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Master of Interactive Technology and Professional Certificate in Digital Game Development

HGAM 6100. Special Topics: Social Sciences (Ethics). This course introduces students to the study of ethics: What is right and wrong behavior? How does a good person act? Does right and wrong behavior change depending on the circumstances? Are there standards of right and wrong that should (or even can) be applied to the video game industry?

HGAM 6104. Game Studies III. This course provides students in all areas of specialization additional depth on the theory and practice of the business of game development, intellectual property in games, developer–publisher–consumer relationships, and negotiation. Students participate in lecture/discussion, role plays, and individual/small-group assignments. Prerequisite: HGAM 6202.

HGAM 6106. Professional Development. Students work under the direction of the faculty to develop an individual area of specialization and produce content for their professional portfolio. Prerequisite: HGAM 6104.

HGAM 6107. Professional Development II. Students in this course continue to develop their career management skills and portfolios under the guidance of faculty. Prerequisite: HGAM 6106.

HGAM 6175. Master’s Thesis I. Students choose their thesis topics and must prepare and submit the thesis review under the oversight of the supervisory committee. Students must receive the grade of B- or better to enroll in HGAM 6176. Prerequisite: Admittance in the Master’s program.

HGAM 6176. Master’s Thesis II. Students must successfully prepare and submit a thesis proposal to the supervisory committee. The grading basis is credit/no credit. This course can be retaken for credit. Prerequisite: B- or better in HGAM 6175.

HGAM 6178. Master’s Thesis I Post Certificate. Students admitted with advanced standing into the Master’s degree program choose their thesis topics and must prepare and submit the thesis review under the oversight of the supervisory committee. The grading basis is credit/no credit. Prerequisite: Admittance with advanced standing into the Master’s degree program.

HGAM 6179. Master’s Thesis II Post Certificate.  Students admitted with advanced standing into the Master’s degree program must successfully prepare and submit a thesis proposal to the supervisory committee. The grading basis is credit/no credit. This course can be retaken for credit. Prerequisite: HGAM 6178.

HGAM 6200. Game Design I. This course explores the fundamentals of video game design and teamwork. It provides a foundational framework and language for game design discussion. The class is heavily participation based, where students explore video game design by analyzing and deconstructing existing games, exploring alternate sources of game design, discussing current trends in video game design, and participating in team-based class workshops. Prerequisite: Admission to The Guildhall.

HGAM 6201. Game Studies I. This course introduces the theory and practice of game development, with an emphasis on digital games. The course includes a historical perspective and evaluative methods.

HGAM 6202. Game Studies II. This course provides students in all areas of specialization additional depth on the theory and practice of game development, with an emphasis on rapid development strategies and life-cycle planning. Additional topics include scheduling and estimation, team organization, and risk management. Students participate in lecture/discussion, case study, and individual/group assignments. Prerequisite: HGAM 6201.

HGAM 6203. Game Design II. This course builds on the fundamentals learned in HGAM 6200. Topics include more in-depth game and systems design, interactivity, and the search for fun. Prerequisite: HGAM 6200.

HGAM 6205. Game Design III. This course explores more advanced game design topics and rapid prototyping, expanding students’ creativity, knowledge, and understanding of gameplay and design while also preparing them for their final Guildhall team game production project. Prerequisite: HGAM 6203.

HGAM 6210. Special Topics in Software Development. This seminar series provides additional depth in the tools, techniques, and production methods for programming in games.

HGAM 6215. Software Development V. This course exposes students in the software development specialization to advanced topics important for their professional development, including technical design documentation, streaming, addressing hardware issues, floating point math, tool chain design, and creating a technical portfolio. Additional topics are defined by experts in game software development based on advances in the field. Prerequisite: HGAM 6314.

HGAM 6216. Software Development VI. This course exposes students in the software development specialization to advanced topics important for their professional development, including writing production-quality code, computational geometry, and tools programming. The theme binding all these topics together is code quality; the overall objective is to improve source code-writing skills.  Students explore various challenges programmers face in their professional life. Prerequisite: HGAM 6215.

HGAM 6221. Mathematical Methods for Game Physics I. This course provides introduction into fundamental concepts of linear algebra and their application to 3-D real-time rendering. In particular, the course covers vectors, vector spaces, matrix math, linear transformation, concept of a basis, and hierarchical scene graph-based rendering. Prerequisite: Admission to The Guildhall.

