Credits:
10 (sem)

Location:
THE ROP

Requirements:
* Interview may be necessary for admission
* Own transportation to The ROP
* Must be 16 years old by September 1
* Although having a computer at home is not a requirement, a student should make time for and should have the capability of regularly accessing the internet from his school campus, public library, the ROP by way of signing up for additional lab time, or home.
* Students should realize that the process to great game design is a challenging one, with many steps based on tedious trial and error.
* Desire to pursue excellence at the expense of mediocrity

Course Description:
A rigorous two semester course designed to introduce the student to the Video Game Design Industry by embarking on a journey through the basic process necessary to complete the design of a video game. Students are encouraged to produce their own game concept, from start to finish, and / or pursue alternatives as approved by the ROP. The student will produce the design basis for a video game's level and integrate the level into a game engine for play, as well as graphic designs in order to show cover art for the game. At the end, the student should have a portfolio piece suitable for showing during an interview.

Content includes:
Developing an understanding of the current industry situation, the history of video games, the design process, visual communication skills, graphic design skills, animation skills, 3D Modeling skills using 3D Studio Max, Storyboarding skills, Game Genres, the creation of design documents, character design skills, game engine integration issues, basic concepts of gameplay, website design creation, dimensional form analysis, sound authoring and more...

Competencies
*Design Document Writing
*Production of music and sound effects
*Creation of 3D Models using 3D Studio Max
*Use of Macromedia Flash MX / Dreamweaver MX to distribute game document information
*Storyboarding
*Visual communication: drawings of game characters and environments
*Use 3D Game Studio Level Editor / Game Engine as basis for developing game
*History of video games
*Ethical, physiological and psychological effects of video games
*Understanding the effects of physics in game design.
*Virtual world creation