Courses
Undergraduate Courses
ITGM 120 Introduction to Interactive Design and Game Development
This course begins to investigate visual and audio communication involving user actions, strategic design and the illusion of motion. Through individual approach and expression in traditional media, students are encouraged to experiment with the juxtaposition and sequence of design elements and imagery and to develop a sense of artist-audience construct and consequence. Prerequisites: DRAW 101, CMPA 110.
ITGM 121 Introduction to Game Development
Through hands-on exercises, students are introduced to critical aspects of the game industry from nondigital games to indie games to the latest video games. Roles and responsibilities within the game development team are discussed and practiced through in-class exercises, and genres are critically introduced, discussed and explored. Key individuals, companies and associations are also explored, and controversies are examined. The course culminates in a group project. Prerequisites: CMPA 110, DRAW 101.
ITGM 122 Introduction to Interactive Design
Through individual and group exercises, students are introduced to critical aspects of interactive art and design from physical computing to installation art to traditional and nontraditional Web sites. A history of the interactive medium is presented, and the breadth of the medium is critically introduced, discussed and explored. Through in-class exercises, students practice composition, aesthetics, and various types of interactive art. Key individuals, media, software tools and associations also are explored. Prerequisite: CMPA 110.
ITGM 130 Digital Design Aesthetics
This course provides the foundation for visualizing and understanding the essential vocabularies, principles and concepts of design, color and visual literacy as applied to interactive digital work. Prerequisite: CMPA 110.
ITGM 230 Information Design for Dynamic Media
This course addresses the fields of information visualization and user interface design and their intersection in the field of interactive design. Through the exploration of key principles and methodologies of these fields, students will develop a working knowledge of the means by which dynamic media systems—Web sites, games, information aggregators, smartphone applications, etc.—organize, visualize, and present information to the end users of screen-based media. Students learn and use industry methodologies to develop information-intensive interactive projects through a series of progressive assignments. Prerequisites: ITGM 120 or ITGM 121 or ITGM 122, ITGM 130.
ITGM 240 Modeling, Materials and Lighting
Modeling techniques and aesthetic skills required to create, texture and light 3-D objects are explored. Through the use of industry standard 3-D software, students will learn methods and procedures to create 3-D models efficiently and accurately. They will also learn to create textures, shaders and materials for 3-D geometry. Students will create visualizations in 3-D through real-world observations. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 241 Survey of Interactive Entertainment
This course chronicles the history and evolution of interactive and game design while reflecting on its immediacy through Internet and game culture trends. Students examine the social and artistic influences in computer mediated communications and game theory principles. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, CMPA 110.
ITGM 250 Fundamentals of Game Design
This course introduces students to game design through analysis, application and discussion of the game space, game mechanics, the game player, and the design decisions that create the game state. Through in-class game play and game design exercises, students will explore the design process through the concepts of player agency and immersion, while structures of goals—both short-term and long-term—force consideration of challenge, conflict and reward. Ultimately, students assess the needs of a target audience and create a game space and a game expressly designed for that audience while providing critical feedback to their peers on their own designs. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 258 Modeling for Game Development
Students develop an understanding of 3-D, the principles of modeling, and video game aesthetics while exploring the creation of 3-D models specifically designed for integration into a game engine. Aesthetics, construction, communication, sculptural skills and quality of work are emphasized. Prerequisite: ITGM 240.
ITGM 260 Interactive Design
This course focuses on the aesthetics of digital media elements and issues surrounding coherence in interactive environments. Students are introduced to authoring techniques and technologies as they learn how to create and develop basic projects for delivery on the Web and as stand-alone applications in which interactivity is the focus. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 265 Introduction to Robotics AI
This course introduces students to the field of experience design relating to robotics and the code that controls them. Concepts of interactive design and game design relating to robotics will be learned and applied using object-oriented programming and artificial intelligence. Students investigate the recent history of robotics as well as the essential concerns and methodologies of the field. Students will create a series of robotic projects in order to understand the basic principles of robotics, artificial intelligence and object-oriented programming. Prerequisite: ITGM 260.
ITGM 272 Video Game Industry Survey
This course chronicles the history and evolution of the video game industry, from its early beginnings in paper and war games to modern day next generation consoles. Students examine the industry’s growth, key players and companies, processes, controversies and career paths while reflecting on how each generation has influenced the next. Students examine the forces that shape the industry as well as the games it makes. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 303 Programming for Interactivity
This course introduces object-oriented programming techniques using a scripting language. This class builds upon the Interactive Design course, enabling students to develop projects that include complex interactive Web sites, experimental interactive work and online games. Prerequisite: ITGM 260.
ITGM 310 Animation for Games
In this course, students create character rigs and animation assets for games. Topics covered range from key frame animation and editing motion capture data to importing each student’s final animation into an existing game engine. Prerequisite: ANIM 250 or ITGM 258 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 315 C++ Programming I
In this course, students learn programming techniques and skills using C++. Students learn basic understanding of computer science concepts, awareness of different types of computer languages, use of a program-development environment, understanding of control structures, data structures, program logic, problem solving and object-oriented programming methodologies. Prerequisite: ITGM 240 or ANIM 250 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 320 Procedural Effects for Games
This course focuses on MEL (Maya Embedded Language) scripting skills and techniques that are applied to 3-D models and environments. Scripting commands, data types, variables and arrays will be covered as practiced in the game design industry. Using industry standard methodologies, students will use professional techniques and practices to explore, discuss and critique. Prerequisite: ANIM 250 or ITGM 240 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 333 Sculptural Texturing for Games
This course focuses on the creation of complex organic models and 2-D and 3-D textures for use in video game development. Traditional 2-D photo editing, painting software and 3-D painting and sculpting applications are combined to provide maximum emphasis on art, mood and extreme detail. Additional techniques relating to the use of complex systems within available hardware constraints also are discussed. In this course students explore, discuss and participate in critiques related to professional methodologies, techniques and practices. Results-oriented techniques are emphasized. Prerequisite: ITGM 240 or ANIM 250 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 342 Narrative Content Design for Games
Beginning with an overview of the types of narrative found in games, from linear stories to “MMO instances,” students in this course move from their initial story vision to a fully realized and interactive story for a video game. From the first class, students explore narrative structures, player expectation and response, and work with other students to incorporate feedback into their design to better prepare them to become content designers in the video game industry. Prerequisite: ITGM 120.
