ANIMA-2700-14: Lower Division Workshop: Game Design
Fall 2020
- Subject: Animation
- Type: Workshop
- Delivery Mode: Online
- Level: Undergraduate
- Course Dates: September 02, 2020 — December 15, 2020
- Meetings: Mon/Thu 4:00-07:00PM, Online - FA-15
- Instructor: Zachary Walter
- Units: 3.0
- Enrolled: 5/3 Closed
Zachary Walter Profile Photo
Zachary Walter
Chair, Game Arts Program
Assistant Professor Non-Tenure, Fine Arts Division
Description:
Animation Workshops are a series of courses that teach essential skills about a specific topic within animation. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will engage in rigorous study about a specific subject matter. The goal of Animation Workshops is to produce work that illustrates the skills learned. These courses are open to all CCA students who have completed CORE D1 and 4D.
ion
Online course sections will be delivered mostly asynchronously, with some synchronous components that will be outlined in the course syllabus if applicable.
Animation Workshops are a series of courses that teach essential skills about a specific topic within animation. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will engage in rigorous study about a specific subject matter. The goal of Animation Workshops is to produce work that illustrates the skills learned. These courses are open to all CCA students who have completed CORE D1 and 4D.
GAME DESIGN (COURSE DESCRIPTION)
Games are an art form older than civilization. Play is in our very DNA; we learn to play before we walk or speak. We mature into expert players who quickly feel if new game is good and a treasure, or, poorly made and to be tossed aside as we move onto the next.
But what makes one game good and another bad? How do we as makers, designers, and artists learn the art and craft of building strong, playable, impactful games?
“Game Design” expands and builds upon the foundation offered in “Game Making” the introductory course to the Animation program’s new Game Track (though students who did not take the introductory class are welcome to enroll in “Game Design”).
In this course students will learn the art and technique of play-centric and user-centric game design, through the making of several 2D and 3D digital games, as well as analog, tabletop games. We will learn the design dimensions of game mechanics, worldbuilding, character development, interactive storytelling, level design, game balancing, game systems architecture, game art asset creation, playtesting, and other special topics.
Prior knowledge of programming is not required but helpful. Programming skills will be developed in class and optional pre-semester resources will be made available to ready students for the course. In class, students will start in Unity Playground and then advance to developing 2D and 3D games in the full Unity Game Engine, fostering non-programmers to grow into designers of digital games.
“Game Design” serves as the second course for students interested in the new Games Track within the Animation program, however, it is open to all students and game lovers from across the college who meet the course prerequisites.
Animation Workshops are a series of courses that teach essential skills about a specific topic within animation. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will engage in rigorous study about a specific subject matter. The goal of Animation Workshops is to produce work that illustrates the skills learned. These courses are open to all CCA students who have completed CORE D1 and 4D.
GAME DESIGN (COURSE DESCRIPTION)
Games are an art form older than civilization. Play is in our very DNA; we learn to play before we walk or speak. We mature into expert players who quickly feel if new game is good and a treasure, or, poorly made and to be tossed aside as we move onto the next.
But what makes one game good and another bad? How do we as makers, designers, and artists learn the art and craft of building strong, playable, impactful games?
“Game Design” expands and builds upon the foundation offered in “Game Making” the introductory course to the Animation program’s new Game Track (though students who did not take the introductory class are welcome to enroll in “Game Design”).
In this course students will learn the art and technique of play-centric and user-centric game design, through the making of several 2D and 3D digital games, as well as analog, tabletop games. We will learn the design dimensions of game mechanics, worldbuilding, character development, interactive storytelling, level design, game balancing, game systems architecture, game art asset creation, playtesting, and other special topics.
Prior knowledge of programming is not required but helpful. Programming skills will be developed in class and optional pre-semester resources will be made available to ready students for the course. In class, students will start in Unity Playground and then advance to developing 2D and 3D games in the full Unity Game Engine, fostering non-programmers to grow into designers of digital games.
“Game Design” serves as the second course for students interested in the new Games Track within the Animation program, however, it is open to all students and game lovers from across the college who meet the course prerequisites.
Pre-Requisites and Co-Requisites:
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