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VIDEO GAME DESIGN & ANIMATION

BECOME A GAME DESIGNER

January, April, July and October

18 Months 6 terms

College Dundas Campus

APLICATION CHECKLIST

Program Director
What You'll Learn
Pathway
Mentors
Experience
Students
Journey

What you’ll Learn

Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Term 5
Term 6

TERM 1

Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Term 5
Term 6

VGC 101 | DIGITAL DRAWING 1

Digital Drawing 1 introduces students to the fundamental concepts of 2D art creation for games. Students will learn how to create traditional art and transfer it into digital formats for use in games. Specific topics include: line and form, perspective, and texturing and shading in both traditional and digital mediums. Students will apply knowledge gained in this course to conceptualize and develop concept art used in games.

VGC 102 | GAME MODELING 1

Game Modeling 1 introduces students to the fundamental concepts of 3D modeling. Students will explore 3D software and tools, which will facilitate development of 3D game assets. Specific topics include: high- and low-polygon modeling, 3D geometry and hard surface creation. Students will apply knowledge gained in this course to conceptualize and develop 3D assets used in games.

VGC 103 | PRINCIPLES OF ART AND DESIGN

The elements and principles of design are the building blocks to create effective and functional visuals. This course introduces students to art and design principles applied to games, with an emphasis on color theory and letter typography. Specific topics include color theory, color wheels, space, form, and fonts.

VGC 104 | SCRIPTING FOR GAMES

Scripting for Games introduces students to scripting and problem solving. Students will script the basics of conditional structures, iterative structures and other control structures through the usage of a procedural scripting language. Topics include: loops, functions and if statements.

VGC 105 | PROGRAMMING LOGIC

Programming Logic introduces students to the fundamental building blocks of programming. Students will identify the basics of control structures which will assist in solving programming problems for games. Topics include: variables, iteration, and game loops.

VGC 106 | GAME PLATFORMS 1

Game Platforms 1 introduces students to visual game engines used to develop cross-platform games. Students will combine a variety of art skills and techniques to develop an original game. Specific topics include: asset importing, game logic integration, and game deployment.

VGC 107 | HISTORY OF VIDEO GAMES

History of Video Games presents a historical survey of video games to modern times. Insights into the game industry will be made with identification of past, present and future games and their social and cultural impacts. Specific topics include: game technology, violence in games, and gender and games.

VGC 108 | INTRODUCTION TO VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

Introduction to the Video Game Industry introduces students to the game industry with analysis of local and international markets. Specific topics include: analysis of game development centers in the world, identification of roles and responsibilities of game departments, corporate structures and game studio organization hierarchies.

TERM 2

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VGA 121 | DIGITAL DRAWING 2

Digital Drawing 2 introduces students to principles of animation through 2D art creation. Students will learn tools and techniques to create animation ready art assets for game usage. Specific topics include: anatomy and proportions, principles of animation, cell animation, and sprite sheet development.

VGA 122 | GAME MODELING 2

Game Modeling 2 introduces students to 3D modeling techniques to optimize and efficiently produce game assets. Students will combine their knowledge of 3D tools to produce low-polygon models. Topics include: edge and spline modeling, UV unwrapping and modular set construction.

VGA 123 | GAME PLATFORMS 2

Game Platforms 2 introduces students to game engines used to develop cross-platform games. Students will combine a variety of art skills and techniques to develop an original game. Specific topics include: scripting events, sprite animation, and environment scrolling.

VGA 125 | ART HISTORY

Art History examines classical art and its impact on video games for research and inspiration. Students will survey works of art and architecture that have historical and cultural significance and will draw inspiration to create concepts and assets for games. Lecture topics are combined with current video game examples showing how historical research and accuracy is important in the industry. Specific topics include: Classical Civilizations, Mythology, Architecture styles, 19th and 20th Century art periods, and Modern influences in both the Arts and Games industries.

VGC 121 | GAME DESIGN 1

Game Design 1 will introduce students to the principles of game design and mechanics. Students will examine game genres, by analyzing common game mechanics and elements. Topics include: game genres, game mechanics, and gameplay elements.

VGC 122 | GAME PRODUCTION AND PIPELINE

Game Production & Pipeline will introduce students to methodologies and development best practices for game production. Through the analysis of game design documentation, students will establish development pipelines best suited for 2D and 3D games. Topics include: asset management, waterfall development, agile and SCRUM production methodologies.

TERM 3

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VGA 141 | CONCEPT DESIGN 1

Concept Design 1 will apply students’ knowledge of digital drawing to conceptualize and produce environment concepts for games. Students will identify concept designs by referencing architectural landscapes, buildings and blueprints. Topics include: perspective, layout and topology.

