Digital Media I: Game Design with Unity

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course introduces the principles, practices, and techniques of game design. Students will develop several small games, gaining hands-on experience with the Unity development platform and the C# programming language it uses. The course takes a "ground up" approach: starting with the fundamentals of object- and component-oriented programming, then using those fundamentals to build complex, interactive experiences. While the course focuses on Unity, an introduction to software design patterns and an emphasis on a rapid feedback/iteration cycle will provide tools that translate to other game engines and creative computing projects. Through critique and the close examination of case studies from prior art, students will cultivate their critical eye and articulation, equipping them to discuss, assess, and refine games at various stages of development. Prerequisite: DIGS 20001/30001, "Introduction to Computer Programming Using Python" or an equivalent course in computer programming.