Bachelor of Game Design

Program Overview

Sheridan College's Honours Baccalaureate Degree in Game Design is a four-year program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of game design principles and practices. The program emphasizes applied learning through assignments, class work, and projects that simulate the professional game design environment. Graduates will be equipped with a comprehensive skill set and a portfolio that showcases their abilities in the field, preparing them for diverse job opportunities in the gaming industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Sheridan College offers an Honours Baccalaureate Degree in Game Design that runs for a duration of four years (eight semesters) at its Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville. This program amalgamates material from multiple disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of game design. The curriculum includes core game design courses, as well as modules on game design and mechanics, level design, programming and technology, game narrative and audio, 2D and 3D art and animation, professional development, and project management. The program is taught by professors with industry experience, providing students with an unmatched foundation for careers in the game design industry. The curriculum emphasizes applied, real-world skill development through assignments, class work, case studies, simulations, lab projects, and a mandatory Co-op Work Term within the industry. The final semesters in the program are project-based, where students collaborate in teams to develop a game.

Outline:

| Semester | Code | Title | Credits | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | GAME13796 | Game Design 1: Foundations of Game Design | 3 | This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of game design, including gameplay mechanics, level design, and narrative storytelling. | | 1 | GAME14777 | Introduction to Design Thinking | 2 | This course teaches students the principles and practices of design thinking, a human-centered approach to solving problems and creating innovative solutions. | | 1 | GAME18263 | Narrative Skills for Game Designers | 3 | This course focuses on developing students' storytelling and writing skills for creating compelling game narratives. | | 1 | GAME14645 | Introduction to Game Studies | 3 | This course explores the history, culture, and social impact of video games, providing students with a critical understanding of the medium. | | 1 | GAME12805 | Programming for Game Designers 1: Fundamentals | 3 | This course introduces students to the basics of programming for game development, covering topics such as variables, data types, and control structures. | | 1 | ENGL17889GD | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 | This course focuses on developing students' written communication skills, with an emphasis on academic and professional writing. | | 2 | GAME17083 | Game Design 2: Play Design | 3 | This course delves into the principles and techniques of play design, including player psychology, motivation, and engagement. | | 2 | GAME11738 | Team Project: Design and Development Cycle | 2 | This course provides students with hands-on experience in the game development process, working in teams to design, develop, and iterate on a game prototype. | | 2 | GAME19207 | Non-Linear Storytelling for Game Designers | 3 | This course explores the techniques and challenges of creating non-linear narratives for video games, including branching storylines, player choice, and emergent gameplay. | | 2 | GAME10561 | Game Asset Creation 1: Art, Animation and Integration | 3 | This course introduces students to the principles and techniques of creating 2D and 3D art assets for video games, including character modeling, texture creation, and animation. | | 2 | GAME15738 | Programming for Game Designers 2: Systems and Game Engine Scripting | 3 | This course builds on the concepts of Programming for Game Designers 1, focusing on programming systems and scripting for game engines. | | 3 | GAME21723 | Game Design 3: Systems | 3 | This course covers the design and implementation of game systems, such as physics engines, AI, and inventory systems. | | 3 | GAME21662 | Design Practice 1: Game Project – Planning and Documentation | 2 | This course provides students with practical experience in planning and documenting a game project, including creating design documents and wireframes. | | 3 | GAME27900 | Level Design 1: Foundations of Level Design | 3 | This course introduces students to the principles and practices of level design, including level layout, pacing, and player guidance. | | 3 | GAME25490 | Game Asset Creation 2: Modelling, Texturing and Animation | 3 | This course builds on the concepts of Game Asset Creation 1, providing advanced training in modeling, texturing, and animation for game assets. | | 3 | GAME28567 | Programming for Game Designers 3: Motion | 3 | This course focuses on programming for character movement and physics in video