ITGM 350 User-centered Design for Dynamic Media
This course focuses on the principles and methodologies used throughout the interactive design industry for creating screen-based dynamic media—Web sites, information installations, smartphone applications, etc. Specifically, students address the interactive design process used to create dynamic media and endogenous meaning systems. Prerequisite: ITGM 230, ITGM 260.
ITGM 351 Cognitive Art of Game Design
This course pushes students from the game space and the game player into practical, theoretical, controversial and abstract principles and applications within the cognitive art of game design. Through regular in-class prototype and play sessions as well as four longer-term game design projects, students consider, question and add a wide range of concepts to their already existing game design skills. Students explore the concept of a game as a generator of attachment, emotion and controversy, and hone their skills through a study of balance, semiotics, theme, narrative and interaction. Prerequisite: ITGM 250.
ITGM 352 Environment and Level Design
As the visual quality and expectations of digital games increases so does the need for better art direction. By focusing on issues such as art direction methodologies, visual complexity, framing, modularity, and a solid art pipeline, students design and create visually effective and highly detailed game-oriented environments. Prerequisite: ITGM 240.
ITGM 353 Interactive Web Design
Key concepts of Web design are presented through a series of technical and design workshops. Students are introduced to the latest authoring and animation software and learn how to apply their knowledge of the software to create dynamic and exciting Web designs. Prerequisite: ITGM 260 or MOME 235.
ITGM 359 Real-time Cinematics for Games
A cinematic artist in the game industry is responsible for creating real-time cinematics, one of the main devices for delivering a narrative in today’s story-driven games. This course covers topics such as scripted events and other technical issues along with the fundamental concepts of cinematography, in order to guide students in developing work for their portfolios. Prerequisite: ITGM 352.
ITGM 360 Interactive Game Project
Students design and develop games, Web sites and interactive media through a series of technical and design workshops. The course explores intermediate and advanced technical and conceptual aspects of design and development for group-based games and interactive projects. Prerequisite: ITGM 303.
ITGM 364 Scripting for Games
In this course, students write scripts for a current game engine in order to alter its existing functionality as well as create new interactive elements. Ultimately, students learn to create what in the industry is called an engine modification (MOD). Prerequisites: ITGM 303, ITGM 352.
ITGM 380 Interactive Design and Game Development Portfolio
This course focuses on integrating imagery, Web sites, video and various elements into an interactive portfolio. Concepts, cross-platform developments and issues concerning aesthetics, interface design and use of media are addressed. Students collect relevant material and produce a CD/DVD/Web-based portfolio, packaging for portfolio, r??sum??, cover letter, business card, flatbook portfolio and optional VHS-based material. Prerequisite: ITGM 350 or ITGM 351 or ITGM 352 or ITGM 353.
ITGM 395 Applied Game Design
The process of video game design from initial concept and pitch through to completed game design using either traditional or agile development methodologies will be the focus of this course. From the first class, students will develop concepts that will be selected for completion by peer design teams. Teams then work to complete the game design document, concept art and an interactive installation, prototype or Web site highlighting their team’s design. Prerequisite: ITGM 120.
ITGM 402 Game Design Criticism and Analysis
This class exposes students to the fundamental issues of game design and analysis through readings, writings, group discussions, and critiques of current digital and nondigital games. Students form a vocabulary to discuss and analyze each game’s successes and failures with respect to rules and narratives. Through in-class exercises and outside assignments, students create new rules for existing games as well as develop new designs demonstrating applied principles. Prerequisite: ITGM 351 or ITGM 352.
ITGM 403 Information and Interfaces
This course focuses on information structure, the interactive design process, delivery and designing visual interfaces. Students are expected to develop a conceptual framework for real-world applications, exploring issues from the industry, art and society. Prerequisite: ITGM 303.
ITGM 405 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I
Students apply their skills to creating a workable interactive project or video game in a simulated professional environment. Topics include content creation within a limited resource environment. The course emphasizes production-oriented goals in order to provide students with a professional skill set and a body of fine art. Prerequisite: ITGM 402 or ITGM 403 or ITGM 440 or ITGM 452.
ITGM 412 Design Patterns in Game Design
This course presents a thorough analysis and application of design mechanics and patterns, the very building blocks of games. Pattern theory and practice is discussed, and application of these patterns is then applied to a topical game created by students and demonstrated throughout the course of the quarter. Upon completion of the course, participants will have a completed game as well as a thorough understanding of the design patterns and principles therein. Prerequisite: ITGM 402.
ITGM 415 C++ Programming II
In this course, students learn advanced program design methodologies, object-oriented design and programming techniques using C++. Students learn to build complex applications by developing reusable and modular code. Prerequisite: ITGM 315.
