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A Framework for Game Development Curricula

A Framework for Game Development Curricula. Jason Della Rocca Program Director International Game Developers Association jason@igda.org. IGDA. “The IGDA is a nonprofit professional association working to strengthen the game development community and serve as its voice.”

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A Framework for Game Development Curricula

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  1. A Framework for Game Development Curricula Jason Della Rocca Program Director International Game Developers Association jason@igda.org

  2. IGDA “The IGDA is a nonprofit professional association working to strengthen the game development community and serve as its voice.” • 60+ chapters worldwide • Advocate on relevant issues: • Quality of life • Anti-Censorship • Diversity • Student/academic outreach

  3. Education Committee • Established in 2000 • Founded by Warren Spector and Doug Church • Goal to build bridges between industry and academia: • Research initiatives/collaboration • Guide curriculum development

  4. Curriculum Framework • Background: • Work began mid-2001 • Presented publicly at GDC 2002 • Revised based on academic/industry feedback • Latest release spring 2003 • Has inspired dozens of courses, programs, degrees, etc…

  5. Framework Overview • Broadly define “game education” • Flexible guide, acknowledge realities • High-level Core Topics serve as “menu” • For educators, developers & students • Encourage growth, discussion & debate

  6. Core Topics • Critical Game Studies • Games and Society • Game Design • Game Programming • Visual Design • Audio Design • Interactive Storytelling • Game Production • Business of Gaming

  7. Critical Game Studies Theoretical and practical analysis of digital and non-digital games • Vocabulary for discussing games • Relationship to other media • Journalism and critical approaches • History and canon of games

  8. Games and Society Techniques for understanding games, drawn primarily from the Social Sciences • Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology • Media effects and effects research • Gaming demographics and communities • Fan culture and social aspects of play

  9. Game Design Conceptual and practical concerns of creating player experience • Practical topics (UI, docs, testing) • Conceptual topics (spaces, tuning) • Vital: central to the framework • Ill-defined: what to teach, what to teach from…

  10. Game Programming Aspects of traditional Computer Science, modified to address the specifics of gaming • Traditional material, core concepts • Broad skills in prototyping, design, testing • Focus on reality of game environments, concrete application

  11. Visual Design Principles and techniques for creating visual assets of games • Conceptualization, abstraction, expression • Fundamentals • 2D drawing, painting, animation… • 3D models, animation, lighting… • Tech-art skills

  12. Audio Design Creating game sound environments • Studio skills • DSP theory and practice • Effect and speech generation • Composition, interactive scoring

  13. Interactive Storytelling Writing, storytelling and the challenges of generating interactive narrative • Basic narrative theory • Characters, plot, backstory, worlds • Established techniques of interactive fiction

  14. Game Production Practical challenges of managing game development • Collaboration, communication, coordination • Team make-up, group dynamics • Documentation and scheduling

  15. Business of Gaming Economic, legal and policy aspects of games and the game industry • Economics and industry realities • Marketing, Sales & PR • Publisher/Developer relationship • Ratings and social forces • Legal issues

  16. Framework Review • Basic understanding of design is central • Emphasis on cross-disciplinary approach • Not a curriculum, but a flexible framework • Think of it as an education “menu” • Multiple audiences • Adapt as necessary

  17. Open Issues • Elusive “Game Design” discipline • Broad vs. specialized • Vocational vs. “traditional” • Cross-department collaboration • Academic vacuum

  18. Conclusions • Do your homework • Establish clear goals • Students hungry • Industry/etc in need • Look for open gaps…

  19. Some Resources • www.igda.org/academia • www.igda.org/scholarships • www.igda.org/BreakingIn • www.gamasutra.com/education • www.digra.org • www.gdconf.com

  20. Questions ???

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