GAME - Games and Game Design
GAME - Games and Game Design
GAME 2000 Introduction to Video Game Theory and
Design (3)
This course is designed to give students an overview of gaming
and game development, Students wil learn about gaming history,
game design, psychological, sociological, physiological, and
economic aspects of games and gaming. A strong emphasis
of this class will be on deconstruction and critique of popular
computer and console games and genres. Students will also
examine gaming trends to answer the question, “What’s next?”
Prior video game experience is recommended but not required.
GAME 2500 Traditional Game Design (3)
In this course, students will learn traditional game design theory,
analyze a variety of board, card and dice games, and then create
their own prototype for the entire class to play/test.
introduced in Video Game Design I and Video Game Level
Design. This course will also introduce more advanced
concepts such as Artificial Intelligence, Interface, and Scripting.
Prerequisites: GAME 2500, GAME 3000, GAME 3500, GAME
4000.
GAME 4600 Video Game Production (3)
Video Game Production focuses on the entire production process
of games. Students will tie together their understanding from
previous courses in the curriculum regarding design of games
with understanding of the production process. This course will
require students to work together in teams to release a game
online (via digital means such as iTunes or Google Play) within
the 16-week course timeframe. Within that time, each student-led
team will develop and pitch their game concept, design and stick
to a schedule, develop, market, and ultimately release their game.
Prerequisite: GAME 4500 or permission of instructor.
GAME 3000 Video Game Design I (3)
GAME 4620 Senior Overview (3-6)
Students will tie together their understanding from previous
courses in the curriculum regarding design of games with
understanding of the production process and create a game of
their own. The student will then develop and pitch his or her game
concept, design and stick to a schedule, develop, market, and
ultimately release his or her game. Prerequisite: The student
must be a Senior and in the Games and Game Design Program.
GAME 3150 Special Topics in Game Design (1-3)
This course is designed to periodically feature topics in games
and game design not covered by regularly offered courses.
Topics will be dedicated to narrow aspects of the discipline, time
dependent materials, or guest lectures. May be repeated for credit
if content differs. Prerequisites may vary with topic.
GAME 3500 History of Video Games (3)
This course introduces students to the history of modern video
games. Students will be taken through a video game timeline,
highlighting the important events that lead to video games as
they are today. The course will address key innovators and major
turning points. Students will also be exposed to staple classics in
each genre to build an appreciation for current genre games. As
a supplement to lectures, discussions and the text, students will
experience classic games in a hands-on environment.
GAME 3650 World Design (3)
This course is designed to allow students to explore the principles
involved in the development of an expansive game world for
use within an interactive video game. This will involve the study
of the different world development techniques employed by
writers and designers in the development of unique and exciting
fictional worlds. Emphasis will be placed upon the conveyance of
sociological and historical significance in fictional world design.
GAME 4000 Video Game Level Design (3)
This course focuses on video game level design using a
professional game development framework. Students will learn
what it takes to build a successful interactive environment.
Course work will focus on level theme, mood, texturing, modeling,
lighting, terrain, optimization, streaming, playability, and testing.
Prerequisites: GAME 2500, GAME 3000, GAME 3500.
GAME 4500 Video Game Design II (3)
In this course, students will continue to work with a professional
game development framework that provides tools to create
games, visualizations and 3D simulations with the focus of
“bringing everything together.” We will build on concepts
Webster University 2016-2017 Undergraduate Studies Catalog DRAFT
1
Course Descriptions
This course is designed to provide a foundation for students to
enter the video game development market. Students will take
their first steps towards learning concepts of game design. They
will build their own game using game development software (that
has a built-in scripting language so that they will not have to write
any code). Through this process they will be introduced to more
advanced design technologies that will be used in subsequent
video game design courses. Prerequisite: GAME 2000.