Game Art and Design I Curriculum
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GAD 1 Unit 2 Game Art and Design I Curriculum 1 GAD 1 Unit 2 Unit 2: Job readiness and career exploration Photo by Phyllis Jones 2 GAD 1 Unit 2 Section B: Job readiness and career exploration COMPETENCY: V102. Analyze job readiness in the game industry OBJECTIVE: V102.01 Recognize the skills necessary to work in the game industry. Introduction: A game designer is part of a team. The successful game designer needs to have many skills including text book knowledge as well as workplace knowledge. Let’s take a closer look at some of these skills. Lesson 1: GAME DESIGN SKILLS Individual skills • Creativity. Being creative is a very important skill. Each new game needs to be different and exciting in order to attract new customers. Some studies suggest that creativity is innate and cannot be taught. But others like David Browne believe creativity can be nurtured. So how does one know if they are creative? There are several online tests or evaluations one can take to achieve a creative Photo by Phyllis Jones score. In activity 2.1 you will research and find one to take. • Problem solving. Problem solving is a mental process used to find a solution to a complex or simple task. In game design for example, the designer want a character to jump over a brick wall. The coder must solve problems associated with using correct physics and body movement. What makes a good problem solver? In activity 2.1 you will research and find one to take. • Technology competence. Creating games requires technology skills such as 3D modeling, game scripting, applying materials and textures to scenes, and creating 3 GAD 1 Unit 2 documents and spreadsheets. Many game cells have divisions of labor where one might specialize in one or more skills. 1. Programming. A game programmer is a software engineer who develops codebase for video games or related software. Acquiring skills in programming languages (such as C/C++) help designers understand game functionality. Programmers can take programming classes at a local community college or University. 2. 3D modeling is a process of developing 3D assets for games using a 3D software package. Development of these models usually requires an advanced skill set. Students can learn these skills at specific trade schools, local colleges Image by Ian Brown and universities. • Basic mathematical/science skills. Basic math skills in the areas of geometry, trigonometry, physics, and probability are all necessary in game creation. Physics are used in game design to apply the laws of motion in making a character’s motion appear more real to the observer. Probability is used in game design to generate randomness. Randomness may be used to determine when and where opposition characters appear or how the non-playing characters react to certain events. No one wants to play a game the exact same way each time. Geometry is mainly used in developing environments and characters in games. Everything in a video game starts out as a wire frame model. This wire frame model is made up of a huge multitude of polygons. The amount of polygons in the model depends on the complexity of the graphics engine and the final platform for the game. • Artistic/Aesthetic skills. Video game designers need to communicate visually through the use of drawing and storyboards, their vision of the game character and/or environment. Clearly drawn images and scenes can help the 3D modeler correctly complete the game asset. 4 GAD 1 Unit 2 • Communication skills written. Members of a game cell need to communicate to each other as well as to the potential backer. Letters, spreadsheets, storylines, storyboards, and game design documents are a few of the examples game designers use to communicate. • Technical writing. Game designers need to create technical game docs in order to communicate specific specs to the design team. Game docs are also used and created in a game cell to keep the team together on the same development tract. Image shows a section of a sample game document. 5 GAD 1 Unit 2 Do Activity 2.11 Qualities of a Game Designer Introduction: Ever wondered if you have some of the skills necessary for the game industry? Take a few of these online tests and see how you rate in some of the required skills for game design. Materials: Internet Lesson: The following are a list of qualities needed for a successful game designer. • Creativity To make a career in game design, it is essential for a person to be highly creative. • Interest in Video Games It is very important for a video game designer to have interest in his video game field. Designing games requires a lot of dedication and focus. A good game designer should be into playing all types of games, looking for loopholes and Easter eggs in them. This helps the video game designers to improve their own games. • Excellent Problem Solving Skills Besides creativity, technical knowledge and aptitude of a person are very important in the field of game designing. Understanding computer algorithms, various programming languages, and 3D software are necessary. • A Good Understanding of the Customer/Market A video game designer can create successful and profitable games only if he understands the end consumer and market. What sells, what is hot, and what are the costs to sell the game are all important information. 1. How creative are you? Take one of these tests and find out! Listed below are some links that were active at the time this curriculum was written. They may not be still active. You can do a search to find another test if needed. http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm http://www.creax.com/csa/ http://www.flandersdc.be/view/nl/2805426-Creativity+test.html http://devrycareershop.blatbrun.com/students/personality-portrait.aspx 6 GAD 1 Unit 2 2. Are you a good problem solver? Take one of these tests and find out! Listed below are some links that were active at the time this curriculum was written. They may not be still active. You can do a search to find another test if needed. http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=688 http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1337 3. Compare your answers with a few members of your class. Do the results surprise you or does it sound just like you? 7 GAD 1 Unit 2 Do Activity 2.12 Creating an Avatar to match your skills and interests Introduction: An avatar is a virtual representation of a player in a videogame world. In this activity you will create an avatar of yourself using your skills and interests. Materials: • Information from web test on creativity and problem solving from activity 2.1 • Drawing package such as paint, Corel Draw, Illustrator, or paper and pencil Lesson: 1. Rate yourself in the following areas from the activities you did online and from your knowledge about yourself. Skill 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 8-10 Item on Effect on avatar (low) (high) avatar Creativity Hair Draw 1/4 inches length from top of (Longer head for each hair higher point score) (4 points per inch) Like to Controllers Number of play games in hand items equal to score Problem Pencils in Number of solving pocket items equal to score Knowledge Size of Size increases of the head from 1 inch market using 1/4 inch increase for each number. 8 GAD 1 Unit 2 Experience Money in Number of in game hand items equal to design (you will score be low in this area at first) Computer Glasses Size increases skills size from 1 inch using 1/4 inch increase for each number. Teamwork Items of Number of clothing items equal to score 2. When you complete the chart open up a 2D drawing package such as Corel Draw Illustrator, PowerPoint, or Paint and create your avatar. Name your avatar with part of your first name and part of your favorite video game. (Pokesam) See sample below. Print out the avatars, share with your classmates, and paste them around the room. POKESAM 9 GAD 1 Unit 2 OBJECTIVE: V102.02 Analyze team structure in game design Introduction: The purpose of this unit is to introduce team roles and hierarchy for the game team. Students will understand each team and individual role and how this role fits in the game development team hierarchy. These members work together to facilitate the game development process. TEAM STRUCTURE Team Skills • Communication skills listening and speaking. Effective communication involves conveying messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. It also involves receiving information from others correctly. Good communication requires effort on both the giving and receiving ends. Game designers need to clearly communicate their ideas with each other and have all members of the team understand. • Teamwork. When creating a game most game designers are part of a team. A successful team is made of successful team players who do their part successfully and in a timely manner. Being part of a team requires many workplace skills such as 2. Responsibility 3. Attitude 3. Initiative 4. Dependability 5. Dress 6. Respect Team Communication Game design teams have divisions of labor that allow team members to specialize in order to facilitate the meeting of deadlines in the game production. Some of these roles may be team leaders with several other team members working together and reporting to the Creative director or Team manager. In the game industry, good communication skills and a strong work ethic are essential. 10 GAD 1 Unit 2 • Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that shows a project schedule for the development of a game.