noted below and in the application, must be met.
The SIP application process is very competitive. For example, last year 326 students attending 94 different colleges and universities from around the world applied for the 25 available slots. For more information on SIP23, please visit our blog.
What disciplines can apply?
Students studying game design, development, programming, animation, art, production and computer science will make up most of the teams, but there is room for marketers, writers and musicians, as well as others, too.
What will you build?
In addition to team-generated projects, on occasion, MassDigi also works with a number of sponsors that are building everything from mobile entertainment games to educational titles. You will work on a team that is focused on one title – though you will have a chance to help out on some of the other titles.
What is the deal with a free place to live?
WPI, MassDigi’s host institution, contributes housing on its Worcester, MA campus for SIP students in a residence hall.
Wait, does this include food?
No, we do not have the ability to provide meals on campus. There are a number of local restaurants and grocery stores as well as limited kitchen facilities in the residence hall.
What does this cost?
Nothing. In fact, you will receive a modest award for your work.
What is an award (aka a stipend)?
Money. You will receive an award of of $2100.
Where have SIP alumni gone on to work?
SIP alumni have gone on to work or intern at a range of companies and organizations including Sony, Google, 2K, Nickelodeon, Harmonix, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, MIT Lincoln Lab, EA, Amazon, Turbine/Warner Bros., Wooga, Blizzard, Uber, Pilot Studio, SAP, Wizards of the Coast, Wayfair, Mightier, Filament Games, Epic, Rockstar New England, Magic Leap, Disney, Adult Swim, OtherSide Entertainment, Riot, Teach for America, Roosterteeth, Unity, Zapdot, HakJak, Maxis, Insomniac Games, Epic Games, Hi-Rez Studios, Kongregate, Philips, Fanbyte, Niantic Labs, Zynga, Goldman Sachs, Wellington, Bungie, Disbelief, Velan, Other Ocean, Toys for Bob, Legends of Learning, Zenimax, Proletariat, Larian and Hasbro or startup their own studios such as Shattered Journal, Zephyr Workshop, Snoozy Kazoo and Petricore.
What games have come out of SIP in past years?
Last summer, SIP 23 teams built Aliens Want Our Mascot!, Rodent Rampage, Milo’s Magical Adventure and Rock On, Raccoon! while the Summer Studio 23 team built Merge Monastery. In SIP22, the teams built Cafe Cat, Hellfire Hair, Demigod Daycare and Get Low, Grandpa. Prior to that, SIP21 teams created Clock Out!, House Haunters, Bewitching Boba and Trials of Midnight. Most prior year games that are still updated can be found by searching for MassDigi in the Apple App and Google Play Stores while a few can also be found on Steam.
Do I have to be a student at WPI to participate?
No. The program is open to all college and university students who will be entering at least their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too) at a regionally-accredited college or university.* In past years students from institutions such as MIT, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Smith, Champlain, Tufts, Clark, Mt. Holyoke, RIT, RPI, NYU, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Emerson, BU, UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth, MassArt, Brandeis, Acadia (Canada), Vassar, Amherst, Parsons, Fitchburg St., Union, Colby, Hampshire, Union, Temple, Brown, Vassar, Cornell, Bryn Mawr, Pratt, LYIT (Ireland), IUPUI, WIT, Quinnipiac, Northeastern, Swarthmore, Lesley, SVA, RISD, Southern Maine, MECA, Penn, Framingham St., Becker and Berklee have been accepted.
How many students are accepted into the program?
We plan to accept 25 students into SIP.
* The regional-accreditation requirement may not apply for applicants enrolled in non-US institutions. International students must handle their own visas and documents as required.
** Pending funding, all is subject to change including housing, stipend, duration etc.
Are you a company looking to sponsor the program? All sponsors receive:
- Branding on the MassDigi website and at events
- Opportunity to provide inserts for attendees to the Game Challenge event
- Prominent branding in all messaging related to the program
- Invitations to the SIP Open House
- And more!
Please contact info(at)massdigi.org if you would like more information on SIP or sponsorship.
