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COSC 1324 The Art of Computer Game Development is open to students of all majors interested in learning more about art elements present in computer games in particular and the entertainment software industry in general. It is a required course for students majoring in Computer Game Development and students typically take it in their first semester in the program.

The process of making games involves people from many different disciplines. Designers create the stories and environments in an electronic game. Artists create the visual elements of a game including still images, 3D models and animations. Audio designers establish a mood for the game through music and sound effects. 

Finally, programmers write the computer code needed to tie all the other elements together and display artwork and narrative in the proper sequence. Understanding how these professionals interact to create games that are fun is what this course is about. 

Students typically come into the course with a wide range of experiences with computer games from many different perspectives. Some students may have more experience with casual games while others may have great deal of experience with online multiplayer games. While all these experiences are valuable, the successful industry professional with have a broad knowledge of all aspects of game development including gameplay, genres, industry trends and marketing strategies. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

• Classify significant developments in the history of computer games.
• Distinguish games by genre and the audience for specific genres.
• Explain how a combination of story, environment design, characters and gameplay combine into an often highly artistic and creative interactive experience.
• Summarize critical reviews that shape the game industry and influence the design and artistry in games.
• Contrast interactive audio in games compared to audio in other creative works such as film
  and the challenges involved in creating audio for interactive games.
• Survey techniques of successful game design from widely acclaimed designers and artists.

Course Prerequisites: None

Textbook: None required