HGAM 6222. Mathematical Methods for Game Physics II. This course covers topics related to the theory and practice of mathematics and physics for 3-D games. The main emphasis of the course is mathematical methods and programming techniques for real-time 3-D computer graphics, including linear algebra, complex numbers and quaternions, hierarchical data structures, and C++ programming. Prerequisite: HGAM 6221.

HGAM 6223. Mathematical Methods for Game Physics III. This course provides additional depth on the theory and practice of mathematics and physics for 3-D games, including mathematical and physics-based modeling using ordinary differential equations and numerical methods, dynamics, particle systems, collision detection and response in 3-D, and introduction into rigid body dynamics. Prerequisite: HGAM 6222.

HGAM 6224. Advanced Engine Systems. This course exposes students in the software development specialization to advanced topics important for their professional development: writing 3-D content exporter and doing 3-D accelerated character animation. Prerequisite: HGAM 6223.

HGAM 6226, 6246, 6266. Directed Focus Study I. Students work under the direction of the faculty to develop an individual area of specialization and produce content for their professional portfolio. Prerequisite: HGAM 6313, 6333, or 6353.

HGAM 6230. Special Topics in Art Creation. This seminar series provides depth in the tools, techniques, and production methods for creating 3-D game art for next-generation development.

HGAM 6235. Art Creation V. This course exposes students in the art creation specialization to advanced topics important for their professional development, including advanced texturing, modeling and color theory, scripting for artists, and theories of spatiality in art. Additional topics are defined by experts in game art creation based on advances in the field. Prerequisite: HGAM 6334.

HGAM 6236. Art Creation VI. Students work under the direction of the faculty to develop an individual area of specialization and produce content for their professional portfolio. Prerequisite: HGAM 6235.

HGAM 6241. Drawing I. This course focuses on the development of fundamental drawing skills, emphasizing observational skills and conceptual development. The primary goal is to develop technical skills for digital drawing, painting, and image manipulation that encompass composition, perspective, proportions, and 2-D animation.

HGAM 6242. Drawing II. This intermediate-level drawing course is designed to increase students’ command of drawing techniques. Emphasis is placed on analysis of form and critical perspective. Prerequisite: HGAM 6241.

HGAM 6243. Drawing III. This advanced-level course focuses on further development of art skills, primarily through drawing, but also through a range of media. Prerequisite: HGAM 6242.

HGAM 6244. Advanced Digital Art. This seminar advances the digital media as it applies to the game industry and develops the texture skills that encompass digital painting and advanced techniques. Prerequisite: HGAM 6243.

HGAM 6250. Special Topics in Level Design. This seminar series provides additional depth in the tools, techniques, and production methods for creating level designs.

HGAM 6255. Level Design V. This course exposes students in the level design specialization to advanced topics important for their professional development, including aesthetics in level design, dramatic lighting, psychology of level design, gameplay principles, set design, and advanced uses of sound. Additional topics are defined by level design experts based on advances in the field. Prerequisite: HGAM 6354.

HGAM 6256. Level Design VI. This course exposes students in the level design specialization to advanced topics important for their professional development, including advanced architecture, artificial intelligence for memorable moments, scripting for interactivity, texturing, and portfolio development. Additional topics are defined by level design experts based on advances in the field. Prerequisite: HGAM 6255.

HGAM 6261. Art and Scripting I. This course provides a foundation in game programming for level design, with an emphasis on logic, introduction to scripting languages, and technical aspects of asset integration into a game. Prerequisite: Admission to The Guildhall’s level design program.

HGAM 6262. Art and Scripting II. This course provides a working familiarity with the art pipeline for asset production in games, from concept and initial modeling, through unwrapping and texture creation, to the finished asset. The focus is primarily on 3D Studio Max and Photoshop skills. Prerequisite: HGAM 6261.

HGAM 6263. Art and Scripting III. Students learn more advanced use of 3-D modeling software to create, unwrap, and texture models, and to import models into game industry editing tools. Students also learn how to use integrated programming/scripting languages to create new game functionality for their custom art assets.  Prerequisite: HGAM 6262.

