Hot new major? Programs in game development have been around for at least 16 years. Various private colleges in the USA have offered them for ages. Speaking as someone who recruits college graduates for one of the world's top companies, I would do a more flexible major and read up on game development on the side (or pursue the concentration option that you mention). The reason being that all industries are cyclical, and if you specialize just in game development it will be hard to convince someone in another field that you have the right skills when the market turns. I had a friend at Radical Entertainment who kicked himself for getting a specialized gaming degree as opposed to a proper BSc or BEng.