games, covering topics such as kinematics, animation, and collision detection. | | 4 | GAME28567 | Programming for Game Designers 3: Motion | 3 | This course focuses on programming for character movement and physics in video games, covering topics such as kinematics, animation, and collision detection. | | 4 | GAME27748 | Game Design 4: Data and Design | 3 | This course explores the role of data in game design, covering topics such as player analytics, A/B testing, and data-driven decision making. | | 4 | GAME21468 | Design Practice 2: Game Project: Production and Testing | 2 | This course provides students with hands-on experience in producing and testing a game project, including managing schedules, budgets, and user feedback. | | 4 | GAME29207 | Level Design 2: Principles of Level Design | 3 | This course delves into the advanced principles of level design, covering topics such as environmental storytelling, player psychology, and level balancing. | | 4 | GAME22243 | Game Asset Creation 3: Game Feel and Aesthetics | 3 | This course focuses on the design and implementation of game feel and aesthetics, covering topics such as haptics, sound effects, and visual effects. | | 4 | GAME23550 | Programming for Game Designers 4: Artificial Intelligence | 3 | This course covers the principles and techniques of artificial intelligence for game development, including pathfinding, decision making, and behavior trees. | | 5 | GAME37183 | Game Design 5: Game Economies | 3 | This course explores the design and implementation of game economies, covering topics such as currency, rewards, and player spending. | | 5 | GAME31208 | Design Practice 3: Gamification Project – Design Research | 2 | This course provides students with practical experience in designing and implementing gamification elements in non-game contexts. | | 5 | GAME30835 | Level Design 3: Applications of Level Design | 3 | This course applies the principles of level design to different game genres and platforms, including first-person shooters, role-playing games, and mobile games. | | 6 | GAME31469 | Game Design 6: Game Design Patterns | 3 | This course explores common design patterns used in video games, covering topics such as singleton, observer, and state machine. | | 6 | GAME31816 | Design Practice 4: Gamification Product – Production, Data, Analytics | 2 | This course provides students with hands-on experience in producing, analyzing, and iterating on a gamification product. | | 6 | GAME39275 | Player Engagement: UX and Social Network Design | 3 | This course covers the principles and techniques of player engagement, including user experience design, social network integration, and community management. | | 7 | GAME49333 | Capstone Design Seminar: Studio Practice 1 | 9 | This course provides students with an immersive studio environment to work on a major game project, applying the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the program. | | 7 | GAME43557 | Professional Profile Development 1: Design Research | 3 | This course focuses on developing students' professional profiles, including portfolio creation, resume writing, and networking. | | 8 | GAME49333 | Capstone Design Seminar: Studio Practice 2 | 9 | This course provides students with an immersive studio environment to complete their major game project, showcasing their design, development, and presentation skills. | | 8 | GAME43557 | Professional Profile Development 1: Design Research | 3 | This course focuses on developing students' professional profiles, including portfolio creation, resume writing, and networking.

Teaching:

Sheridan College's Honours Baccalaureate Degree in Game Design is taught by professors with industry experience, ensuring that students receive a curriculum grounded in real-world practices and trends in the game development field. The program emphasizes applied learning through assignments, class work, and projects that simulate the professional game design environment. Students have the opportunity to work on team-based projects, participate in industry-led workshops and guest lectures, and gain valuable experience through the mandatory Co-op Work Term. The program also incorporates cutting-edge technologies and industry-standard software to provide students with the technical skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in game design.

Careers:

Graduates of the Honours Baccalaureate Degree in Game Design from Sheridan College will be equipped with a comprehensive skill set and a portfolio that showcases their abilities in the field. They will have a solid understanding of game design principles and practices, as well as proficiency in game art and animation, programming and technology, and game narrative and audio. Graduates will be prepared to pursue diverse job opportunities in the gaming industry, including roles such as:

• Game Designer
• Level Designer
• Systems Designer
• Artist and Designer
• Mobile or App Developer
• User Experience Designer for Games
• Interface Designer
• Quality Assurance Playtester