ITGM 430 2-D Game Design and Development
Using scripting techniques to support game logic, students design working digital game prototypes using an industry-standard 2-D design tool. Students learn about game design fundamentals and game theory, and focus their game design projects on innovative and experimental gameplay by realizing working 2-D game “sketches.” Prerequisite: ITGM 303.
ITGM 440 Physical Computing
This course explores nontraditional input devices to create interactive user experiences. In addition to the technical, aesthetic and conceptual concerns of this art form, students assesses the work of a range of artists. Students are expected to develop concepts, experiments and prototypes for self-contained interactive objects in immersive environments. Prerequisite: ITGM 260.
ITGM 450 Abstract System Simulation
Starting with the basics of simulation, students in this course select a theme and determine the core, constants and systems requiring abstraction. Students then work individually to develop character creation, needs and development simulations, inventory balancing, object drop tables and dynamically balanced enemy statistics. Students also work in teams using the agile development methodology to develop a fully functional paper role-playing system. This course provides students with higher level skills for careers as a system or game designer in the video game industry. This course focuses on the core skill of any game designer: the ability to accurately model any topic or theme in such a way that it becomes a dynamic, living presence within a video game world. Prerequisite: ITGM 402.
ITGM 452 Level Design Mechanics
Real-time rendering technology allows a game artist to create immersive game environments that respond to a the player’s action within the game space. Students in this course are prepared for high-level careers in the video game industry by learning the processes for creating event-driven environments and acquiring the technical skills required to produce a functional game level. Topics include creating real-time shaders and in-game effects such as physics, particles and event triggers. Prerequisite: ITGM 351 or ITGM 352.
ITGM 465 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio II
Students work in a collaborative, simulated professional environment to address issues including content creation in a group dynamic, strategic planning, goal-oriented planning, and game theory and design. This course provides students with a significant amount of professional-quality material for portfolio inclusion. Prerequisite: ITGM 405.
ITGM 475 Interactive Design and Game Development Postproduction
This final phase of the student’s senior project focuses on the production and mastering of senior interactive or game project including final design, programming or scripting, focus testing, testing and implementation. Students also create support materials, such as a product Web site, and work to integrate these into their portfolios.
ITGM 495 Special Topics in Interactive Design and Game Development
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each seminar focuses on various problems in the field of interactive design and game development and allows advanced students to pursue individual or collaborative projects related to the topic of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
This course begins to investigate visual and audio communication involving user actions, strategic design and the illusion of motion. Through individual approach and expression in traditional media, students are encouraged to experiment with the juxtaposition and sequence of design elements and imagery and to develop a sense of artist-audience construct and consequence. Prerequisites: DRAW 101, CMPA 110.
ITGM 121 Introduction to Game Development
Through hands-on exercises, students are introduced to critical aspects of the game industry from nondigital games to indie games to the latest video games. Roles and responsibilities within the game development team are discussed and practiced through in-class exercises, and genres are critically introduced, discussed and explored. Key individuals, companies and associations are also explored, and controversies are examined. The course culminates in a group project. Prerequisites: CMPA 110, DRAW 101.
ITGM 122 Introduction to Interactive Design
Through individual and group exercises, students are introduced to critical aspects of interactive art and design from physical computing to installation art to traditional and nontraditional Web sites. A history of the interactive medium is presented, and the breadth of the medium is critically introduced, discussed and explored. Through in-class exercises, students practice composition, aesthetics, and various types of interactive art. Key individuals, media, software tools and associations also are explored. Prerequisite: CMPA 110.
ITGM 130 Digital Design Aesthetics
This course provides the foundation for visualizing and understanding the essential vocabularies, principles and concepts of design, color and visual literacy as applied to interactive digital work. Prerequisite: CMPA 110.
ITGM 230 Information Design for Dynamic Media
This course addresses the fields of information visualization and user interface design and their intersection in the field of interactive design. Through the exploration of key principles and methodologies of these fields, students will develop a working knowledge of the means by which dynamic media systems—Web sites, games, information aggregators, smartphone applications, etc.—organize, visualize, and present information to the end users of screen-based media. Students learn and use industry methodologies to develop information-intensive interactive projects through a series of progressive assignments. Prerequisites: ITGM 120 or ITGM 121 or ITGM 122, ITGM 130.
ITGM 240 Modeling, Materials and Lighting
Modeling techniques and aesthetic skills required to create, texture and light 3-D objects are explored. Through the use of industry standard 3-D software, students will learn methods and procedures to create 3-D models efficiently and accurately. They will also learn to create textures, shaders and materials for 3-D geometry. Students will create visualizations in 3-D through real-world observations. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 241 Survey of Interactive Entertainment
This course chronicles the history and evolution of interactive and game design while reflecting on its immediacy through Internet and game culture trends. Students examine the social and artistic influences in computer mediated communications and game theory principles. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, CMPA 110.
ITGM 250 Fundamentals of Game Design
This course introduces students to game design through analysis, application and discussion of the game space, game mechanics, the game player, and the design decisions that create the game state. Through in-class game play and game design exercises, students will explore the design process through the concepts of player agency and immersion, while structures of goals—both short-term and long-term—force consideration of challenge, conflict and reward. Ultimately, students assess the needs of a target audience and create a game space and a game expressly designed for that audience while providing critical feedback to their peers on their own designs. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 258 Modeling for Game Development
Students develop an understanding of 3-D, the principles of modeling, and video game aesthetics while exploring the creation of 3-D models specifically designed for integration into a game engine. Aesthetics, construction, communication, sculptural skills and quality of work are emphasized. Prerequisite: ITGM 240.
