Academic Catalog - Mt. Sierra College

Mt. Sierra College Course Descriptions
126
` GAM-204 | Game Design & Gameplay and Lab
Prerequisite(s): ENG-400
This course explores the current philosophies of game
design. Students will write and utilize game design
documents, as well as design gameplay mechanics,
dynamics and aesthetics. The course explores an
overview of the life cycle of a video game including
conception, development, production, manufacture,
and distribution, as well as the limitations of various
platforms. It also includes considerations of current
game trends and their implication for the future of
games.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-220 | Level Design I and Lab
Prerequisite(s): GAM-201; GAM-204; GAM-362
This course introduces the art of game level design. A
combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on activity
will give the students a comprehensive understanding
of what to expect as professional game and level
designers. The course integrates theories and skills
from a number of other disciplines in an environment that
will showcase and simulate the decisions, skills, tools,
problems and working conditions of a professional level
designer. Students interactively discuss and apply the
various theories and skills as they are presented, with
the goal of creating a fun and functional game level by
the end of the course.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-230 | Digital Imaging II for Gaming and Lab
Prerequisite(s): ENG-260; GAM130; GAM-260
This course continues the development of skills and
techniques using the industry standard digital imaging
tools. The course also covers digital imagery as
required in real production situations as well as more
advanced image manipulation tools in the use of vector
graphic, photo-retouching, and filters used commonly
in the 3D environment. The design development and
production processes are reinforced in the construction
of professional compositions. In addition, the course
includes detailed coverage of the output of various file
formats.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-232 | Traditional Animation and Lab
Course Retired
This course explores the background, techniques,
and tools of basic animation such as squash and
stretch, secondary action, anticipation, exaggeration,
timing, staging, arc motion, and perspective. While
concentrating on character development, the course
also introduces pencil-test/camera recording for
animation.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-250 | Introduction to 3-D Principles and Lab
Prerequisite(s): GAM-108
This is a hands-on introduction to three-dimensional
principles. The class objective is to familiarize the
student with working and navigating in a threedimensional
environment. Topics covered include the
basic techniques of how to create and animate threedimensional
scenes. An introduction to the material
editor, keyframe animation, lighting, and rendering are
discussed.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-252 | Materials, Lighting & Rendering in 3-D
and Lab
Prerequisite(s): GAM-130; GAM-250
This class continues with a more advanced treatment
of the topics of materials, lighting and rendering. The
material editor is explored in depth, including advanced
material types and map channels. Advanced lighting
systems such as ray tracing, radiosity, and the light
tracer are covered. An overview of three-dimensional
software features is also discussed.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-254 | Lighting for Games and Lab
Course Retired
This course examines the various techniques used to
create both real and simulated lighting in games. The
limitations of real lighting in games will be discussed,
and the student will study simulation techniques
including vertex coloring and texture baking. Advanced
three-dimensional lighting concepts such as global
illumination will be explored in conjunction with texture
baking to create sophisticated lighting simulations.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-260 | Environmental Modeling and Lab
Prerequisite(s): GAM-250
In this course, the student begins to build actual game
environments. Techniques for building and texturing
structures and terrain are discussed. The student will
create both indoor and outdoor game levels and worlds.
Construction of these worlds will conform to standard
industry practices.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-280 | Digital Compositing I for the PC and
Lab
Course Retired
This course, through lecture and hands-on exercises,
covers the skills necessary to enhance video through
compositing and image editing. The process of
creating a video production will be covered, including
pre-production, lighting, camera-work, editing and
post-production. The course will also include lectures
and discussions about using industry-standard editing
software.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-320 | Level Design II and Lab
Prerequisite(s): GAM-220
This course covers the intermediate techniques to
enhance the gaming experience using simulated
lighting in a game engine as well as functional game
mechanics of the level. Utilizing current game engine
software, students will expand on previous work from
Level Design 1, refining the in-engine level.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-350 | Keyframe Animation and Lab
Prerequisite(s): DES-210
This course is an introduction to three-dimensional
animation, beginning with an introduction of how
animation works. The student then learns how to
animate objects in a three-dimensional scene. The
course also covers animation controllers and how to
have a camera follow a path. Other topics include object
linking, animating materials, and a detailed exposition of
animation utilities.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-352 | Special Effects and Lab
Course Retired
This course covers the possibilities of adding special
visual effects to a scene and the utilization of effects
in game cinematics, film, television, and Internet
entertainment. Lab exercises will emphasize creating
effects using both digital and traditional techniques;
visual effects history, covering optical effects, models,
animation, matte painting, and physical effects; visual
structure, and visual effects production practices and
workflow.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
` GAM-354 | Alternative Techniques in 3-D
Production I and Lab
Prerequisite(s): GAM-252
This course covers basic illustrations in the threedimensional
environment through the exploration of
other software and tools used in the gaming industry.
Topics include perspective, primitive placement,
modeling, lighting, key-frame animation, and rendered
three-dimensional imaging.
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture: 3 hours
Lab: 2 hours
Mt. Sierra College Course Descriptions
127