Department Award in Game Design
Online
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 419 / per credit
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Introduction
The Game Design Online Program is comprised of intensive, instructor led, modular courses that are delivered by experienced production professionals who are currently working in these related industries. The program is intended for students who want to "learn anywhere, anytime" to train for entry level employment in Serious Game and Simulation Design.
The program has been designed to afford students the opportunity to develop the necessary foundation skills, master the tools and processes, and nurture their artistry and creative vision. In this project-based curriculum, students undergo standard production experiences that reflect industry needs and current industry trends. The online curriculum design is based upon industry production pipeline workflow, sequenced from fundamentals, through all essentials, to advanced techniques.
Students develop professional skills in pre-production, storytelling, modeling, rigging, texture art, lighting, character animation, special effects, simulation, technical direction, game design, game prototyping, object oriented programming, render management, production management, and portfolio production.
MAT offers 2 tracks: one in Media Arts and the other in Animation and Gaming.
Media Arts
Provides a foundation in digital media content, design and development, web communication and interactivity.
According to the State of California EDD, "web developer" is the sixth fastest-growing occupation in the State, with an expected 48.3% growth by the year 2024. That is over 10,000 jobs in this field alone. Moreover, the field of "media artist and animators" is expected to grow over 15% in the same time period.
Animation & Gaming
Provides proficiency in Maya, Unreal Engine and more. Every blockbuster motion picture for the past 8 years uses Maya to create Computer Generated Imagery.
3D technologies are widely used for visualization in technical, scientific and educational fields. Companies in fields from aerospace to microbiology hire specialists in 3D production.
SBCC offers a Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG). A TAG is a contractual agreement between the student, SBCC, and specific four-year colleges or universities. This includes six University of California ( *UC) institutions, six California State Institutions (CSU), seven California private institutions, nine out-of-state institutions, as well as Honors Transfer Agreements with ten institutions and 8 CSUs without campus impaction. Students must enroll in the TAG program and work with a TAG advisor. Please click here to learn more on the TAG program website.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Enrolled students may apply one time per year in February. If awarded, the money is disbursed for the following academic year in two parts: half in the fall semester and half in the spring semester. The amounts range from very small: $100-750 and larger $1000-2500 with some variations in between.
Curriculum
MAT 103 Introduction to Multimedia (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Provides a comprehensive look at the concepts and principles of digital media and computer graphics, and the consequences and influences in our current world. Elements of sensorial perception, psychology and narrative regarding media will be explored. Analysis of photography, film, animation, video and gaming, regarding elements of linear and interactive structures including history, aesthetics, and their cultural significance.
SBCC General Education: SBCCGE Area C
Transfer Information: CSUGE Area C1, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 105 Survey Of Multimedia Tools (3 Units)
Course Advisories: MAT 103.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Overview of tools and applications used to produce interactive multimedia, including software applications, peripherals and hardware. Major applications for design, photo processing, web design, authoring and video. Evaluation and description of the strengths of each program and potential for integration of production applications.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 109 Informational Graphics for the Web (0.5 Units)
Hours: 9 (9 lecture)
Overview of how to create and publish on the web; informational graphics, with typical office applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FileMaker, etc.).
MAT 112 Digital Drawing (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Introduction to digital drawing through the powerful art tool Adobe Illustrator. Create vector-based artwork that translates well to other graphic software and media. Create icons, characters, illustrations, interface elements and patterns. Work with type, native 2D shapes, 3D effects and vectorized bitmaps.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 116 Interactive Design I (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Introduction to principles of Interactivity through the production of projects that use animation, interactive storytelling, interface design and responsive maps. Students learn to structure non-linear content and are exposed to principles of user experience, working with a variety of graphic and audio assets.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 118 2-D Animation techniques (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Students will develop stronger skills in 2-D digital Animation. We will work with timing, storytelling, audio syncing, stop-motion, rotoscope and matting techniques. We will explore and recognize styles and techniques, incorporate both vector-based and bitmap graphics, and integrate photographic and video material.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 121 Computer Interface Design (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Building Graphic user-interfaces (GUI) through the principles of computer interaction: window, icon, menu and mouse activity. Strategies to organize information on an interactive screen. Case Studies: Computer, Web and Mobile devices/Apps. Behavior, Usability(UX)and basic Prototyping. Good digital graphic-skills required.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 131 Digital Imaging I (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
An introduction to the image processing capabilities of PhotoShop to create and edit images and to prepare images for various media. No prior knowledge of PhotoShop is required. Includes Tools Selection, Channels, Layers, Filters, Text, Brushes, Effects, Masks, Adjustment Layers.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 132 Digital Imaging II (3 Units)
Course Advisories: MAT 131 and 112.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Advanced Photoshop course building on skills presented in MAT 131. Students work on projects that challenge their creativity and technical ability, and develop complex commercial and surreal projects working with image manipulation software.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 134A Classical Animation I (3 Units)
Course Advisories: ART 120.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Basic principles of animation studied through drawing and other media. Includes analytical understanding and depiction of movement of things and natural life forms in the real world.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 134B Classical Animation II (3 Units)
Prerequisites: ART 124A, MAT 134A.