ITGM 260 Interactive Design
This course focuses on the aesthetics of digital media elements and issues surrounding coherence in interactive environments. Students are introduced to authoring techniques and technologies as they learn how to create and develop basic projects for delivery on the Web and as stand-alone applications in which interactivity is the focus. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 265 Introduction to Robotics AI
This course introduces students to the field of experience design relating to robotics and the code that controls them. Concepts of interactive design and game design relating to robotics will be learned and applied using object-oriented programming and artificial intelligence. Students investigate the recent history of robotics as well as the essential concerns and methodologies of the field. Students will create a series of robotic projects in order to understand the basic principles of robotics, artificial intelligence and object-oriented programming. Prerequisite: ITGM 260.
ITGM 272 Video Game Industry Survey
This course chronicles the history and evolution of the video game industry, from its early beginnings in paper and war games to modern day next generation consoles. Students examine the industry’s growth, key players and companies, processes, controversies and career paths while reflecting on how each generation has influenced the next. Students examine the forces that shape the industry as well as the games it makes. Prerequisite: ITGM 130.
ITGM 303 Programming for Interactivity
This course introduces object-oriented programming techniques using a scripting language. This class builds upon the Interactive Design course, enabling students to develop projects that include complex interactive Web sites, experimental interactive work and online games. Prerequisite: ITGM 260.
ITGM 310 Animation for Games
In this course, students create character rigs and animation assets for games. Topics covered range from key frame animation and editing motion capture data to importing each student’s final animation into an existing game engine. Prerequisite: ANIM 250 or ITGM 258 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 315 C++ Programming I
In this course, students learn programming techniques and skills using C++. Students learn basic understanding of computer science concepts, awareness of different types of computer languages, use of a program-development environment, understanding of control structures, data structures, program logic, problem solving and object-oriented programming methodologies. Prerequisite: ITGM 240 or ANIM 250 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 320 Procedural Effects for Games
This course focuses on MEL (Maya Embedded Language) scripting skills and techniques that are applied to 3-D models and environments. Scripting commands, data types, variables and arrays will be covered as practiced in the game design industry. Using industry standard methodologies, students will use professional techniques and practices to explore, discuss and critique. Prerequisite: ANIM 250 or ITGM 240 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 333 Sculptural Texturing for Games
This course focuses on the creation of complex organic models and 2-D and 3-D textures for use in video game development. Traditional 2-D photo editing, painting software and 3-D painting and sculpting applications are combined to provide maximum emphasis on art, mood and extreme detail. Additional techniques relating to the use of complex systems within available hardware constraints also are discussed. In this course students explore, discuss and participate in critiques related to professional methodologies, techniques and practices. Results-oriented techniques are emphasized. Prerequisite: ITGM 240 or ANIM 250 or VSFX 210.
ITGM 342 Narrative Content Design for Games
Beginning with an overview of the types of narrative found in games, from linear stories to “MMO instances,” students in this course move from their initial story vision to a fully realized and interactive story for a video game. From the first class, students explore narrative structures, player expectation and response, and work with other students to incorporate feedback into their design to better prepare them to become content designers in the video game industry. Prerequisite: ITGM 120.
ITGM 350 User-centered Design for Dynamic Media
This course focuses on the principles and methodologies used throughout the interactive design industry for creating screen-based dynamic media—Web sites, information installations, smartphone applications, etc. Specifically, students address the interactive design process used to create dynamic media and endogenous meaning systems. Prerequisite: ITGM 230, ITGM 260.
ITGM 351 Cognitive Art of Game Design
This course pushes students from the game space and the game player into practical, theoretical, controversial and abstract principles and applications within the cognitive art of game design. Through regular in-class prototype and play sessions as well as four longer-term game design projects, students consider, question and add a wide range of concepts to their already existing game design skills. Students explore the concept of a game as a generator of attachment, emotion and controversy, and hone their skills through a study of balance, semiotics, theme, narrative and interaction. Prerequisite: ITGM 250.
ITGM 352 Environment and Level Design
As the visual quality and expectations of digital games increases so does the need for better art direction. By focusing on issues such as art direction methodologies, visual complexity, framing, modularity, and a solid art pipeline, students design and create visually effective and highly detailed game-oriented environments. Prerequisite: ITGM 240.
ITGM 353 Interactive Web Design
Key concepts of Web design are presented through a series of technical and design workshops. Students are introduced to the latest authoring and animation software and learn how to apply their knowledge of the software to create dynamic and exciting Web designs. Prerequisite: ITGM 260 or MOME 235.
ITGM 359 Real-time Cinematics for Games
A cinematic artist in the game industry is responsible for creating real-time cinematics, one of the main devices for delivering a narrative in today’s story-driven games. This course covers topics such as scripted events and other technical issues along with the fundamental concepts of cinematography, in order to guide students in developing work for their portfolios. Prerequisite: ITGM 352.
ITGM 360 Interactive Game Project
Students design and develop games, Web sites and interactive media through a series of technical and design workshops. The course explores intermediate and advanced technical and conceptual aspects of design and development for group-based games and interactive projects. Prerequisite: ITGM 303.
ITGM 364 Scripting for Games
In this course, students write scripts for a current game engine in order to alter its existing functionality as well as create new interactive elements. Ultimately, students learn to create what in the industry is called an engine modification (MOD). Prerequisites: ITGM 303, ITGM 352.
