Academy of Art University

Master of Arts (MA) in Game Development

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Visual Communication

• Critically evaluate the aesthetics, meaning, and effect of imagery
• Use appropriate media to communicate ideas throughout the design process

Technology

• Demonstrate mastery of the tools and technology related to the area of specialty

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Research and generate workable solutions under a deadline

Professional Readiness

• Produce a cohesive portfolio or demo reel tailored to reflect career goals

Specialty Skills: Game & Level Design

• Communicate abstract game theory ideas using game design documents and 2D maps
• Create playable games with 3D technology

Specialty Skills: Character Modeling

• Sculpt, model and texture forms in 3-dimensions that demonstrate a thorough understanding of human and zoological anatomy
• Translate visual research and reference to create 3D characters

Specialty Skills: Environment Modeling

• Sculpt, model, texture, and light forms in 3-dimensions that demonstrate a thorough understanding of organic, architectural, and industrial forms
• Translate visual research and reference to create 3D environments

Specialty Skills: Concept

• Follow an industry-standard process, from thumbnails through final render to generate concept designs
• Apply visual research to concept art
• Demonstrate an understanding of movement, proportion, and functionality of designs through effective orthographic or perspective drawings

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

• Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
• Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
• Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
• Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
• Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
• Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
• Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help you excel in your future game development careers. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job designing programs that equip aspiring professionals with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the industry.

Our Game Development course teaches the skills necessary to succeed in exciting careers in game design, concept art, UI/UX design, animation, technical art, and emerging technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality.

3D Character Artist

Bring characters to life as a 3D character modeler. You’ll build complex character models, and organic meshes, and work across teams to rig, light, texture, and animate your creations.

3D Environment Modeler

Bring video game environments to life with your 3D modeling techniques. Add color, texture, shaders, and lighting to give the environment a finished look.

Animation VFX

Animation and Visual Effects give a game its personality. The most well-designed and crafted character doesn’t come to life until someone makes them move and gives them some personality. Visual Effects, such as fire, laser blasts, and warp gates, grab the player and transport them to another world altogether.

Character Concept Artist

Design and create the characters for interactive games. You’ll imagine the visual look of interactive characters with contextual details to bring them to life.

Environment Concept Artist

Combine a playful imagination with a high degree of artistic skill. Concept and flush out all aspects of environmental design, from small props to full culture kits.

Game/Level Designer

Balance gameplay elements to keep games engaging. You will also improve systems, contribute to features, and participate in testing to create immersive worlds and evoke emotions.

Gameplay Programmer

Gameplay programmers are the heart of any game. Your job will be to bring the game to life by implementing the core gameplay mechanics. You'll work very close with designers to build the game itself.

Systems Programmer

Systems programmers build the engine technology that runs the games. As a systems programmer, your code will power the backend of the engine and enable the creativity of the team. Graphics, networking, file systems, physics systems, and other core systems fall under this domain.

Tools Programmer

Tools programmers are the unsung heroes of the games industry. Your job is to enable the other developers to build the gameplay. You will create map editors, write plug-ins, and build custom tools to enable the designer's creativity.

UX/UI Designer

Use your knowledge of game features, design, motion graphics, and user paths to create an immersive experience.

Unit Requirements

Degree Requirements

• Successful completion of Final Portfolio Review
• A minimum grade of C in all required 36 units
• Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirement:
  • 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic Sensitivity course

Curriculum

Semester 1

• GAM 601: Elements of Video Games (Major)
• GAM 602: Game Design Principles (Major)
• GAM 605: Scripting for Video Games 1 (Major)

Semester 2

• GAM 606: Rapid Game Development (Major)
• GAM 608: Drawing Bootcamp for Games: The Human Figure (Major)
• GAM 655: Scripting for Games 2 (Major)

Semester 3

• ANM 623: 3D Modeling & Animation 1 (Maya) (Major)
• GAM 607: Action Adventure & RPG Level Design (Major)
• GLA 623: History and Techniques of Games (Graduate Liberal Arts)

Semester 4

• GAM 651: Prototype Game Development (Major)
• GAM 778: Professional Practices & Portfolio for Game Developers (Major)
• IXD 606: User Experience Design (Major)