Curricula

Objective

The objective of the course (objectives):
Are eyecatching visuals your thing? Have you wondered how to get your own 3D products into a published game? What are the 3D art (graphics) processes in a game production context? Do you wish to build stylized characters, construct photorealistic landscapes or design appealing game sceneries?

Nowadays games have stunning graphical presentation even though the visual styles differs greatly. There are many core development tools for creating those visual and it is imperative that a visual artist understand the purposes of the tools and how they are used to enable, support, or speed up the game art (graphics) production processes.

Course competences:
- Game Production: Student can produce 3D graphics related content for a game project and can work with the tools in meaningful and systematic way. Student can implement 3D graphics related assets with a game engine. Student can produce value for a game project while working in a 3D graphics related specialist role.
- Learning to Learn: Also takes responsibility for group learning and sharing what has been learned.

The learning objectives of the course (outcomes):
After completing this course, you understand what 3D game art (graphics) is, what kind of tools and pipelines to use for the creation processes. You can determine the technical requirements for a certain asset and apply modelling techniques and parameters accordingly. You can distinguish different 3D art styles and produce content based on their guidelines. You can apply your skills as 3D art specialist to produce 3D graphics building blocks (content) for a game or multitude of applications.

Content

3D Basics gives you the required tools and knowledge to design and create objects from characters to digital environments. Some of the theories and tools you will familiarise yourself with in this course include 3D Graphics Theory, Design, and Tools. The tools will include design and production tools for the 3D content. The theory will contain the full 3D production pipeline, including the game engine 3D graphics. You will have experience on the 3D art (graphics) creation process through the creation and usage of the 3D building blocks from speciality point of view.

Qualifications

No previous 3D graphics experience prequisites. Basic competence with a game engine is expected. Basic understanding of game art is preferable. Skills with other related tools, like version control system or any art production tool, are useful.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient (1): You know the 3D game art theory principles and related core development tools. You understand how to create and use simple 3D game art assets with the tools and the game engine, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills. You can be productive in a limited role as an artist.

Satisfactory (2): You understand most of the game art theory principles and related core development tools. You have a comprehension of the different stages of asset workflow. You understand the role of a 3D artist in the asset pipeline. You can produce simple 3D game art assets into the game engine from scratch of by modify ready assets with the art tools, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3): You understand most of the 3D game art theory principles and related core development tools and can analyse ready 3D art assets.You can produce 3D game art assets into the game engine from scratch or by modifying ready assets with the art tools, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills. You can apply the skills and knowledge to optimize models and fix most common errors. You can distinguish different 3D art styles from each other. You can apply the gained knowledge in a real-life development project.

Very good (4): You are capable with main concepts of 3D game art theory principles and related core development tools. You can produce ready complex 3D game art assets into the game engine from scratch or by significantly modifying ready assets with the art tools, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills. You can analyse and alter your workflows to achieve better results more quickly. You can take advantage of a bit more advanced topics such as ???. You can be productive in a role as an artist.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): You understand the concepts of 3D game art theory principles thoroughly and are very capable with the related core development tools. You can use your skills to design and develop high quality ready 3D game art assets into the game engine from scratch or by significantly modifying ready assets with the art tools. You can analytically discuss about your chosen visual style and present and defend (based on knowledge and evidence) your opinions. You can evaluate the efficiency of different workflows and select the correct one for the task at hand. You can critically evaluate and critically analyze existing ready art assets. You have done cooperation with other game developer(s) in your project(s).

Further information

Suitable for anyone who is interested in the game art creation process from the 3D graphics point of view.