ITGM 380 Interactive Design and Game Development Portfolio
This course focuses on integrating imagery, Web sites, video and various elements into an interactive portfolio. Concepts, cross-platform developments and issues concerning aesthetics, interface design and use of media are addressed. Students collect relevant material and produce a CD/DVD/Web-based portfolio, packaging for portfolio, r??sum??, cover letter, business card, flatbook portfolio and optional VHS-based material. Prerequisite: ITGM 350 or ITGM 351 or ITGM 352 or ITGM 353.
ITGM 395 Applied Game Design
The process of video game design from initial concept and pitch through to completed game design using either traditional or agile development methodologies will be the focus of this course. From the first class, students will develop concepts that will be selected for completion by peer design teams. Teams then work to complete the game design document, concept art and an interactive installation, prototype or Web site highlighting their team’s design. Prerequisite: ITGM 120.
ITGM 402 Game Design Criticism and Analysis
This class exposes students to the fundamental issues of game design and analysis through readings, writings, group discussions, and critiques of current digital and nondigital games. Students form a vocabulary to discuss and analyze each game’s successes and failures with respect to rules and narratives. Through in-class exercises and outside assignments, students create new rules for existing games as well as develop new designs demonstrating applied principles. Prerequisite: ITGM 351 or ITGM 352.
ITGM 403 Information and Interfaces
This course focuses on information structure, the interactive design process, delivery and designing visual interfaces. Students are expected to develop a conceptual framework for real-world applications, exploring issues from the industry, art and society. Prerequisite: ITGM 303.
ITGM 405 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I
Students apply their skills to creating a workable interactive project or video game in a simulated professional environment. Topics include content creation within a limited resource environment. The course emphasizes production-oriented goals in order to provide students with a professional skill set and a body of fine art. Prerequisite: ITGM 402 or ITGM 403 or ITGM 440 or ITGM 452.
ITGM 412 Design Patterns in Game Design
This course presents a thorough analysis and application of design mechanics and patterns, the very building blocks of games. Pattern theory and practice is discussed, and application of these patterns is then applied to a topical game created by students and demonstrated throughout the course of the quarter. Upon completion of the course, participants will have a completed game as well as a thorough understanding of the design patterns and principles therein. Prerequisite: ITGM 402.
ITGM 415 C++ Programming II
In this course, students learn advanced program design methodologies, object-oriented design and programming techniques using C++. Students learn to build complex applications by developing reusable and modular code. Prerequisite: ITGM 315.
ITGM 430 2-D Game Design and Development
Using scripting techniques to support game logic, students design working digital game prototypes using an industry-standard 2-D design tool. Students learn about game design fundamentals and game theory, and focus their game design projects on innovative and experimental gameplay by realizing working 2-D game “sketches.” Prerequisite: ITGM 303.
ITGM 440 Physical Computing
This course explores nontraditional input devices to create interactive user experiences. In addition to the technical, aesthetic and conceptual concerns of this art form, students assesses the work of a range of artists. Students are expected to develop concepts, experiments and prototypes for self-contained interactive objects in immersive environments. Prerequisite: ITGM 260.
ITGM 450 Abstract System Simulation
Starting with the basics of simulation, students in this course select a theme and determine the core, constants and systems requiring abstraction. Students then work individually to develop character creation, needs and development simulations, inventory balancing, object drop tables and dynamically balanced enemy statistics. Students also work in teams using the agile development methodology to develop a fully functional paper role-playing system. This course provides students with higher level skills for careers as a system or game designer in the video game industry. This course focuses on the core skill of any game designer: the ability to accurately model any topic or theme in such a way that it becomes a dynamic, living presence within a video game world. Prerequisite: ITGM 402.
ITGM 452 Level Design Mechanics
Real-time rendering technology allows a game artist to create immersive game environments that respond to a the player’s action within the game space. Students in this course are prepared for high-level careers in the video game industry by learning the processes for creating event-driven environments and acquiring the technical skills required to produce a functional game level. Topics include creating real-time shaders and in-game effects such as physics, particles and event triggers. Prerequisite: ITGM 351 or ITGM 352.
ITGM 465 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio II
Students work in a collaborative, simulated professional environment to address issues including content creation in a group dynamic, strategic planning, goal-oriented planning, and game theory and design. This course provides students with a significant amount of professional-quality material for portfolio inclusion. Prerequisite: ITGM 405.
ITGM 475 Interactive Design and Game Development Postproduction
This final phase of the student’s senior project focuses on the production and mastering of senior interactive or game project including final design, programming or scripting, focus testing, testing and implementation. Students also create support materials, such as a product Web site, and work to integrate these into their portfolios.
ITGM 495 Special Topics in Interactive Design and Game Development
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each seminar focuses on various problems in the field of interactive design and game development and allows advanced students to pursue individual or collaborative projects related to the topic of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
Graduate Courses
ITGM 705 Interactive Design and Media Application
Through the integration of historical studies, theory and practice, students address issues central to interactivity in art making and design. Theoretical methods and models are utilized to inform and develop student practice. The class discusses on-screen projects as well as physical computing and immersive environments within the context of business, design, the gallery environment and the public forum of the World Wide Web.
ITGM 706 Game Design Documentation
In this course, students gain a solid understanding of game design documentation processes that are crucial for writers and designers of interactive works. Issues involving the game design sequence, fundamental game design techniques, taxonomy of documentation terms and communication through documentation to other departments are investigated, analyzed and critiqued. Students also explore a wide variety of game industry documentation types and needs.
ITGM 709 Visual Interface and Information Design
This course focuses on the issues of information structure, the interactive design process, delivery, designing visual interfaces, the cognitive process, prototyping and testing. Students develop a conceptual framework for real-world applications, exploring issues from industry, art and society.
