game design with unity · students begin building our games starting from a template for a basic 2d...

Game Design with Unity

Syllabus

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Class Syllabus Game Design with Unity

Description of the Course

We have all played and enjoyed games, but how do people actually design and implement them? This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of the process of designing 2D games. This course is best for students interested in building games as a hobby, creative outlet, or for any other reason. No previous experience with computer programming or game design is required. The strategy of this course is process-oriented, focusing on aspects such as: Rapid prototyping, play testing, and design iteration using a player-centered approach. For our development environment we will be using the Unity Game Engine that comes pre-built with functionality that speeds up development drastically. Each student have a mobile game completed and published by the end of the course.

Participants will work to design, build, and publish their own games. These projects are open-ended and designed by participants. Participants will complete guided projects in order to learn the fundamentals and will then break into small teams to complete a one-day short project of their choosing. After the short project, participants will break into new teams that will each have four days to design, plan, and build a custom project of their choice.

Course Structure

Students learn how to design a 2D game using the Unity engine. They also participate in four live online classes with personal support from industry mentors, gaining real-world skills in game design, coding, and presentation delivery. At the end of the course, students publish and present their findings so they can showcase their new game design skills and earn a certificate of completion to feature on their resumes and applications.

Course Objectives

In this course, students will:

• Be familiar with central game design concepts.

• Be able to select and apply appropriate methods and techniques during different stages of the development cycle.

• Be able to structure and conduct a game design project from conceptualization to playable prototype.

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• Be proficient in contributing to the collaborative learning and development processes.

• Understand how design can be applied to the academic process of generating new knowledge.

• Have a game up and running on their platform of choice (Web, Android, iOS)

Course Outline

Week 1: Survey of Game Design, Unity and the basics of software collaboration

• Video Introduction: Introduction to Game Design with Unity

• Preparation: The Role of the Game Designer in the “Game Design Workshop”

• Activity: Getting Started with the Unity Editor

• Live Session: Introduction to C# in Unity

• Discussion Board #1

• Project Part 1: Recreating a Guided Project- Catch Game

• Weekly Office Hours

Week 2: The Basics of Game Design and Ideation

• Video Lecture: Conceptualization

• Preparation: Building a 2D Game

• Activity: Getting Started with the Unity Editor

• Live Session: Crash Course in Prototyping


• Project Part 2: Recreating a Guided Project- Creating a Basic Platformer Game


Week 3: Designing and Creating Game Assets

• Video Lecture: Modifying Game Objects in Unity

• Preparation: Nine 2D Tools to Make Your Life Easier

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• Activity: Creating a 2D Character

• Live Session: Creating and Importing Assets in Unity

• Project Part 3: Creating a Personal Project



Week 4: Working as a Game Designer

• Video Lecture: Working in Teams

• Preparation: The Typical Day in a Game Designer’s Life

• Activity: Role Playing

• Live Session: Becoming a Game Developer


• Project Part #4: Polishing and Uploading Your Game


Grading Policy

Component Percentage of Grade

Assignment Part #1 20%




Discussion Boards 20%

Please note that you must attend all classes and receive an 80% or greater to receive the certificate of completion for the course

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Technology Requirements

Students will need access to the internet and the Canvas Learning Management system. They will also need access to the latest version of Unity 2018.3.6 and any free image editing software.

Course Project Overview

In this course students will ideate, design, prototype and execute their own mobile game design projects. They will gain invaluable experience using the Unity Game Engine (which is the platform for 87% of mobile games). Students will end the course understanding the logistics of the various aspects of game design, the available career options given their interests, and the production required to produce a successful and marketable game. At the conclusion, each student will be a published game developer and have his/her game available to download.

Project Structure

Part 1: Introduction to C# in Unity

Redirect back to the Unity tutorial site and complete the catch game tutorial.

Part 2: Recreating a Guided Project- Creating a Basic Platformer Game

Students begin building our games starting from a template for a basic 2D platformer game.

Part 3: Creating and Importing Assets in Unity

Using the ideation and prototyping skills learned from the first two lessons, students continue building the game idea from week 2, create sprite sheets and tile maps, and create interactions using the Unity animation pane to add gameplay for their objects and characters.

Part 4: Polishing and Uploading Your Game

Taking inspiration from this week’s live session, students refine their game to have a clear narrative, attractive visuals, and a balance of originality and consistency. They will seek feedback from playtesters, teachers, and friends to get feedback on their design.

Academic Integrity

Honesty is an essential aspect of academic integrity. Individual students are responsible for doing their own work and submitting original assignments as per the course directions. Plagiarism and cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.

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Plagiarize: “To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own without crediting the source; presenting as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield: G. & C. Merriam Company, 1973, 870).

This includes using information from the Internet without citing the website. Avoid plagiarism by appropriately acknowledging the source of the author’s words and ideas. Cheating: Submitting or presenting an assignment as your own when it was written or created by someone else is not permissible in this class.

game design with unity · students begin building our games starting from a template for a basic 2d...

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