Curricula

Objectives

The objective of the course (objectives):
Have you ever wondered what makes a game look and feel like an art experience? Or how the graphical side of games is done? Why certain aesthetics work for certain purposes?

Game development has never before been easier to start with as it currently is, with all the tools freely available. However, to make a game feel and look the way you want with those tools, you should still have a basic understanding of what game graphics is, and how it can be designed and created in unison with the other core development tools.

Now is your chance to put your artistic skills into use and start doing games that actually make you feel something! Let's get whimsical!

Course competences:
Game Production: Student can produce game graphics related content for a game project and can work with the tools. Student can implement graphics related assets with a game engine. Student can produce value for a game project while working in a game graphics related specialist role.

The learning objectives of the course (outcomes):
After the course you understand what game graphics is and what core development tools you can use to create it. You´ll get familiar with different visual aesthetics and styles, and understand why certain things work and others don't. You also understand how graphics can be used in unison with a game engine in accordance to game graphics theory to develop game graphics. You can apply your knowledge to create graphical building blocks for a game prototype (or a game).

Content

Some of the theories and tools you will familiarise yourself with in this course include Game Graphics Theory, Design, and Tools. The game graphics tools will include design and production tools for the different graphics categories (3D and 2D). The game graphics tools will be gone through on bare minimum level for some of the forementioned categories. You will have experience on the game graphics creation process through the creation and usage of the graphics building blocks from speciality point of view. You will also learn a terminology regarding visual aesthetics and styles.

Further information for students

avoin amk 15 (sis. max-määrään)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Sufficient (1): You have basic knowledge of the game graphics theory principles and related core development tools. You understand how to create game graphics assets from scratch with the art tools and how to use them in the game engine, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills.

Satisfactory (2): You have basic understanding of most of the game graphics theory principles and related core development tools. You are capable of modifying game graphics assets with the art tools and the game engine, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Good (3): You have basic understanding of most of the game graphics theory principles and related core development tools and can analyse ready graphics assets. You are capable of modifying ready or creating your own game graphics assets from scratch with the graphics tools and the game engine, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills. You can recognise different visual styles and related aesthetics.

Very Good (4): You are capable with main concepts of game graphics theory principles and related core development tools. You are capable of creating your own game art assets from scratch with the graphics tools and the game engine, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills. You can take advantage of a bit more advanced topics such as aesthetics. You can recognise different visual styles and related aesthetics, and can create your own assets following certain styles.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): You are very capable with the concepts of game graphics theory principles and related core development tools. You can critically evaluate ready graphics assets. You can use your skills to design and develop your own game graphics assets from scratch with the graphics tools and the game engine, taking advantage your chosen specialty field theory and skills. You have done cooperation with other game developer(s) in your project(s). You can recognise different visual styles and related aesthetics, and can create your own assets following certain visual aesthetics and visual styles. You can analyse and implement different design choices critically.

Prerequisites

No previous art experience prequisites. Basic competence with a game engine is highly recommended. Skills with other related tools, like version control system or any art production tool, are useful.

Further information

Suitable for anyone who is interested in the game creation process from the artistic point of view.