Game Development Specialist

| Overview | Degrees/Certificates | Courses |

Overview

The Lee College Game Development program curriculum is based on skills defined as necessary by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). The Lee College program offers the benefit of a broad-based liberal arts type background, along with computer programming skills as proposed by IGDA – including art, computer art, design, architecture, audio engineering, 2D and 3D animation, story writing, storyboarding, character development, game testing, computer ethics, history of games, project management, and computer programming. This program is designed to provide a well-rounded, fundamental and application-oriented education focused on the knowledge of existing and new developments in Digital Game Technology. The student will acquire knowledge of the basic digital gaming and simulation industries and markets, and the programming, graphic arts, storytelling, and audio recording skills required to create the games. Students will be required to develop necessary teamwork skills to fulfill the capstone requirement. With additional training and experience, individuals increase their potential for advancement. The skills built within this certificate or degree can lead not only to jobs in the digital gaming industry, but after work experience in the game industry and completion of a 4-year degree in computer science, multimedia animation, or art the student could be qualified for other crossover careers.

Job Titles

With a Game Designer Certificate students could begin his/her career as an:
•            Intern Artist
•            Artist – 2D-Front End

With a Game Specialist certificate students could begin his/her career as an:
•            Artist – 2D-Texture
•            Level Design Assistant
•            Sound Engineer/Designer

With a Degree in Game Development students could begin his/her career as an:
•            Game Tester (QA)
•            Design (multiple choices)
•            Junior, entry-level, or intern Programmer

Additional career opportunities include:
•            Computer Programmer
•            Computer Systems Analyst
•            Software Engineer
•            Multimedia Artist and Animator
•            Graphic Artist

Salaries Range from $35,000 to over $67,000 Range depending on amount of education & field experience.

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Degrees/Certificates

• Game Designer Certificate – (17 hours)
• Game Specialist Certificate – (34 hours)
• Associated Applied Science in Game Development Specialist – (69 hours)

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Courses

GAME 1212 (Game Theory) Game and simulation design.  Application of design theories to production-based projects from the conceptual stage to a completed project. Lecture Hrs = 2, LAB Hrs = 1 Prerequisite: READ 301 or ESOL 311 or equivalent
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Evaluate game and simulation applications in non-game fields; analyze relationships of traditional games to computer games; create an original traditional game and compose its design document; analyze a real life activity or process and develop a simulation design document; and develop and critique design documents.

GAME 1301 (Computer Ethics) A study of ethical issues that apply to computer related professions, intellectual property and privacy issues, professional responsibility, and the effects of globalization. Emphasizes the practical application of computer ethics through case studies and current events in the game and simulation industry. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 0 Prerequisite: READ 301 or ESOL 311 or equivalent
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Define ethics; identify ethical issues that arise from the use of computers in the workplace; explain intellectual property issues within computer information technology; describe the ethical issues of privacy and anonymity via the Internet; explain professional responsibility as it relates to computer ethics; and discuss the impact of globalization on gaming and simulation design.

GAME 1302 (Storyboarding) In-depth coverage of storyboarding for the development of games and simulations. Addresses pre-production preparation and creation of comprehensive design for a game or simulation including target audience analysis, purpose, goals and objectives, content outline, flow chart, and storyboard. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 1 Prerequisite: READ 301 or ESOL 311 or equivalent
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Identify storyboarding techniques; analyze cinematic sequences using precise storyboarding terminology; and identify proper creation of an effective shot using camera placement, lighting, and composition.

GAME 1304 (Level Design) Introduction to the tools and concepts used to create levels for games and simulations. Incorporates level design, architecture theory, concepts of critical path and flow, balancing, play testing, and storytelling. Includes utilization of toolsets from industry titles. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 1 Prerequisite: READ 301 or ESOL 311 or equivalent
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Analyze the pros and cons of a level including balance and emotional impact; create original game environments using existing game engines and tools; and evaluate existing architectural spaces for game aesthetics.

GAME 1306 (Design and Creation of Games) Introduction to game and simulation development. Includes analysis of existing applications and creation of a game using an existing game engine. In-depth coverage of the essential elements of game design. Also covers an overview of cultural history of electronic games, survey of the major innovators, and examination of the trends and taboos that motivate game design. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 1 Prerequisite:READ 301 or ESOL 311 or equivalent
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Summarize the evolution of the electronic game industry; explain essential game and simulation elements; evaluate the strengths and limitations of game and simulation systems; identify programmatic and graphical elements of a development system; and develop a concept document and simple game.

GAME 2332 (Project Development I) Skill development in an original modification based on a current game engine. Includes management of version control; development of project timeliness; integration of sound, models, and animation; production of demos; and creation of original levels, characters, and content for a real-time multiplayer game. Applies skills learned in previous classes in a simulated real-world design team experience. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 1 Prerequisite:GAME 1212, GAME 1302, and GAME 1306
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Explain the fundamentals of project management and version control; prepare a design document and time schedules; and develop a game or simulation based on a design plan.

GAME 2338 (Game Testing) Testing and debugging gaming and simulation applications in the alpha and beta stages of production. Includes critiques of the product and written documentation of the testing and debugging processes. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 1 Prerequisite:  READ 301, ESOL 311, or equivalent; Pre/corequisite:  GAME 2332
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Describe the methodology and procedures for collecting, reporting, and closing game bugs; identify the stages of project completion; identify the different testing types (i.e., white box, black box, compatibility, minimum specification, etc.); explain the console approval process; and demonstrate writing precise bug database records.

GAME 2459 (Game & Simulation Group Project) Creation of a game and/or simulation project utilizing a team approach. Includes animation, titles, visualization of research results, modeling with polygon frames, curves and surfaces, 3D text and animation with key frames, paths (objects and curves), morphing, vertex keys, skeletons, and lattices. Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 3 Prerequisite:  GAME 2338
End-of-Course Outcomes:  Develop a complete game and/or simulation project working as a member of a team.

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