Course Descriptions

Please note: Course descriptions and codes may change slightly and are updated periodically.

TERM 1

• VGD101 History and Theory of Video Games

  This course presents a historical survey of video games to modern times. Insights into the video game industry will be made with identification of past, present and future video games and their social and cultural impacts.

  (2 contact hours/2 credit hours)

• VGD102 Mathematics for Video Games 1

  This course is designed as a foundation study in mathematics for video game developers. As a fundamental component of video game creation, mathematical concepts such as fractions, trigonometry and vectors identified.

  (3 contact hours/3 credit hours)

• VGD103 Concept for Video Games 1

  This course identifies the students’ artistic skills through concepts in drawing, stop-motion (claymation) and comic book art. Fundamental drawing skills will be indicated through the study and reproduction of composition, perspective, blind contours and structural life drawing. The study of color and design will also be defined.

  (2 contact hours/3 credit hours)

• VGD104 Modeling for Video Games 1

  This course presents an introduction to 3D modeling and a 3D modeling environment. Students will identify the basic toolsets needed to work within a 3D environment and will complete various topics on modeling concepts.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD105 Programming for Video Games 1

  This course introduces students to programming and problem solving. Students will identify the basics of conditional structures, iterative structures and other control structures through the usage of a functional/procedural programming language. A programming environment will also be introduced.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD106 Audio for Video Games 1

  This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of video game audio recording, mixing and editing. Students will identify the basic tools required to operate in an audio environment and identify the various terminology required to produce original sound effects.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD107 Storytelling & Storyboarding 1

  This course introduces students to story writing formats and terminology aiding in video game character conception. Students will identify characters associated with video games and reproduce them through illustrations and drawings.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD108 Video Game Production 1

  This course introduces students to the principles and practices of video game production. Students will identify each major game genre recognizing their traits and marketing aspects.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD109 Video Game Term Lab 1

  This course presents a production environment, where students will complete assigned weekly projects.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

TERM 2

• VGD121 Media Studies 1

  This course presents a chronological study to the history, theory and criticism of mainstream/commercial and experimental media. Classification of various media and the impacts made on video games will be explored.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD122 Mathematics for Video Games 2

  This course is designed to prepare students for mathematical interpretations of models within 3D environments. Representations of the mathematical concepts will be explained through studies in linear algebra and calculus.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD123 Concept Art for Video Games 2

  This course translates the student’s artistic skill into the 2D digital graphic environment. Students will receive knowledge of the tools and techniques required to design 2D digital graphics.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD124 Modeling for Video Games 2

  This course extends the students knowledge of 3D modeling within a 3D modeling environment. A comprehensive synopsis of 3D techniques will be presented to create sophisticated 3D models.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD125 Programming for Video Games 2

  ThisThis course further prepares the student’s knowledge of programming and problem solving through the usage of object-oriented development. Students will interpret object-oriented paradigms and organize objects using the Unified Modeling Language (UML).

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD126 Audio for Video Games 2

  This course prepares the student to generate, express and simulate sound effects for video games. Students will prepare sound effects based on techniques explained in class.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD127 Storytelling & Storyboarding 2

  This course prepares students to write video game narrative through the classification of story structures. Students will also visually interpret stories by depicting environments.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD128 Interface for Video Games

  This course introduces students to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) design and development process used for video games. Students will learn theoretical and artistic concepts, which they can represent using graphics programming libraries.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD129 Video Game Term Lab 2

  This course presents a production environment, where students will complete assigned weekly projects.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

TERM 3

• VGD141 Media Studies 2

  This course presents a continued chronological study to the history, theory and criticism of mainstream/commercial and experimental media. Relationships of various modern media and the impacts made on video games will be explored.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD142 Mathematic for Video Games 3

  This course applies the mathematical knowledge and techniques obtained to compute video game physics. Representations will be demonstrated within a graphical context.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD143 Video Games for Internet 1

  This course applies the students programming knowledge to the Internet and wireless environment. Students will also discuss memory and graphics constraints when developing for the internet.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD144 Animation for Video Games 1

  This course applies the student’s knowledge of 3D modeling to animation concepts and techniques. Manipulation of inanimate 3D models will be presented to prepare accurate motion within video games.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD145 Programming for Video Games 3