HGAM 6264. Art and Scripting IV. This course explores additional programming practices and applications used in level design. Students improve their understanding of scripting logic and become familiar with additional scripting languages commonly used in the video game industry. Prerequisite: HGAM 6263.

HGAM 6276. Master’s Thesis III. Students continue research on their thesis topic under the oversight of the thesis supervisor. The grading basis is credit/no credit. This course can be retaken for credit. Prerequisite: HGAM 6176.

HGAM 6277. Master’s Thesis IV. Students must successfully defend their thesis to a committee and submit their final thesis document for approval. The grading basis is credit/no credit. Prerequisite: HGAM 6276.

HGAM 6278. Master’s Thesis III Post Certificate. Students admitted with advanced standing into the Master’s degree program continue research on their thesis topic under the oversight of the thesis supervisor. The grading basis is credit/no credit. The course can be retaken for credit. Prerequisite: HGAM 6179.

HGAM 6279. Master’s Thesis IV Post Certificate. Students admitted with advanced standing into the Master’s degree program must successfully defend their thesis to a committee and submit their final thesis document for approval. The grading basis is credit/no credit. Prerequisite: HGAM 6279.

HGAM 6280. Special Topics in Production. This seminar series for the production specialization covers advanced topics important to students’ professional development, with a focus on innovation in production. Prerequisite: HGAM 6283.

HGAM 6282. Game Production II. This course  introduces the field of game production, with a focus on managing the people, processes, technology, and schedules to produce digital games. Students learn the business of game development and publishing, and they develop the skills to define resources, organize teams, and manage change for game development projects. Students participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments to learn professional practices. Prerequisite: HGAM 6381.

HGAM 6283. Game Production III. This course provides students further foundation and practice in advanced game production, including advanced game development methodologies, testing and quality assurance, techniques and tools for managing large creative teams, and trends and issues in game development. Students participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments to demonstrate professional practices and behavior. Prerequisite: HGAM 6282.

HGAM 6284. Production Minor I. This course provides a foundation in communication skills for leading creative teams on digital development projects, including written communications and presentation skills. Students participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments. Prerequisite: HGAM 6292.

HGAM 6285. Production Minor II. This course provides a foundation in essential leadership skills for organizing, enabling, motivating, and managing creative people throughout the game production process. Students participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments. Prerequisite: HGAM 6284.

HGAM 6286. Directed Focus Study I (Game Production Experience I). This course complements HGAM 6282 by providing practical experience in the production of a game using a creative, cross-disciplinary team of three to seven students. Students serve as producer for teams of students in later cohorts as they create and publish a game. Prerequisite: HGAM 6381. Corequisite: HGAM 6282.

HGAM 6292. Team Game Production I. This course provides a foundation in the game development process, including planning; pipelines; and documentation for game projects, game technology, artificial intelligence and user interface design, and game testing. Small teams of students apply game design and development skills to create a 2-D game demo. Prerequisite: HGAM 6200

HGAM 6293. Team Game Production II. This course provides a foundation in the theory and practice of game development production, with an emphasis on preproduction on the 3-D Unreal Development Kit game modification project. Students in all areas of specialization participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments to learn professional practices of game development. Prerequisite: HGAM 6292.

HGAM 6294. Team Game Production III. This course provides students  a foundation in the theory and practice of game development production, with an emphasis on preproduction on the 3-D Unreal Development Kit game modification project. Students in all areas of specialization participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments to learn professional practices of game development. Prerequisite: HGAM 6293.

HGAM 6296. Team Game Production IV. This course provides a foundation in the theory and practice of game development production, with an emphasis on the capstone game project. Students in all areas of specialization participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments to learn professional practices of game development. Prerequisite: HGAM 6294.

HGAM 6297. Team Game Production V. This course provides a foundation in the theory and practice of game development production, with an emphasis on the capstone 3-D engine game demo project. Students in all areas of specialization participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments to learn professional practices of game development. Prerequisite: HGAM 6296.

HGAM 6311. Software Development I. This course provides a foundation in game programming for basic 2-D game development, including game coding, scripting, game engine design, data structures, input, working with graphics and sound assets, basic artificial intelligence, tool development, and the technical aspects of game testing. Prerequisite: Admission to The Guildhall.