ITGM 710 Character Development
This course examines how to develop characters by working in stages from 2-D character model sheets to the 3-D finished project. Subjects covered include plot and character development, information research and originality, the history of character development and developmental drawings of characters, settings and other materials. Other relevant issues such as artistic license and responsibility are covered in class discussions.
ITGM 715 Interactive Web Design
This course focuses on the design and development of Web sites through a series of technical and design workshops. Students explore technical and conceptual aspects of Web design, are introduced to key elements of industry standard Web design tools, and learn how to apply their knowledge to the software to create dynamic and exciting designs.
ITGM 716 Non-digital Game Design
This course provides students with an in-depth and hands-on examination and critique of the art of non-digital game design. Students explore contemporary games and game designers to learn design patterns evident in these games as well as the means of exploring a variety of topics through the non-digital medium. Working through a range of design styles from non-digital strategy games to Eurogames games to art games, students become adept artists in the medium culminating in a non-digital prototype at the course’s conclusion. Prerequisite: ITGM 705 or SDES 704.
ITGM 719 Scripting for Interactivity
This course explores programming skills through the use of scripting languages found in industry-standard Web development tools. They create highly interactive Web applications with sophisticated and exciting interfaces. Prerequisite: ITGM 715.
ITGM 720 Interactive Art and Culture
In this course, students examine theoretical design concepts and principles applicable to the interactive design and game development industries while tracing the history and evolution of past productions. Students can develop a sense of aesthetics through examining social and artistic influences in computer mediated communications and critiquing on essential compositional components of immersive design. Prerequisite: ARTH 701.
ITGM 721 Environments for Games
This course centers on the physical building of virtual worlds and the aesthetic/game play needs associated with these worlds. Students create a variety of level types, including indoor and outdoor world levels, and then optimize those worlds for export to industry-standard game engines. The course also covers the rebuilding and repositioning of game geometry for game play and specific techniques for exporting geometry from various 3-D game applications. Prerequisite: ITGM 710.
ITGM 723 Human-centered Interactive Design
The aim of human-centered interaction studies is to humanize technology and to design interfaces from a human-centered, activity-based approach rather than from a technological or design perspective. This course provides students with knowledge that enables them to design Web and interactive applications that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also highly usable by their intended audiences. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 727 Databases and Dynamic Web Site Programming
Databases form an integral part of the World Wide Web today. The majority of serious corporate Web sites utilize complex database functions to track customer information, manage the site and provide specialized data to specific users. This course explores methods for creating, maintaining and manipulating a database that drives a graphic Web site examines how the database affects Web site design, architecture and functionality. Prerequisite: ITGM 715.
ITGM 730 Internet Products for Marketing
This course explores the expanding area of Web marketing and addresses the impact of Web traffic and metrics on the design. Students gain a solid understanding of the techniques for improving user loyalty through the use of online tools for measuring the success, “rentability” and viability of their Web productions. Prerequisite: ITGM 715.
ITGM 733 Digital Sculpting for Video Games
This course explores the creation of complex models and textures for use in video game development. Students are introduced to current theory, functional aesthetics, and advanced techniques relevant to digital sculpture. Prerequisite: ANIM 709 or ITGM 710.
ITGM 736 Physical Interactive Media
This course enables students to analyze and develop interactive projects with physical input devices. Students develop simple interactive prototypes using switches, sensors and computer vision interfaces. Alongside the practical coursework, students read, analyze and discuss the origins and evolution of interactive art, interaction design and alternative gaming through relevant texts and projects. In the second part of the class, they research appropriate hardware and software solutions and develop independently a personal project. Students also produce short video documentation of each one of their projects. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.
ITGM 737 Game Balance
Through in-class exercises and demonstrative lectures, students learn, model and ultimately apply time-tested tools and techniques that are used to design, evaluate and balance games. Topics include cost curves, game-play metrics, randomness, pacing and player progression, and transitive and intransitive relationships in games. Prerequisite: ITGM 706 or ITGM 716.
ITGM 740 Machinima: The Art of Real-time Cinematics
Machinima is the art of making cinematics using real-time graphics engine technology. This is rapidly growing area in the art of storytelling. Machinima artists use game content and technology to express their ideas and tell stories. This course culminates in the production of a short machinima film. Prerequisite: ITGM 721.
ITGM 748 Interactive Design and Game Development M.A. Final Project
Students have the option of choosing to develop a final project or a final portfolio. This course allows returning professionals who have already constructed professional portfolios to work on a full-term project while giving those who are in need of a portfolio the chance to create one with the professionalism and presentation quality industry demands. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.
ITGM 749 Interactive Design and Game Development Portfolio
Students focus on the integration of imagery, Web sites, video and various other elements into an interactive portfolio. Concepts, cross-platform developments and issues concerning aesthetics, interface design and use of media are addressed. Students collect relevant material and produce a CD/DVD/Web-based portfolio, packaging for portfolio, r??sum??, cover letter, business cards, flat book portfolio and optional VHS-based material. M.A. students enroll in this course during their final quarter of studies in the interactive design and game development program. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.
ITGM 755 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I
In this required seminar/studio course, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed, with a strong emphasis on critique. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 758 Programming for Game Development
In this course, students are introduced to the appropriate skills for working with an advanced game 3-D engine. Concepts covered include basic artificial intelligence, path planning, decision-making systems and game logic. Additional focus is on applied linear algebra, basic Newtonian physics, graphics protocols and related differential equations. Problem-solving skills and a broad overview of essential materials and techniques are the desired outcome of this class. Prerequisite: ITGM 721.
