Video Game Development

This module introduces tools for planning and preparing for a successful job search, so that students can maintain a career-focused approach throughout their education program. Students will learn about the "Hidden" Job Market and ways to access it in their upcoming job search, how to research opportunities and network for industry contacts, and use appropriate etiquette when communicating with prospective employers. Students will identify their personal skills, values and preferences for the workplace, begin preparation of a professional resume and references, and organize proof documents for their career portfolio. Class discussions on various self-management topics introduced in Student Success Strategies will round out this module, which is a pre-requisite for Career Planning and Preparation - Part II.

This module continues to build on the concepts and skills introduced in Career Planning and Preparation - Part I. Students will learn how to conduct an effective job search and identify various methods of applying for work with today's technology. Students will create a personal list of "Top Employers" and target current industry opportunities, while finalizing their professional resume, portfolio and career correspondence. Students will learn to identify the different types and forms of interviews, practice responding to typical questions, and practice follow-up, evaluation and negotiation techniques they can use to ensure success. Self-management topics from Career Planning and Preparation - Part I will be reviewed, with a focus towards on-the-job success in both learner placements and post-graduate employment.

This course has four units that introduces you to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. The first unit introduces you to using devices and handling information with topics on operating systems (Windows, MAC, and Linux), computer organization (folder management and naming conventions), cloud storage (including Microsoft OneDrive), types of web browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari), and fundamental troubleshooting. In the second unit, you will become familiar with creating and editing information through learning about file formats (pdf, mp4, docx), productivity (including iWork and Microsoft Office Suite) and creativity (Adobe, Canva, iMovie) platforms, and basic introduction to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The third unit on communicating and collaborating will introduce you to web conferencing applications (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams), mail applications (including Microsoft Outlook and Gmail,), project management tools (Trello, Asana), and time management tools (including Todoist, Outlook Calendar, and iCal), and building rapport virtually. In the final unit, you will gain an understanding on netiquette, cybersecurity, and digital wellness. After completing this course, you will have enhanced digital literacy skills as a professional in the working and learning environment.

At the successful completion of the classroom hours of this program, students will be placed in a 16-week internship at an outside organization. Students will have the opportunity to apply their new and developed skills in a real-world environment. Host sites include Video Game Developers.

In this orientation module, emphasis is placed on thinking about achieving success from Day One. This module stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic, and career success. This includes understanding learning styles and honing practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note-and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision making and problem solving skills, setting SMART goals and maintaining a positive attitude; techniques for managing change, stress and conflict will also be explored.

This course continues where the introduction to graphics programming course left off and builds on those foundations. Students continue to explore additional APIs. Students will develop their skills in using Shaders, and apply this to their custom engine project.

This course will develop student programming skills and further various object-oriented problem-solving techniques. Students will identify advanced object-oriented terminology and techniques commonly applied in video game development. This course examines more advanced programming and applies this to challenging projects. This course will enhance student capacity to design complex systems and work in a professional video game development environment.

This course introduces students to the criteria used to identify and evaluate digital and interactive media and related technologies. Focus will be placed on the practices and tools used to create and maintain an online presence and portfolio within the video game industry.

This course introduces students to the historical development of video games and the social and cultural effects video games have on society. An analysis of existing video game mechanics, technical design, documentation, planning and implementation will allow students to approach video game design from a knowledge perspective. Students will generate game design documentation for both existing and their own video games.

Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Video Game Design, Business & Organization, Engines II 2D, and Engines II 3D courses to develop an Unreal video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video games.

This course will extend students’ knowledge of the Unreal Engine and 3D game programming for video games. Students will apply their knowledge of the Unreal Engine as they expand into the 3rd dimension while still leveraging blueprints. Mathematics and physics principles learned earlier will be applied to create and publish fully functional 3D games using the Unreal Engine and the C++ Programming language.

This course will extend students’ knowledge of 2D game programming and development using the Unity game engine and the C# programming language. Students will learn how to work with the Unity Engine which will allow them to develop and publish 2D games that can be targeted to multiple platforms including mobile devices.

This course will extend students’ knowledge of the Unity Engine and 3D game programming for video games. Students will apply their knowledge of the Unity Engine as they expand into the 3rd dimension. Mathematics and physics principles learned earlier will be applied to create and publish fully functional 3D games using the Unity Engine and the C# Programming language.

This course introduces students to programming and various object-oriented problem-solving techniques. Students will identify essential object-oriented terminology and techniques commonly applied to video game development. This course examines the fundamentals of programming and applies those to simple games. This foundation will be built upon in future courses.

This course continues where the introduction to programming course left off and builds on those foundations. Students are introduced to the graphics programming pipeline where they will learn how to identify and select the right rendering subsystem for their games based on platform and requirements. Students will be designing and building more elaborate games which they will have an opportunity to re-visit and improve upon in future courses.

In this course, students will identify key mathematical and physics concepts found in video games. Students will recognize and interpret these concepts as they are applied to video game processes. Students will work through specific math and physics concepts used in most games and game engines.

Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Video Game Design, Business & Organization, Engines I 2D, and Engines I 3D courses to develop a Unity video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video games.

Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Video Game Design, Business & Organization, Engines II 2D, and Engines II 3D courses to develop an Unreal video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video games.

This course provides students with the knowledge and ability to rapidly prototype video game demos to showcase “proof-of-concepts”. Students in this course will also work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered to develop a video game prototype. Additionally, students will be mentored throughout the process to relay the skills and thought processes necessary to produce commercial quality video games.