Course Advisories: ART 120.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Further study and application of animation principles through drawing, with emphasis on character development, timing, action analysis, complex movement and the filmmaking process.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 136 Introduction to 3D Animation (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Fundamentals of 3D animation including modeling, animation and rendering. Focuses on computer animation tools and techniques, and builds a solid foundation for developing character animation and special effect sequences.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 137 Visual Effects for Film, Television and Gaming (3 Units)
Prerequisites: DRFT 136/MAT 136.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Course on visual effects using 3-D and Compositing software to complete the scene production. Utilizing particles, rigid-bodies and soft bodies, students apply techniques for creating natural phenomena, such as waterfalls and blowing leaves. Also explored are methods for simulating physical interactions, such as a chair falling down a staircase.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 138 3-D Character Animation (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Advanced 3-D computer animation course on character animation, including character design, modeling techniques for bodies, heads, hands and feet, skeletal and muscle systems, facial animation and lip-syncing to dialogue.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 139 3-D Lighting And Rendering (3 Units)
Skills Advisories: Eligibility for ENG 98 and ENG 103.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Advanced 3-D computer animation course on the art and science of lighting and rendering. Techniques for creating photo-realistic computer-generated imagery explored, including lighting, shadowing, texture mapping and shader manipulation.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 141 3-D Modeling (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Fundamentals of 3-D modeling, texturing, lighting and rendering. Focus on 3-D modeling tools and techniques. Builds a solid foundation for designing and modeling products, characters, sets and props for animation, product advertisements, movies and video games.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 145 Video Game Design (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Introduction to the design and development of video games. Focuses on the elements that make computer games compelling and the basics of game mechanics and environments to their stories and social experiences. Covers industry workflow from theories and practices to a hands-on AAA game engine. No programming experience is necessary.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 149 Social Networking and Social Media (3 Units)
Hours: 54 (54 lecture)
The use and creation of media content in developing, integrating and leveraging social networks and applications. Through integration of a variety of social networking applications, students learn about how the creation of media content helps to establish network and communities of shared professional and personal interests. Includes online applications Wikis, Youtube, Vimeo, Flickr, Myspace, Facebook, Digg, etc., and their use as media-oriented platforms.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 153 Web Design I (3 Units)
Course Advisories: Art 140.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Students focus on design principles, including: usability, color, layout, fonts, negative space, image quality and placement. Students learn: designing with grids, designing for different screen environments, sizing and optimizing photos. Proficiency in Photoshop required.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 154 Web Design II: Integration (3 Units)
Prerequisites: MAT 153.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Students create a web site from scratch using HTML5, CSS3 & jQuery. You will learn how to employ bootstrap, responsive design, custom Wordpress themes, PHP contact forms, and organic Search Engine Optimization. Requires proficiency in Photoshop.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 164 Online and Mobile Marketing (3 Units)
Same as: MKT 164
Hours: 54 (54 lecture)
Introduction to those components needed to develop effective online and search engine marketing (SEM) strategies. Emerging digital media and mobile advertising campaigns are emphasized. Includes search engine optimization (SEO), paid placement ads, keyword identification, placement strategies, SEM research and management tools, and WAP advertising applications in mobile marketing and video advertising.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 167 3-D Environments Design (3 Units)
Course Advisories: MAT 136, MAT 141, MAT 145.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Introduction to the design and creation of a 3D environment for a game or visualization. Students practice with techniques and workflow towards the creation of 3D assets, and bring them into a modern rendering engine, to create there the Environments or worlds where the project will take place. Students complete a 3D portfolio piece from their own inspiration.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 168 Serious Game Prototyping (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Prototyping games for virtual reality, simulations, education and marketing. Topics include game play, game-based learning, game concept development and game prototyping. Students explore game prototyping through hands-on projects.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 205 Portfolio Development And Professional Practices (3 Units)
Prerequisites: MAT 153 or GDP 212 or PHOT 180.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
In this final course, students learn how to prepare for media arts careers (web design, digital design, audio, animation and video). Communicating with employers through cover letters and interviews, developing resumes and portfolios/reels, and using online resources for job hunting are covered. For the person who has taken several media arts courses and is nearing completion of the program.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
MAT 216 Interactive Design II - Simple Games (3 Units)
Prerequisites: MAT 116.
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
Students further develop skills in interactive production by prototyping projects like simple games and apps. They work on interactive environments to develop portfolio pieces and discover, first hand, about issues in user experience.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
MAT 290 Work Experience In Multimedia (1-4 Units)
Hours: 300 (300 lab)
Supervised employment of students with the intent of creating student awareness of work opportunities, assisting them to acquire desirable work habits, and providing them with experiences in multimedia and related industries. Students perform assigned responsibilities as an employee, follow employer's policies, write individual learning objectives, keep a record of time worked, fill out a student data sheet, and secure an employee evaluation. Course restricted to 3 repetitions
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
Program Outcome
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to input, create, edit, enhance and composite, a variety of visual media (vector based and bitmaps, 2D and 3D) then optimize and format for output to web, screen or mobile media.
- Students will be able to plan, design and construct an interactive, user centered interface.
- Students will be able to create complex models in 3D and apply complex colors and textures to them according to a storyboard.
- Students will be able to analyze story, design and game play in released games in the market, being able to identify problems in those areas.
Career Opportunities
MAT programs prepare students for careers in:
- Motion Picture CGI
- Pixar 3D Animation
- Gaming
- Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality
- Web Design/Development
- Digital Marketing
- Interactive Design
- UX/UI Design
- App Design
- Media Art Production
- Digital Illustration
English Language Requirements
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