Video Game Design and Development - Continuing Education


Person sitting at a desk with a computer wearing headphones

Overview

500 contact hours – 12 months – $2100

Video game design and development are challenging, but the rewards are worth it. With this unparalleled comprehensive training course, you'll master skills that open doors to the growing video game industry. By the end of the course, you will have designed and created your own video game for the PC and will stand ready to join a team working on projects with larger scope or pursue independent development.

Using a comprehensive and analytical approach to game development, this course offers you the opportunity to learn how to effectively implement technical game ideas, assuming no prior training or experience. The curriculum is divided into four major areas of study: programming languages, mathematics skills, game asset creation, and modern real-time game engines. It will conclude with an independent study phase where you will design, document, and create your own game using all of the programming and game art skills you learned in the core classes.

What you will learn

  • Learn how to design and create video games for PC
  • Understand the technical and aesthetic fundamentals for creating a successful game
  • Master math, programming language, and game engine knowledge needed to design video games
  • Embark on an independent study module during which you'll create your own game

How you will benefit

  • Create your own video game that can be used as a portfolio piece or shown to prospective employers
  • Jump-start your career as a video game designer, whether you want to work at an organization or pursue independent projects
  • Gain confidence in your design skills

 

Course Outline

  1. C++ Programming for Game Developers I
    1. How to Create a C++ Program, Console Input and Output, Variable, and Arithmetic Operators
    2. Logical Operators, Controlling Program Flow, Repetition, and Arrays
    3. Functions
    4. References and Pointers
    5. Classes and Object-oriented Programming Design
    6. Strings
    7. Operator Overloading
    8. File Input and Output
    9. Inheritance and Polymorphism
  2. C++ Programming for Game Developers II
    1. Template Classes and Template Functions
    2. Error Handling
    3. Number Systems, Data Representations, and Bit Operations
    4. The Standard Template Library
    5. Introduction to Windows Programming
    6. Menus and Drawing with GDI
    7. Dialog Boxes
    8. Timing, Animation, and Sprites
    9. Designing and Implementing a 2D Game
  3. Game Mathematics
    1. Real Numbers
    2. Algebra
    3. Set Theory and Functions
    4. Polynomials
    5. Trigonometry
    6. Vector Mathematics
    7. Matrix Mathematics
    8. Quaternion Algebra
    9. Linear Transformations
    10. Analytic Geometry
  4. General Game Modeling and Texturing
    1. Interface and Rendering Modes
    2. Primitives, Meshes, and Mesh Editing
    3. Pivots and Manipulators
    4. The 3D Cursor
    5. Object Join, Separate, Duplication
    6. Polygon Structure and Count
    7. Modeling with Bevel, Extrude, and Multiresolution Modifiers
    8. Spin Tool and Splines
    9. Image Planes
    10. Texture Maps and UV Unwrapping
    11. Creating and Saving Scenes
  5. Unreal Engine Foundation
    1. Creating Projects and Understanding the User Interface
    2. Viewport Navigation
    3. View Modes and Show Flags
    4. Placing Objects in a Level
    5. The Content Browser
    6. Material Creation
    7. Basic Scene Lighting
    8. Introduction to Blueprints

 

Requirements

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later (10 recommended)
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome (recommended), Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 or higher (Visual Studio Community 2019 Edition recommended)
  • Blender 3D (Latest version)
  • Unreal Engine 4 (Latest version)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online. Manuals are included as downloadable PDFs throughout the course.

Prerequisites:

To enroll in this course, you need to have a reasonable familiarity with computers, and a background in high school-level mathematics is strongly recommended. No prior game or graphics programming experience is necessary. The Video Game Design and Development course is for you if you seek a professional career as a game developer. It's also well-suited for enthusiastic amateurs and gamers looking to explore this exciting field as a recreational endeavor.

 

For More Information & How To Enroll

Contact: OnlineCE@abtech.edu.