Knowing what graphics card the use in their laptop might help find something that would fit your needs. I'd imagine that a game design student would need something that was rather robust and, unfortunately, laptops with good video cards are usually very heavy on other expensive features.
But I know a fair amount of tricks with ordering Dells and using the right sites and coupon codes that I might be able to configure something that meets your needs if I knew what kind of vid card you were looking for.
I just helped a coworker, who does some game design stuff for fun on his own time, buy a laptop for that purpose. Managed to cut about 50% off the regular Dell price and he got his for $1450.