ITGM 760 Game Design Analysis and Criticism
Through an in-depth focus on the masters of game design and their methodologies, techniques and process, students begin to formulate a vocabulary and a dialog to critique existing game designs. Students learn to explain and demonstrate how these designers and their games have influenced their own work. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 762 Digital Painting for Video Games
This course covers digital painting methods and techniques for character concept art and environment art in the video games industry. Topics covered include 3-D texturing, compositing, lighting and image effects; and projects include illustrations for video game packaging, and artwork for video game promotional materials with a strong emphasis on critique and professional practices. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 765 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio II
In this required seminar/studio, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed with a strong emphasis on critique. This class primarily addresses the development of pre-production work for the thesis. Prerequisite: ITGM 755.
ITGM 767 The Name on the Game: Game Design from Intellectual Property
In today’s video game industry a large percentage of games are designed around existing intellectual properties (IP). Students learn how and why IPs have been used in games in the past and how they are being used almost exclusively today. They’ll become versatile, learning how audience, genre and constraints upon the IP change the games they create. Through in-class exercises and projects, students learn to create game ideas, concepts and full product proposals from existing IPs demonstrating the techniques and principles learned in class. This class teaches students the rising importance of IPs in games through readings, research, in class exercises, projects and group discussions. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 780 Special Topics in Interactive Design and Game Development
This graduate elective course provides an opportunity for students to focus on particular issues in the field or to study advanced techniques and processes. Faculty, course content and prerequisites vary each time the course is offered. The course may include lectures, discussions, individual projects and critiques, depending on the nature of the topic.
ITGM 790 Interactive Design and Game Development M.F.A. Thesis
M.F.A students in interactive design and game development develop an innovative and theoretically informed body of work that is exhibited in a manner and context that supports its creative content. Students also produce a written component that addresses the theoretical premise of the work.
Through the integration of historical studies, theory and practice, students address issues central to interactivity in art making and design. Theoretical methods and models are utilized to inform and develop student practice. The class discusses on-screen projects as well as physical computing and immersive environments within the context of business, design, the gallery environment and the public forum of the World Wide Web.
ITGM 706 Game Design Documentation
In this course, students gain a solid understanding of game design documentation processes that are crucial for writers and designers of interactive works. Issues involving the game design sequence, fundamental game design techniques, taxonomy of documentation terms and communication through documentation to other departments are investigated, analyzed and critiqued. Students also explore a wide variety of game industry documentation types and needs.
ITGM 709 Visual Interface and Information Design
This course focuses on the issues of information structure, the interactive design process, delivery, designing visual interfaces, the cognitive process, prototyping and testing. Students develop a conceptual framework for real-world applications, exploring issues from industry, art and society.
ITGM 710 Character Development
This course examines how to develop characters by working in stages from 2-D character model sheets to the 3-D finished project. Subjects covered include plot and character development, information research and originality, the history of character development and developmental drawings of characters, settings and other materials. Other relevant issues such as artistic license and responsibility are covered in class discussions.
ITGM 715 Interactive Web Design
This course focuses on the design and development of Web sites through a series of technical and design workshops. Students explore technical and conceptual aspects of Web design, are introduced to key elements of industry standard Web design tools, and learn how to apply their knowledge to the software to create dynamic and exciting designs.
ITGM 716 Non-digital Game Design
This course provides students with an in-depth and hands-on examination and critique of the art of non-digital game design. Students explore contemporary games and game designers to learn design patterns evident in these games as well as the means of exploring a variety of topics through the non-digital medium. Working through a range of design styles from non-digital strategy games to Eurogames games to art games, students become adept artists in the medium culminating in a non-digital prototype at the course’s conclusion. Prerequisite: ITGM 705 or SDES 704.
ITGM 719 Scripting for Interactivity
This course explores programming skills through the use of scripting languages found in industry-standard Web development tools. They create highly interactive Web applications with sophisticated and exciting interfaces. Prerequisite: ITGM 715.
ITGM 720 Interactive Art and Culture
In this course, students examine theoretical design concepts and principles applicable to the interactive design and game development industries while tracing the history and evolution of past productions. Students can develop a sense of aesthetics through examining social and artistic influences in computer mediated communications and critiquing on essential compositional components of immersive design. Prerequisite: ARTH 701.
ITGM 721 Environments for Games
This course centers on the physical building of virtual worlds and the aesthetic/game play needs associated with these worlds. Students create a variety of level types, including indoor and outdoor world levels, and then optimize those worlds for export to industry-standard game engines. The course also covers the rebuilding and repositioning of game geometry for game play and specific techniques for exporting geometry from various 3-D game applications. Prerequisite: ITGM 710.
ITGM 723 Human-centered Interactive Design
The aim of human-centered interaction studies is to humanize technology and to design interfaces from a human-centered, activity-based approach rather than from a technological or design perspective. This course provides students with knowledge that enables them to design Web and interactive applications that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also highly usable by their intended audiences. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 727 Databases and Dynamic Web Site Programming
Databases form an integral part of the World Wide Web today. The majority of serious corporate Web sites utilize complex database functions to track customer information, manage the site and provide specialized data to specific users. This course explores methods for creating, maintaining and manipulating a database that drives a graphic Web site examines how the database affects Web site design, architecture and functionality. Prerequisite: ITGM 715.
ITGM 730 Internet Products for Marketing
This course explores the expanding area of Web marketing and addresses the impact of Web traffic and metrics on the design. Students gain a solid understanding of the techniques for improving user loyalty through the use of online tools for measuring the success, “rentability” and viability of their Web productions. Prerequisite: ITGM 715.