  This course introduces students to concepts in organizational and structured video game programming, using data structures and design patterns. Students will apply data structures and design patterns into the video game development cycle.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD146 Audio for Video Games 3

  This course presents a chronological study of musicology and its influence on video games. Students will discuss instruments and styles that have had a significant impact on video game scores and sound effects.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD147 Journalism for Video Games

  This course a comprehensive study to journalism for video games. Students will review and discuss video games applying journalistic techniques.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD148 Artificial Intelligence for Video Games

  This course presents a classification of video game artificial intelligence techniques using AI engines and development kits. Students will learn methods involved in developing AI for video games.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD149 Video Game Development Lab 3

  This course presents a production environment, where students will complete assigned weekly projects.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

TERM 4

• VGD201 Level Design 1

  This course analyzes and outlines techniques in level and environment design creation. Students will apply historical knowledge and determine constraints in build levels and environments.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD202 Graphic Programming for Video Games 1

  This course presents an identification of graphics libraries used to create 3D video game environments. Students will categorize the various techniques used to import 3D models into an interactive environment.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD203 Video Games for Internet 2

  This course extends the students knowledge of creating video games for the Internet and mobile devices. Students will identify obstacles of video game creation within portable devices and determine how to overcome implementation issues.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD204 Character Modeling and Animation

  This course analyzes character creation and motion within the 3D environment. Students will identify anatomical correctness within character models and animate accordingly.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD205 Video Game Engine Design 1

  This course will analyze video game engine components used to organize and create 3D video game environments. Students will differentiate techniques needed to create 3D environments and motion.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD206 Audio for Video Games 4

  This course analyzes video game audio within interactive environments. Students will categorize audio techniques and apply them to motion and scenarios within video games.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD207 Video Game Production 2

  This course presents a comprehensive study of design documentation and technical writing for video games. Students will identify the components required to document the video game development process and separate elements involved in the process.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD208 Video Game Term Lab 4

  This course presents a production environment, where students will complete assigned weekly projects.

  (4 contact hours /4 credit hours)

TERM 5

• VGD221 Level Design 2

  This course exposes the student to level design production combining previous techniques learnt. Students will modify and generate original levels concentrating on form, limitations and gameplay.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD222 Graphic Programming for Video Games 2

  This course presents an identification of graphics libraries used to create 3D video game environments. Students will categorize the various techniques used to import 3D models into an interactive environment.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD223 Scripting for Video Games

  This course extends the students control of 3D environments by combining 3D modeling techniques and interactive scripting. Students add interactivity to their 3D environments by rearranging their models and animation.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD224 Digital Video for Video Games

  This course exposes students to digital video editing applied to 3D models. Students will compose original video and audio using 3D animated environments developed.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD225 Video Game Engine Design 2

  This course extends the student’s knowledge of video game engine components. Students will develop complex 3D environments combining previous and advances techniques learnt.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD226 Audio for Video Games 5

  This course combines elements of video game audio to compose and produce original scores/music for video games. Students will discuss the production challenges involved in composing music for video games.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD227 Video Game Production 3

  This course presents a comprehensive study of software engineer techniques for video game development. Students will analyze case studies, identifying, solving and producing documentation for each scenario.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD228 Video Game Term Lab 5

  This course presents a production environment, where students will complete assigned weekly projects.

  (4 contact hours /4 credit hours)

TERM 6

• VGD241 Video Game Production 4

  This course exposes students to digital video editing applied to 3D models. Students will compose original video and audio using 3D animated environments developed.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD242 Project Management

  This course presents students with project management scenarios and strategies. Student will assess a team based video game project, evaluating and supporting milestones. Milestones will reflect the phases of the development cycle to increase productivity and the successful completion of the project.

  (4 contact hours /4 credit hours)

• VGD243 Career Management

  This course combines elements of video game audio to compose and produce original scores/music for video games. Students will discuss the production challenges involved in composing music for video games.

  (3 contact hours /3 credit hours)

• VGD244 Video Game Production Project

  This course presents students with a video game project to be completed under a team based production environment. Students will assess the constraints and requirements for the project to develop a functional prototyped video game.

  (2 contact hours /2 credit hours)

• VGD245 Video Game Production Lab 4

  This course presents a work/study environment, where students will develop a video game for a team based project.

  (12 contact hours /12 credit hours)