Advanced Diploma in Game - Development (Online)

Program Details

• Program Code: 6032
• School: School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design
• Credential: Ontario College Advanced Diploma
• Program Type: Post-secondary program
• Program Length: 3 years/ 6 semesters
• Location: Online

Game – Development is a three-year advanced diploma program that aims to develop expert game designers who can create and develop their own titles. The program will prepare you to become technically literate with the ability to advance the conceptual and cultural potential of games.

By concentrating on the practical applications of the game production process from the artistic, managerial, and technical sides, the program will introduce you to 2D and 3D design processes and foundations of computer programming. You'll also learn to communicate with teams of artists and programmers to design effectively, prototype and iterate their own fully playable 2D and 3D games, and gain other professional and personal skills for success in the industry.

Program Highlights

• A unique focus on mobile game development will help you excel in a rapidly growing market
• You'll learn the skills to make games, from art and creative design to the fundamentals of software coding
• Individually or as a part of a team, you'll develop, prototype, and iterate fully playable games
• Intensive professional development will help you find your niche in this thriving industry

Semester 1

• COMM-160/161 College Communication 1
• GDDV-100 Game Theory and Culture 1
• GDDV-102 Audio Foundations
• GDDV-103 2D Design Principles
• GDDV-105 Digital Graphics Production
• GDDV-107 Game Development 1
• GDDV-108 Game Design Process

Semester 2

• COMM-170/171 College Communication 2
• GDDV-200 Game Theory and Culture 2
• GDDV-201 Project Management for Games
• GDDV-203 2D Animation
• GDDV-204 History of Computer Game Design: Technology & Culture
• GDDV-206 Game Development 2
• GDDV-207 Game Studio Practicum 1

Semester 3

• GDDV-300 Game Theory and Culture 3
• GDDV-302 Game Engines 1
• GDDV-303 3D Modeling
• GDDV-304 Game Logic 1
• GDDV-305 User Experience
• GDDV-401 Game Funding & Marketing
• GNED-500 Global Citizenship: From Social Analysis to Social Action

Semester 4

• GDDV-301 Game Industry
• GDDV-400 Emerging Technologies
• GDDV-402 Game Engines 2
• GDDV-403 Motion Capture and 3D Animation
• GDDV-404 Game Logic 2
• GDDV-405 Game Studio Practicum 2
• GDDV-500 Storyworks
• GNED General Education Elective

Semester 5

• GDDV-501 Cinematography for Games
• GDDV-502 Game Engines 3
• GDDV-503 Game Studio Practicum 3
• GDDV-504 Game Logic 3
• GDDV-505 Professional Practice
• GDDV-506 Advanced Game Design
• GNED General Education Elective

Semester 6

• GDDV-600 Field Placement
• GDDV-620 Collaborative Studio

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.

1. Analyze the differences in game genres in order to develop games that meet the needs of specific markets
2. Analyze the history of video games to compare various approaches to game development
3. Support the development of games by identifying and relating concepts from a range of industry roles programming, design, and art
4. Contribute as an individual and a member of a game development team to the effective completion of a game development project
5. Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the games industry
6. Perform all work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, legislation, industry standards, and codes of ethics
7. Apply conceptual game design elements to support the ongoing iteration, creation, programming, design, and development of games
8. Apply practical game design elements to support the ongoing iteration, creation, programming, design, and development of unique gaming environments, levels, characters, assets, and props
9. Apply programming principles and techniques to create operational games or game components
10. Apply artificial intelligence and/or network implementation strategies to support real-time game environments and simulations
11. Utilize game engine functionality at an advanced level to support real-time games and simulations
12. Create original game props, characters, and assets based on the concepts and requirements outlined in game design documents
13. Contribute to world-building and level design, including using a game engine
14. Conceive, prototype, develop, test, and evaluate procedures for the creation, design, programming, production, and testing of games in a group environment
15. Test, debug, and correct game components to ensure efficient and appropriate game functionality

Career Outlook

• Junior Game Designer
• Web Game Developer
• Video Game Developer
• 3D Designer

Education Pathways

Successful graduates of the Game – Development advanced diploma program have the opportunity to apply their learning for credits toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are the degrees from partnering institutions that are available for this program.

Please note that each partner pathway has specific requirements in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving partner institution.

Areas of Employment

Graduates would be well placed to find employment in vibrant “ Indie” game studios, Triple-A game studios, animation studios, digital media companies, and serious/educational game companies. Graduates would also be well-equipped to pursue entrepreneurial game start-ups.