Game Design and Development_Updated 14.12.2024

Game Design and Development Syllabus (12 Months/192 Hours)
Part 1: Game Design (3 Months/48 Hours)
Objective: Provide foundational knowledge in game design, including mechanics, player psychology, level design, and
prototyping. By the end of this part, students will be equipped to conceptualize and prototype game ideas.
Module 1: Fundamentals of Game Design
Duration: 1 Month/16 Hours

Objective: Understand the core principles of game design, genres, and essential tools.
Syllabus:
1. What is Game Design?
2. History of Video Games and Genres
3. Role of Game Designers in Development Teams
4. Game Design Documentation (GDD) Basics
5. Tools for Prototyping and Wireframing
Project: Create a basic Game Concept Document for a chosen genre.
Module 2: Game Mechanics and Systems

Objective: Explore the building blocks of games, including mechanics, systems, and feedback loops.
Syllabus:
1. Core Gameplay Loops and Progression Systems
2. Scoring, Rewards, and Feedback Mechanisms
3. Balancing Complexity vs. Simplicity
4. Prototyping Gameplay Systems Using Paper or Digital Tools
Project: Design a paper prototype of a game with scoring and progression systems.
Module 3: Level and Narrative Design

Objective: Focus on creating compelling levels and engaging narratives for games.
Syllabus:
1. Basics of Level Design: Flow and Navigation
2. Environmental Storytelling
3. Branching Narratives and Player Choice
4. Rapid Level Prototyping in Unity (No Coding)
Project: Create a mock-up level design and a branching narrative for an RPG.
Part 2: Game Development (9 Months/144 Hours)
Objective: Teach the skills needed to implement and develop fully functional games using Unity. Students will learn
coding basics, multiplayer systems, AI, and deployment.
Module 4: Introduction to Game Programming

Objective: Learn programming fundamentals and Unity’s scripting system.
Syllabus:
1. Basics of C# Programming (Variables, Loops, Functions)
2. Understanding Unity’s Component System
3. Scripting Game Objects and Simple Interactions
4. Debugging Basics
Project: Create a simple game with interactive objects (e.g., a maze or click-based game).
Module 5: Gameplay Mechanics and Physics
Duration: 2 Months/32 Hours

Objective: Implement advanced gameplay mechanics and use Unity’s physics system.
Syllabus:
1. Player Movement Systems (Walking, Jumping)
2. Physics-Based Interactions (Gravity, Collisions)
3. Power-Ups and Temporary Abilities
4. Animation Integration for Gameplay

Project: Develop a platformer game with collectibles and hazards.
Module 6: Multiplayer Systems

Objective: Learn the basics of multiplayer game development, networking, and real-time interactions.
Syllabus:
1. Networking Concepts for Games (P2P vs. Client-Server)
2. Synchronizing Game States Across Players
3. Real-Time Interaction (Chat, Leaderboards)
4. Basic Multiplayer Game Prototype
Project: Create a simple multiplayer game (e.g., a 2-player racing game or battle arena).
Module 7: Game AI and Procedural Systems

Objective: Introduce AI systems and procedural content generation.
Syllabus:
1. Basics of Game AI: Pathfinding
2. AI Behavior, Goal-Oriented AI
3. Procedural Level Generation Techniques
4. Adaptive AI and Difficulty Adjustment
Project: Build a game with AI-controlled characters (e.g., enemies or NPCs).
Module 8: Game Optimization and Deployment

Objective: Prepare games for deployment across platforms while optimizing performance.
Syllabus:
1. Asset Optimization (Textures, Models, Audio)
2. Performance Profiling Using Unity Tools
3. Cross-Platform Deployment for PC and Mobile

4. Game Marketing and Publishing Basics
Project: Package and publish a complete game prototype to a platform of choice.
Sample Projects for the Course
1. Puzzle Game Prototype (Game Design Focus)
o Design a simple puzzle game with engaging mechanics and level progression.
o Tools: Unity (non-coding prototyping).
2. Platformer with Physics (Game Development Focus)
o Create a 2D platformer game featuring gravity, power-ups, and animations.
o Tools: Unity, C#.
3. Multiplayer Racing Game
o Develop a racing game with real-time multiplayer capabilities and leaderboards.
o Tools: Unity Networking (Photon PUN).
4. AI Adventure Game
o Design a game where AI-driven NPCs interact with the player, creating dynamic challenges.
o Tools: Unity, NavMesh.
5. End-to-End Game Prototype
o Create a fully functional game combining learned skills, from mechanics to deployment.
o Tools: Unity, Unity Profiler for optimization.
[Note: these projects will be embedded with the course based on the student progression, not at the end of the course]

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Game Design and Development Syllabus (12 Months/192 Hours)

Part 1: Game Design (3 Months/48 Hours)

Module 1: Fundamentals of Game Design

Duration: 1 Month/16 Hours

1. What is Game Design?

2. History of Video Games and Genres

3. Role of Game Designers in Development Teams

4. Game Design Documentation (GDD) Basics

5. Tools for Prototyping and Wireframing

Project: Create a basic Game Concept Document for a chosen genre.

Module 2: Game Mechanics and Systems

Duration: 1 Month/16 Hours

1. Core Gameplay Loops and Progression Systems

2. Scoring, Rewards, and Feedback Mechanisms

3. Balancing Complexity vs. Simplicity

4. Prototyping Gameplay Systems Using Paper or Digital Tools

Module 3: Level and Narrative Design

Duration: 1 Month/16 Hours

1. Basics of Level Design: Flow and Navigation

3. Branching Narratives and Player Choice

4. Rapid Level Prototyping in Unity (No Coding)

Part 2: Game Development (9 Months/144 Hours)

Module 4: Introduction to Game Programming

Duration: 2 Month/32 Hours

1. Basics of C# Programming (Variables, Loops, Functions)

2. Understanding Unity’s Component System

3. Scripting Game Objects and Simple Interactions

Module 5: Gameplay Mechanics and Physics

Duration: 2 Months/32 Hours

1. Player Movement Systems (Walking, Jumping)

2. Physics-Based Interactions (Gravity, Collisions)

3. Power-Ups and Temporary Abilities

4. Animation Integration for Gameplay

Module 6: Multiplayer Systems

Duration: 2 Months/32 Hours

1. Networking Concepts for Games (P2P vs. Client-Server)

2. Synchronizing Game States Across Players

3. Real-Time Interaction (Chat, Leaderboards)

4. Basic Multiplayer Game Prototype

Module 7: Game AI and Procedural Systems

Duration: 2 Months/32 Hours

1. Basics of Game AI: Pathfinding

3. Procedural Level Generation Techniques

4. Adaptive AI and Difficulty Adjustment

Project: Build a game with AI-controlled characters (e.g., enemies or NPCs).

Module 8: Game Optimization and Deployment

Duration: 1 Month/16 Hours

1. Asset Optimization (Textures, Models, Audio)

2. Performance Profiling Using Unity Tools

3. Cross-Platform Deployment for PC and Mobile

Project: Package and publish a complete game prototype to a platform of choice.

Sample Projects for the Course

1. Puzzle Game Prototype (Game Design Focus)

o Tools: Unity (non-coding prototyping).

2. Platformer with Physics (Game Development Focus)

o Create a 2D platformer game featuring gravity, power-ups, and animations.

o Tools: Unity, C#.

3. Multiplayer Racing Game

o Develop a racing game with real-time multiplayer capabilities and leaderboards.

o Tools: Unity Networking (Photon PUN).