P.G. Diploma - Game Development

Game Design

Course Overview

The course builds a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding of Game Programming, Game Design and arms the students with skills that are needed in a professional environment. Student develops a range of visual and tactile exploration skills by working on a range of creative process.

Visual research forms an integral part of the program and students are taught and then encouraged to apply them throughout the program. Critical knowledge of the Principles of Gaming, Level Designing, GDD, Game testing and Prototyping are also developed. Classes in Math and Physics for Gaming, Data Structure, AI for Games, Networking fundamentals set the critical knowledge required for game development. Game Programming skills begin with programming for 2D games with C++, J2ME, and Flash Scripting. They are then trained to work with graphic libraries of DirectX using which they are needed to produce 2D and 3D games and working with Game Engines. They explore the difference between PC and a Console by working on porting content for the Xbox.

Duration

1 Year

Career Opportunities

  • AI Programmer
  • Audio / Video Programmer
  • Plugin Developer
  • Game play Programmer
  • Level Designer
  • Tool Developer
  • Particle / Special Effects
  • Programmer

Course Content

Code Module
DMT401 Foundation Study
AND401 Science for Gaming
GAM402 2D Game Programming
GAM404 Game Engine
GAM405 3D Game Programming
GAM406 Mobile Game Programming

Foundation StudyTop ▲

This module introduces the Students to a range of creative process that will aid them in their visual enquiry and self expression. Using these processes and strategies student generate ideas and concepts to design briefs. Students also learn a series of Digital Media Techniques which are deployed to generate Digital Media output.

  • Ideation through Mind map, Mood board, Semiotics, Metaphor, Themes and Styles
  • Researching, Referencing and applying the history and theory of design to design practice
  • Elements and Principles of Design
  • Symbol and Icon Design and Construction
  • Digital Manipulation techniques such as enlargement, reduction, Transformation and reshaping
  • Understanding Colour & Colour Correction
  • Colour depth, image size and file size
  • Creating Digital Painting / Matte painting
  • Applying Materials and creating Textures for games
  • Apply the design process to 2-dimensional & 3-dimensional work in response to a brief
  • Project planning and implementation
  • Introduction to audio formats
  • Audio design
  • Introduction to game development
  • Introduction to platforms
  • Introduction to various platforms

2D Game ProgrammingTop ▲

This module is designed to develop the students programming ability with relevance to Graphics programming. Students study the Rendering Pipeline, Graphics Programming techniques and the applications of the 2D graphics API. The students are also introduced to the architecture and design principles used in the construction of games for mobiles. This module encourages the student to identity and implement a 2D game using the graphics programming techniques they have learnt in this module.

  • Programming Foundation for graphics
  • Introduction, Statements & Array,
  • Classes and Objects, Packages & Inheritance
  • Exception Handling & Threading
  • Frames, Layout Managers & Files & Streams
  • AWT Components & Event Listeners
  • Introduction to Mobile Gaming & J2ME
  • Configuring J2ME & J2ME Profiles
  • Creating a MIDlet
  • User Interfaces & Event Handling
  • MMAPI Editor & MIDP 2.0 Media API
  • Record Store Management System
  • limitations and optimizations
  • Emulators, Porting & Deploying
  • Advanced C++ (OOPS, Templates, STL)
  • 2D Graphics Fundamentals
  • Virtual Camera
  • Graphics API (Direct 3D)
  • Introduction to DirectX API

Science for GamingTop ▲

This module is designed to provide the underpinning knowledge of science and technologies to develop games and related applications. It includes an overview of Mathematics, Physics, Data Structures, Operating System, Object Oriented Analysis and Design, Software Engineering and also associated applications are used in support of game development.

  • Principles of Game Making
  • Set Theory and Functions, Polynomials
  • Trigonometry, Vector Maths
  • Quaternion Algebra, Linear Transformation, Analytical Geometry
  • Newtonian Physics, Gravity and Friction, Acceleration and Velocity, Trajectories
  • Kinematics and Motion control,
  • Collision Detection and Response
  • Array, List, Stack, Queue, Table, Graphs, Trees
  • Software Craftsmanship, GDD, TDD
  • Intro to OOAD, UML
  • OO Analysis, Design
  • Class design, Static UML Diagrams
  • Behavioral Modeling
  • S/W Architecture, Design & Modeling,
  • Case Modeling & Case study
  • Introduction To Data Structure
  • Arrays, Stack, Queue and Linked List
  • Sorting and Search
  • Tree, Graph

Game EngineTop ▲

Enables students to develop an understanding of the architecture of different Game Engine and develop a critical understanding of their design. Students learn to program with high level scripts for greater flexibility in the development of games. The module further develops the understanding of the methods used for build levels using a Level Editor, Programming Effects, Scripting and incorporating externally designed Game Assets. It also provides the opportunity for the students to independently develop a computer game through a game engine.

  • Introduction to game engine
  • Game engine architecture
  • Introduction to Unreal
  • Material editor
  • Unity
  • Torque
  • Kismet in Unreal
  • Editors
  • Console Language
  • Scripting
  • Level Design

3D Game ProgrammingTop ▲

PC Gaming represents a significant part of the game development industry and their importance is only expected to grow. This module builds on the various skills learned throughout the course and further encourages the students to explore cutting-edge techniques used by programmers in the game industry, in the construction of games for Personal Computers. Students study the Rendering Pipeline, Graphics Programming techniques and the applications of the graphics API (DirectX).

  • Advance C++ techniques
  • Intro to DirectX 3D API
  • Basic D3D concepts, vertex, index, Buffer
  • Camera Management, Transformation
  • Lighting, Texturing
  • Blending, Stenciling
  • Progressive Meshes, fonts, Threads
  • Flexible Camera
  • Meshes
  • Terrain Geometry, Vertices's & Indices
  • Terrain Texture and Lighting
  • Walking on the Terrain
  • Particles
  • Picking
  • Vertex Shader
  • Pixel Shader
  • Effects Framework
  • Intro to Networking, Winsock, TCP/IP
  • Directplay, CRC, DEadRocking,
  • Multiplayer gaming

Mobile game programmingTop ▲

This module builds on the programming ability of the student and further introduces students to the architecture and design principles used in the construction of games for mobiles. Students will also gain experience in tools, techniques and hardware necessary to develop games for mobiles. This module enables students to make a comparative analysis of performance and delivery systems associated with mobile gaming. The module further encourages students to independently study and critically analysis the process of developing games for the mobile.

  • Java Programming
  • Introduction to Mobile Gaming & J2ME
  • Configuring J2ME & J2ME Profiles
  • MIDlets
  • J2ME User Interface & Event Handling
  • MMAPI Editor & MIDP 2.0 Media API
  • Record Store Management System & Limitations and Optimizations & Emulators
  • Porting & Deploying
  • Introduction to Game Development for Android