HGAM 6312. Software Development II. This course introduces concepts related to 3-D game development, including game coding and scripting, 3-D game engine design, advanced data structures, advanced techniques for working with graphics and sound. Prerequisite: HGAM 6311.

HGAM 6313. Software Development III. This course provides additional depth in programming for 3-D game development, including 3-D game coding and scripting, working with 3-D graphics, artificial intelligence and rule-building, interface design, tool development, technical aspects of game testing and quality assurance, and game engine architecture Prerequisite: HGAM 6312.

HGAM 6314. Software Development IV. This course provides additional depth on game programming for 3-D game development, including game coding and scripting, advanced 3-D graphics, working with sound, advanced 3-D artificial intelligence, interface design, and networking protocols. Prerequisite: HGAM 6313.

HGAM 6328, 6348, 6368. Directed Focus Study II. Students work under the direction of the faculty to develop an individual area of specialization and produce content for their professional portfolio. Prerequisite: HGAM 6226, 6246, or 6266.

HGAM 6329, 6349, 6369. Directed Focus Study III. Students work under the direction of the faculty to develop an individual area of specialization and produce content for their professional portfolio. Prerequisite: HGAM 6328, 6348, or 6388.

HGAM 6331. Art Creation I. This course provides a foundation in the tools, techniques, and production methods for creating 2-D game art, including modeling, texturing, and animating. Prerequisites: Admission to The Guildhall and an art portfolio.

HGAM 6332. Art Creation II. This course applies the principles learned in 2-D art production to the process of creating 3-D game art. Emphasis is placed on modeling, rigging, texturing, wrapping, and preparing models for animation. Prerequisite: HGAM 6331.

HGAM 6333. Art Creation III. This course provides additional depth on art creation for 3-D games, including the development of intermediate-level proficiency for creating 3-D art, modeling, texturing, and animating for games. Prerequisite: HGAM 6332.

HGAM 6334. Art Creation IV. This seminar series provides additional depth in the tools, techniques, and production methods for creating 3-D game art for next-generation development cycles. Prerequisite: HGAM 6333.

HGAM 6351. Level Design I. This course provides a foundation in level design and editing for 2-D games, including genre analysis, game styles and limitations, audience and game analysis, gameplay principles, character artificial intelligence and scripting, and basic art and architecture for games. Students also develop fundamental-level editing skills for 2-D games. The course integrates theories and principles from a variety of disciplines to develop the fundamental proficiency for a level designer. Prerequisite: Admission to The Guildhall.

HGAM 6352. Level Design II. This course provides a foundation in level design for 3-D games, including basic 3-D gameplay, story and scene development for 3-D games, basic 3-D character artificial intelligence and scripting, 3-D texturing, 3-D lighting, using sound, and play testing for basic 3-D games. Students also develop basic-level editing skills for 3-D games. Prerequisite: HGAM 6351.

HGAM 6353. Level Design III. This course provides a foundation in level design for 3-D multiplayer games in the following areas: gameplay for different game types, scene development, artificial intelligence pathing and basic scripting, texturing, lighting, sound use, and play testing. Students also develop basic level editing skills for 3-D games. Prerequisite: HGAM 6352.

HGAM 6354. Level Design IV. This course provides additional depth on level design for 3-D games, including advanced classic architecture for 3-D games, the science of seeing, play strategies, player interaction, terrain, and line-of-sight determination for 3-D games. Students also develop advanced-level editing skills for 3-D games. Prerequisite: HGAM 6353.

HGAM 6381. Game Production I. This course provides a foundation in the theory and practice of project management for game development, including methodologies for planning, organizing, scheduling, and documenting creative, interactive software development projects. Students participate in lecture/discussion and individual/small-group assignments. Prerequisite: HGAM 6284.

HGAM 6388. Directed Focus Study II (Game Production Experience II). This course provides experience in preproduction and prototyping for a 3-D game project. Students serve as producer for larger teams (12–15 students) of artists, designers, and programmers in later cohorts as they prepare and begin developing their 3-D game. Prerequisite: HGAM 6286.

HGAM 6389. Directed Focus Study III (Game Production Experience III). This course provides experience in production through the publishing process for a 3-D game project. Students serve as producer for larger teams (12–15 students) of artists, designers, and programmers in later cohorts as they complete development and publish their 3-D game. Prerequisite: HGAM 6388.