Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.
Students who successfully complete the Game Design and Development BS can:
Fundamentals of Gaming and Game Design
- Analyze the evolution of gaming history and terminology.
- Demonstrate the capacity to design a game for numerous purposes.
- Understand and demonstrate best practices related to diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion in all areas related to the gaming industry.
- Understand and demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills in individual and interdisciplinary team interactions.
Programming and Technology
- Demonstrate fluency in programming languages and multiple design and development environments and engines.
- Write game code, modify and extend game engines, and build game tools.
- Understand networks, security and online systems for game design and play.
- Utilize digital game theories and computer languages to create game behavior and control the game environment.
Design, Animation, Music, World Building
- Create 2D and 3D art, animation, and visual assets for games and simulations.
- Develop narratives, stories and dialogue in gameplay.
- Create and edit sound, audio and musical assets for games and simulations.
- Incorporate creative thinking, design thinking and ideation in the development of original gaming concepts.
- Identify the fundamental principles guiding the relevant visual, audio, interactive and narrative aesthetics of game design.
Production
- Integrate innovative and artistic skills with programming skills to develop interactive media.
- Understand and demonstrate best practices in digital project management and the game production process.
- Anticipate and adapt to innovative, emerging and disruptive technologies.
- Utilize problem solving skills in all stages of a game design and development life cycle.
Applied Research
- Collect data from real world, diverse environments and resources.
- Apply collected data to inform game development.
- Analyze, assess and present data of game environments and user experience in a variety of formats.