VGA 142 | CHARACTER MODELING 1

Character Modeling 1 will apply 3D modeling techniques to create character models. Students will learn 3D sculpting tools and techniques used to create anatomically correct characters. Topics include digital sculpting, topology and anatomy of human figures.

VGA 143 | GAME PLATFORMS 3

Game Platforms 3 introduces students to game engines used to develop high-end mobile games. Students will combine a variety of art skills and techniques to develop an original game. Specific topics include: importing 3D assets, animating characters in engine and editing terrain.

VGA 144 | GAME ANIMATION 1

Game Animation 1 introduces students to 3D rigging and preparing 3D models for animation. Students will examine the animation pipeline for games by developing rigs for objects and characters. Topics include: rigging, arranging controls and skinning.

VGA 145 | TEXTURING 1

Level Design introduces students to the process of making game levels. Students will use 3D modeling techniques for environmental world building and learn how to create their first environment with modular building techniques. They will learn practical development skills by assembling assets inside of a game engine as they learn how to translate level design concepts into functional game worlds.

VGA 147 | LEVEL DESIGN

Art History 2 will continue to examine classical art in history and how it impacts art research and inspiration for games. Students will survey works of art that have historical and cultural significance, and will draw inspiration to create assets for games. Specific topics include: Romantic, Modern and Contemporary art.

VGC 141 | GAME DESIGN 2

Game Design 2 introduces students to the theory and practise of level design for games. Students will examine layouts and blueprints for levels through the usage of a level editor. Topics include: golden paths, navigation and world building.

VGC 142 | GAME BUSINESS

Game Business introduces students to the business operations of a game studio. Students will analyze business models and how they apply to the game industry. Topics will include: business models, game marketing and budgeting games.

TERM 4

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VGA 201 | CONCEPT DESIGN 2

Concept Design 2 will extend students’ knowledge of concept design to conceptualize and produce character concepts for games. Students will develop characters using traditional and digital techniques to conceptualize human and creature designs. Topics include: posing, costumes and props.

VGA 202 | CHARACTER MODELING 2

Character Modeling 2 extends students’ knowledge of character modeling to create creature models. Students will learn how to create quadruped anatomically correct characters. Topics include: quadruped conceptualization, ecorche, and lo-polygon modeling.

VGA 203 | GAME PLATFORMS 4

Game Platforms 4 introduces 3D game development using a commercial quality game engine. Students will combine a variety of art skills and techniques to develop an original game. Specific topics include: space partitioning, visual scripting, and model importing.

VGA 204 | GAME ANIMATION 2

Game Animation 2 introduces students to 3D animation for games by analyzing 3D key framing and timing. Students will learn how to animate and integrate 3D animations into a game engine. Topics include: key framing, timing, and animation cycles.

VGA 205 | TEXTURING 2

Texturing 2 will extend students’ knowledge of texturing by manipulating images to generate textures. Students will analyze and alter photos to generate textures that can be applied to 3D models. Topics include: tiling, layering and color correction.

VGC 201 | GAME DESIGN 3

Game Design 3 extends students’ knowledge of level design by analyzing feedback systems. Students will integrate reward systems and narrative through the usage of visual scripting and level editors. Topics include: scripted events, feedback loops and cinematics.

VGC 202 | GAME AUDIO 1

Game Audio 1 will introduce students to technology and tools for game audio development. Students will learn how to design and generate sound effects that can be integrated into games. Topics include: synthesizing, looping, and fading.

VGC 203 | GAME PORTFOLIO 1

Game Portfolio 1 will introduce students to portfolio development for the game industry. Students will learn how to assemble employment material based on industry standards and expectations. Topics include: resumes, interviewing and cover letters.

TERM 5

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VGA 221 | INTERFACE DESIGN

Interface Design will discuss visual interface design and user interaction. Students will analyze user interaction trends and how to design and layout interfaces for specific platforms. Topics include: spatial analysis, controls and visual representations of data.

VGA 222 | LIGHTING & RENDERING

Lighting & Rendering will discuss real-time lighting and rendering techniques for 3D game assets. Students will learn how to compose and stage assets within game engines. Topics include: lighting, effects, and shading.

VGA 223 | GAME PLATFORMS 5

Game Platforms 5 extends students’ knowledge of 3D game development by using new generation game engine. Students will combine a variety of art skills and techniques to develop an original game. Specific topics include: model importing, optimization and game physics manipulation.

VGA 224 | GAME ANIMATION 3

Game Animation 3 extends students’ knowledge of 3D animation for games by analyzing emotion and expressions. Students will learn how to develop complex animation cycles and transitions. Topics include: overlapping and secondary actions.

VGA 225 | TEXTURING 3

Texturing 3 students will apply their knowledge of digital painting to create textures. Students will use poly-painting techniques to paint directly onto a 3D model’s surface. Topics include: surface painting, and generating texture maps.

