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
• 在整个设计过程中使用适当的媒体来传达想法

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

• 制作具有凝聚力的作品集或演示视频，以反映职业目标

Specialty Skills: Game & Level Design

• 使用游戏设计文档和二维地图传达抽象的游戏理论思想
• 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
• 运用视觉研究和参考资料来创建 3D 角色

Specialty Skills: Environment Modeling

• 三维雕塑、造型、纹理和灯光形式，展现对有机、建筑和工业形式的透彻理解
• 转化视觉研究和参考来创建 3D 环境

Specialty Skills: Concept

• Follow an industry-standard process, from thumbnails through final render to generate concept designs
• 将视觉研究应用于概念艺术
• 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
• 最低累积 GPA 2.0 及以下学术学习要求：
  • 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic Sensitivity course

Curriculum

Semester 1

• GAM 601：电子游戏元素（主修）
• GAM 602：游戏设计原理（主修）
• GAM 605：视频游戏脚本 1（主修）

Semester 2

• GAM 606：快速游戏开发（主要）
• GAM 608：游戏绘画训练营：人体造型（专业）
• GAM 655：游戏脚本 2（主要）

Semester 3

• ANM 623: 3D Modeling & Animation 1 (Maya) (Major)
• GAM 607：动作冒险与角色扮演关卡设计（主修）
• GLA 623：游戏的历史和技术（研究生文科）

Semester 4

• GAM 651：原型游戏开发（专业）
• GAM 778：游戏开发者的专业实践与作品集（主修）
• IXD 606: User Experience Design (Major)