ITGM 733 Digital Sculpting for Video Games
This course explores the creation of complex models and textures for use in video game development. Students are introduced to current theory, functional aesthetics, and advanced techniques relevant to digital sculpture. Prerequisite: ANIM 709 or ITGM 710.
ITGM 736 Physical Interactive Media
This course enables students to analyze and develop interactive projects with physical input devices. Students develop simple interactive prototypes using switches, sensors and computer vision interfaces. Alongside the practical coursework, students read, analyze and discuss the origins and evolution of interactive art, interaction design and alternative gaming through relevant texts and projects. In the second part of the class, they research appropriate hardware and software solutions and develop independently a personal project. Students also produce short video documentation of each one of their projects. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.
ITGM 737 Game Balance
Through in-class exercises and demonstrative lectures, students learn, model and ultimately apply time-tested tools and techniques that are used to design, evaluate and balance games. Topics include cost curves, game-play metrics, randomness, pacing and player progression, and transitive and intransitive relationships in games. Prerequisite: ITGM 706 or ITGM 716.
ITGM 740 Machinima: The Art of Real-time Cinematics
Machinima is the art of making cinematics using real-time graphics engine technology. This is rapidly growing area in the art of storytelling. Machinima artists use game content and technology to express their ideas and tell stories. This course culminates in the production of a short machinima film. Prerequisite: ITGM 721.
ITGM 748 Interactive Design and Game Development M.A. Final Project
Students have the option of choosing to develop a final project or a final portfolio. This course allows returning professionals who have already constructed professional portfolios to work on a full-term project while giving those who are in need of a portfolio the chance to create one with the professionalism and presentation quality industry demands. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.
ITGM 749 Interactive Design and Game Development Portfolio
Students focus on the integration of imagery, Web sites, video and various other elements into an interactive portfolio. Concepts, cross-platform developments and issues concerning aesthetics, interface design and use of media are addressed. Students collect relevant material and produce a CD/DVD/Web-based portfolio, packaging for portfolio, r??sum??, cover letter, business cards, flat book portfolio and optional VHS-based material. M.A. students enroll in this course during their final quarter of studies in the interactive design and game development program. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.
ITGM 755 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I
In this required seminar/studio course, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed, with a strong emphasis on critique. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 758 Programming for Game Development
In this course, students are introduced to the appropriate skills for working with an advanced game 3-D engine. Concepts covered include basic artificial intelligence, path planning, decision-making systems and game logic. Additional focus is on applied linear algebra, basic Newtonian physics, graphics protocols and related differential equations. Problem-solving skills and a broad overview of essential materials and techniques are the desired outcome of this class. Prerequisite: ITGM 721.
ITGM 760 Game Design Analysis and Criticism
Through an in-depth focus on the masters of game design and their methodologies, techniques and process, students begin to formulate a vocabulary and a dialog to critique existing game designs. Students learn to explain and demonstrate how these designers and their games have influenced their own work. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 762 Digital Painting for Video Games
This course covers digital painting methods and techniques for character concept art and environment art in the video games industry. Topics covered include 3-D texturing, compositing, lighting and image effects; and projects include illustrations for video game packaging, and artwork for video game promotional materials with a strong emphasis on critique and professional practices. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 765 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio II
In this required seminar/studio, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed with a strong emphasis on critique. This class primarily addresses the development of pre-production work for the thesis. Prerequisite: ITGM 755.
ITGM 767 The Name on the Game: Game Design from Intellectual Property
In today’s video game industry a large percentage of games are designed around existing intellectual properties (IP). Students learn how and why IPs have been used in games in the past and how they are being used almost exclusively today. They’ll become versatile, learning how audience, genre and constraints upon the IP change the games they create. Through in-class exercises and projects, students learn to create game ideas, concepts and full product proposals from existing IPs demonstrating the techniques and principles learned in class. This class teaches students the rising importance of IPs in games through readings, research, in class exercises, projects and group discussions. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.
ITGM 780 Special Topics in Interactive Design and Game Development
This graduate elective course provides an opportunity for students to focus on particular issues in the field or to study advanced techniques and processes. Faculty, course content and prerequisites vary each time the course is offered. The course may include lectures, discussions, individual projects and critiques, depending on the nature of the topic.
ITGM 790 Interactive Design and Game Development M.F.A. Thesis
M.F.A students in interactive design and game development develop an innovative and theoretically informed body of work that is exhibited in a manner and context that supports its creative content. Students also produce a written component that addresses the theoretical premise of the work.
Contact Interactive Design and Game Development
- itgm@scad.edu
- admission@scad.edu
- Hong Kong/Savannah/eLearning: 800.869.7223 or 912.525.5100
- Atlanta: 877.722.3285 or 404.253.2700
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Ask Virtual Adviser
Events
SCAD eLearning Chat (Noon-3 p.m. EST)
Dec. 11, 2009- Winter Quarter Begins
Jan. 04, 2010
News
- Aug. 06, 2009
Alumni Forby and Clagett create iPhone app - Mar. 30, 2009
SCAD makes a splash at South by Southwest - Feb. 26, 2009
Game industry's stars converge at SCAD
Recognition
- Professor Brenda Brathwaite honored for game
- SCAD receives iDMAa Innovative Program Award
- Tseng wins second at SIGGRAPH
- The Art History of Games is Gamasutra feature
Related Links
- Art History of Games
- Blog: Professor Brenda Brathwaite
- Blog: Professor Gustavo Delao
- Game Developers eXchange
