Miami University

Introduction to Game Careers

In this course, students learn the careers available in game design and development, the basics of games as an academic discipline, and become acquainted with the games faculty and university resources.

Introduction to Game Studies

Offers an introduction to key historical and contemporary research in game studies and theories of play, with particular attention paid to the digital video game. The course surveys current debates and issues in the field of game studies, introduces various methods for interpreting games, and cultivates a deeper understanding of the importance of games and play in contemporary social, political, and cultural contexts.

Introduction to Game Design

This course is an introduction to the many philosophies of game design. Students will learn the core principles of game design, will create games (non-digital) and will learn to iterate and play-test. No previous game design training is required.

Introduction to Game Development

This course introduces students to the process of developing simple 2D games. It is built around a number of game-development challenges that are selected to develop a basic proficiency in 2D game development while learning basic programming and art principles. To complete the challenges, the students are provided with curated online videos and 1-1 in-class instruction

Introduction to Interaction Design & Development

This course is an opportunity to investigate interactive design and front-end development as it relates to a variety media types. Using industry standard tools, students will learn to design, implement, and refine interactive media for specific audiences. For the purpose of this class, interactive media includes a variety of software and hardware solutions that intersect the domain of human-computer interaction. Effective interactive design is often achieved by the creative application of sometimes disparate disciplines. Students should expect to incorporate their understanding of art theory, psychology, commercial business practice, and creative problem solving.

Design Thinking and Principles

An understanding of design thinking & design principles is central to the creation of digital solutions and interfaces. Whether it be the design of a system/organization or the creation of a digital product, a design solution is the result of a multi-disciplinary approach. This approach builds empathy and understanding in order to solve problems for users who are often different from ourselves. The course will also examine the impact that culture has on aesthetic choices such as color, form and spacial relationships as well as the diverse history of design, typography and interaction. No prior design experience required.

Writing for Games

Writing for Games offers students an opportunity to learn the genres and professional standards of writing for games and the gaming industry, including instructions, proposals, design documents, publicity documents, and in-game scripts.

Foundations in 3D Design

Provides knowledge in the underlying concepts and practical skills in the design and development of computer generated 3-D imagery. Examines 3-D modeling; animation, lighting and rendering; character animation; and other related topics.

Introduction to Game Programming

Introduction to computer programming techniques used in games and visual simulations. Simple data and control structures, mathematical foundations, transformations, rendering algorithms, and interfaces.

Indie Game Development 1

All ETBD students with a games focus must complete an independent project in which they create and publish a finished game (on an online distribution platform). This project provides an opportunity for the student to synthesize various strands of their academic work, professional experience, and design knowledge. Furthermore, it requires the student to develop the ability to scope their projects realistically and see them through within a strict time budget.

Indie Game Development 2

All IMS students with a games focus must complete an independent project in which they create and publish a finished game (on an online distribution platform). This project provides an opportunity for the student to synthesize various strands of their academic work, professional experience, and design knowledge. Furthermore, it requires the student to develop the ability to scope their projects realistically and see them through within a strict time budget. This is the second of a two-course sequence.

Advanced Game Design

Develops theoretical foundations, methods, and skills in building complete games. Focuses are placed in particular on the understanding of how design influences gameplay and mechanics. Prerequisites: IMS 211, IMS 212, and IMS 213.

Game Engine Scripting

This is an advanced game development course meant to build on the introductory game engine groundwork laid by the coding and game development courses students must take as prerequisites. Students will design and code a short series of game prototypes using a commercial-level game engine, increasing proficiency in navigating the engine tools and speed in which they are able to prototype and iterate on game mechanics and design. Guidance and constraints will be provided to keep projects within a reasonable scope. Students are expected to put a great deal of effort into learning how to debug problems and understand engine features while being provided guidance, not answers, by the professor. The goal of this course is to increase student comfort with professional game engine tools and prepare students to learn (and self-teach) increasing advanced features based on their development interests.

Game Pipeline and Production

In this course, students will be introduced to skills, concepts, and competencies that deal with video game pipeline production. This course serves as a precursor to IMS 488. Students will not only develop as individual artists, programmers, and designers, but will learn how to thrive in an interdisciplinary team to create video games. Students will work on original, small-scope, small-team projects that will culminate into playable prototypes of a real-time interactive experience. Strategies for working proactively on a development team will be introduced and applied.

Game Pre-Production

In this course, students will bring together everything they learned during the program and start preproduction for a digital game that they will develop and (independently) publish in the games capstone production class. They learn skills, concepts and competencies that deal with the video game production pipeline. The goal of the course is to finalize the game concept, to complete tech demos, to finish concept art, and to deliver a production plan. As the students work in a team format in which they are assigned a role that corresponds to the role that they seek to take on in the industry after graduating, the deliverables for each student differ based on their role. Programmers will develop tech demos, artists will develop concept art, designers write technical documents, etc. Unique, interesting or unorthodox ideas are encouraged. Game Production In this course, students move from pre-production for their capstone game into the production phase. At the end of this course, the game is intended to be completely functional and ready for distribution. Prerequisite: IMS 488.

3D Digital Sculpting

Digital sculpting is an essential part of 3D content creation. This course needs to be a requirement for students in the game program who want to work as an artist creating assets for video games. This course teaches industry standard software and the methodologies that game studios use when producing professional quality 3D assets for video games and other media. The course is project driven, and grades will be based on the visual quality and passion expressed in the work submitted for assignments, ability to follow instructions for submission and their ability to meet deadlines for assignments.

3D Character Design

In this course, students will create fully realized characters using 3D animation software to be implemented in a game engine. Students will learn a complete workflow for taking a character concept through all stages of a 3D character-creation process. This includes concept art, proper scene setup, 3D modeling, digital sculpting, degrading assets, UV Unwrapping, texture painting, and character rigging, posing, rendering, and importing into a game engine. The course is project driven and grades will be based on the visual quality and passion expressed in the work submitted for assignments, ability to follow instructions for submission, and ability to meet deadlines for assignments.

3D Shading and Texturing

In this course, students will learn the workflows necessary to create materials, textures, and shaders for physically based render systems. Students will learn how to edit shaders and materials through the creation and editing of textures in an image-editing program. Students will also be taught the theory behind physically based rendering and how it relates to rendering objects in real time through game engine technology. The course is project driven and grades will be based on the visual quality and passion expressed in the work submitted for assignments, ability to follow instructions for submission, and ability to meet deadlines for assignments.