VGC 221 | GAME DESIGN 4

Game Design 4 will extend students’ knowledge of game design by introducing story writing and storyboarding. Students will examine the structure of a story, how to visualize and adapt stories for games. Topics include: linear and non-linear storytelling, plots and character development.

VGA 226 | MOTION CAPTURE

Motion Capture introduces students to performance capture with advanced 3D animation methods and concepts. Topics include Directing and Acting for Motion Capture, facial animation, rigging methods, and motion editing techniques. Students will apply knowledge gained in this course to conceptualize and develop a cinematic scene in engine.

VGC 223 | GAME PORTFOLIO 2

Game Portfolio 2 will allow students to develop their portfolio with the guidance and mentorship of faculty. Students will use proper procedures for presenting their portfolio on the web and other mediums. Topics include: static rendering, presenting and showcasing portfolios.

TERM 6

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VGA 241 | TEAM PRODUCTION PROJECT

This capstone course allows students to operate as a game studio and design and develop a game as a team. Students will apply knowledge gained in past terms to produce a game following development phases. In addition, students will showcase their final game to an audience.

VGC 242 | GAME PORTFOLIO 3

Game Portfolio 3 will allow students to finalize development of their portfolio by integrating games and demo reel. Students will use video editing tools to present their portfolio. Topics include: demo reel assembly and editing.

DEGREE PATHWAY

Meet your Mentors

ROB ELSWORTHY

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

As a graduate of design at OCAD University in Toronto, Rob Elsworthy has extensive experience in the media industry spanning two decades. He has previously worked for Rockstar Games and Silicon Knights on projects like Metal Gear Solid, Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption as an Animator, VFX Artist and Game Designer. He is also a four-time MMVA winner as a Music Video Director. He recently started Resistr Interactive, to make socially aware games and promote diversity in the industry. As a speaker and panelist Rob has contributed to workshops and events for TEDx, Codex, Interactive Ontario, DesignTO and the Black Youth Design Initiative, hoping to inspire the next generation of game creators.

ALI KOKULU

A graduate of Computer Science from Istanbul Bilgi University, Ali Kokulu has over 10 years of programming and 3 years of teaching experience. Before moving to Canada in 2012 he worked as a programmer in the largest online dating website in Turkey, and as a Business Intelligence consultant in a multinational corporation. He also built the complete digital infrastructure of an international courier service business and built mobile apps as a freelance programmer.
After coming to Canada he built various games for PC and mobile. He is an early adopter of Virtual Reality having worked on multiple VR games, experiences and educational VR software. Outside the college, he continues to work with VR as well as helping companies like Disney, EA and Zynga integrating analytics and monetization tools in their games.

TED KIM

Ted Kim has zigzagged all the way from Vancouver to London (ON) then to New Jersey and back to Toronto. His vocational path has followed a similar pattern. After graduating with a finance degree at the University of Western Ontario, he fled to ‘Nu Joisey’ to attend the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art.

In 1998, Ted found his first gig in classical animation at the Barking Bullfrog Cartoon Company in Vancouver. From there he stumbled upon the video game industry in Toronto working as a concept artist for Pseudo Interactive from 2000-2006. Since that time Ted has flown solo, going ‘Super Daddy by day and Freelancer by night.’

Selected Clients & Partners include Imaginary Friends Studios, Udon Entertainment, Brandstudio Press, Pseudo Interactive, Shadows in Darkness, Manifest Games, Hidden Path Entertainment, Jetix, Slave Circus Entertainment, Hero Games, Dark Matter Entertainment, Game Developer Magazine, Official Xbox Magazine, Joyride Studios, Beach Studios, Spin Master, Rubicon Publishing, Oxford University Press.

BRAD FURMINGER

COURSE DISCIPLINE: DESIGN

Brad Furminger entered the video game development industry in September 1998, joining the Silicon Knights Design team following ten years of sales in the gaming field. He was promoted to Lead Designer in May of 1999, and served in that capacity on Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (GameCube) and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GameCube) and for a portion of the development on Too Human (Xbox 360).

Brad left Silicon Knights in October 2008, while working as Senior Technical Designer on an unannounced project. He joined Bedlam Studios in Toronto, Ontario as Senior Level Designer in February 2009 and remained with the studio until it closed in the summer of 2011. During his time at Bedlam, Brad led the Design team on multiple unreleased projects, including Scratch: The Ultimate DJ (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, iOS) and Gamma World: Alpha Mutation (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

YOUR VIDEO GAME EXPERIENCE

Intellectual Property

Cross Collaboration

Industry Professionals

Real World Education

Accelerated Learning

Study in Toronto