Courses

A study of the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to video games. Students will investigate the theory behind effective AI in games, and with frequent exercises and projects will practice programming AI as much as possible. Student software developers will gain the abilities necessary to make key contributions to the creation of video games in the Game Development project courses.

An overview of business practices unique to the video game industry, including finance, marketing, management, intellectual property and business models. In short, students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to run the business aspects of the Game Development Project courses. Students will also critically examine ethical and moral issues in the games industry.

Game Development students engage in practical work experience with game development companies. Students will primarily learn through doing work for a professional company, but they will also have readings and class discussions on preparation for professional careers. Students should take this course near the end of the program so that they have developed sufficient skills to be valuable contributors in a professional workplace.

Prepare for work in the games industry by learning about job searching, portfolio preparation, networking, and other relevant topics. This course is meant to complement GAME 380 “Game Development Field Placement”; it may be taken in addition to or in place of that course.

A full semester in a full-time paid position in a Game Development-related role. Students will gain first-hand professional experience, building connections between their classroom learning and real-world practice, and preparing for their own careers.

An intermediate project-based course in which teams of students will work together to create and release video games that are more advanced and polished than the projects from GAME 290. Each student will contribute on the basis of their specialized training to this point in the program. This is the first course of a two-part project course that will run for two semesters during the students' third year.

An intermediate project-based course in which teams of students will work together to create and release video games that are more advanced and polished than the projects from GAME 290. Each student will contribute on the basis of their specialized training to this point in the program. This is the second course of a two-part project course that will run for two semesters during the students' third year.

Topics vary from year to year.

An in-depth examination of the principles of user experience design and how they apply to game development. Students will engage a wide range of theory in psychology, sociology, art and interdisciplinary design thinking that is relevant to structuring the game environments and interface game players encounter. Both technically and artistically-inclined designers will engage in challenging readings, exercises and projects so that they are ready to contribute significantly to the Game Development project courses.