Advanced Game Development

Program Overview

Advanced Game Development

Program Overview

The Diploma in Advanced Game Development is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students to enter the gaming industry confident and job-ready. Leveraging KPU's hands-on approach to learning, this two-year, full-time program delivers the core practical and creative skills employers look for, including art, design, programming, and production.

Art Courses

Art courses give students the skills to produce their own art assets for their games. Students will learn environment and character modeling, texturing, animation, technical art, and procedural art, while also learning foundational artistic theory that can be applied to any creative medium.

Design Courses

Design courses cover in-depth design theory, while giving students hands-on, practical experience with leading-edge industry game engines and design tools, such as Unreal, Unity, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Students will also learn crucial soft skills, such as critical analysis, creative problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.

Programming Courses

Programming courses teach students how to build games from the ground up, turning their creative vision into reality. Students will learn the latest industry techniques in game programming, networking, AI, rendering, and more, while gaining the practical production skills necessary for their career in game development.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the Diploma in Advanced Game Development have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work in the game industry in one of the many game developer roles, such as designer, artist, programmer, and project manager.

Portfolio Requirements

Once students have completed their application, they will receive instructions on how to submit their portfolio. The portfolio is the student's chance to show their creative skills and interests. Please visit the Entertainment Arts Portfolio Requirements for more information, including suggestions on what to put in the portfolio.

Program Details

• Duration: 2 years, full-time
• Credits: 96
• Delivery: 6 consecutive terms
• Curriculum: Comprehensive curriculum designed in partnership with the Centre for Entertainment Arts
• Industry Partnerships: KPU has connections with the game industry to help students find opportunities in studios
• International Students: Eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, allowing them to work in Canada for up to 3 years after graduation

Student Success

Naomi Freire, an Advanced Game Development student from Brazil, shared insights about her final sixth semester at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Entertainment Arts program. She walked us through her video game project, outlining the comprehensive development process, including the use of Blender for 3D modeling and Substance Painter for texturing. Naomi also touched on her experience with Unity and Unreal Engine.

Why Study Game Development @ KPU?

KPU has the talent and know-how to teach students what it takes to be successful in this fast-paced creative arts industry. Through industry-experienced instructors, students will learn the core aspects of game development and get hands-on experience with leading-edge industry software, processes, workflows, and theory. Students will learn in a simulated studio environment, working under time and creative constraints to make their very own games, applying the design, art, and technical knowledge they've learned.

Program Outline

Advanced Game Development Program at KPU: A Detailed Breakdown

Degree Overview:

• Objective: To equip students with the necessary creative and technical skills to enter the demanding games industry as production-ready designers, artists, programmers, or project managers.
• Program: A two-year, full-time diploma program delivered over six consecutive terms.
• Focus: Hands-on experience with industry-leading software, processes, workflows, and theory.
• Learning: Simulated studio environment, working under time and creative constraints to develop games.
• Emphasis: Balance between creative development and technical skills.
• Outcome: Production-ready graduates with a professional portfolio of projects and games.
• Industry connections: Assistance in finding opportunities in studios.

Outline:

• Art Courses:
• 3D modeling and texturing with Blender and Substance Painter.
• Environment and character modeling.
• Animation, technical art, and procedural art.
• Foundational artistic theory applicable to any creative medium.
• Design Courses:
• In-depth design theory.
• Hands-on experience with industry game engines (Unreal, Unity) and design tools (Adobe Creative Suite).
• Development of crucial soft skills (critical analysis, problem-solving, communication, collaboration).
• Programming Courses:
• Building games from the ground up, turning creative vision into reality.
• Latest industry techniques in game programming, networking, AI, rendering.
• Gaining the practical production skills needed for a career in game development.

Assessment:

• Methods: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided context.
• Criteria: Likely based on a combination of assignments, projects, exams, and participation.

Teaching:

• Methods: Hands-on, practical approach with simulated studio environment.
• Faculty: Industry-experienced instructors.
• Unique Approaches: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided context.

Careers:

• Potential Paths: Designer, artist, programmer, project manager in the game industry.
• Opportunities: Working in studios, developing games.
• Outcomes: High employability and potential for pre-graduation job opportunities.

Other:

• International Graduate Opportunities: Eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, allowing up to three years of work in Canada after graduation.
• Student Success Stories: Featured example of Naomi Freire's project and development process.
• Program Focus: Attracts industry professionals and mature students with proven backgrounds in creative or technical fields.

Note:

This response provides a comprehensive overview of the Advanced Game Development program at KPU based on the given context. Some sections like "Assessment" and "Teaching" require further information to be fully detailed.