Game EngineLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

The objective of the course (goals):
Have you ever wondered how games are created and what they are made of?

Nowadays games have similar structures even though the gameplay differs greatly. Many games are made with professional core development tools, like game engine, and it is paramount that all game industry professionals understand the purposes of the tools and how they are used to enable, support, or speed up the game production processes.

Now is your chance to get your first shared experience in the game prototype creation process. So join in and get creative!

Course competences:
- Game Production: Student can produce (use) content for a game project and can work with the tools in meaningful and systematic way. They can use assets and the game engine to implement game prototype (They can implement assets with a game engine). Student understands the role of assets and the game engine.
- Learning to Learn: Also takes responsibility for group learning and sharing what has been learned.

The learning objectives of the course (outcomes):
After the course you know the basic structure of games. You understand what a game engine is, how it works, and how it can be used in unison with other core game development tools and assets to create game prototypes and games. You can apply your game engine related skills to be a part of the prototyping process.

Content

Some of the tools you will familiarise yourself with in this course include a game engine, a game engine editor, game production related assets, and a version control system. You will learn use at least some of the game engine features and components to create basic building blocks for games. You will have experience on the proof of concept (POC) creation process through the usage of predefines assets in the game engine.

Qualifications

No previous experience with game engines needed. Previous competence with a game engine is a plus. Skills with other related tools, like version control system, IDE, or game production specialty related tools, are useful.

Concerns open studies and exchange students: Minimal programming competence (language overall, basic structures, syntax, objects) is expected.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient (1): You know the basic structure of games. You understanding the core development tools functionalities, pre-existing components, assets and/or example projects, and how they are used in the creation of games or game content. You can be productive in a limited role as an implementer of specific specialty area. You are also familiar with some other core development tools. You understand the proof of concept creation process.

Satisfactory (2): You are capable of using the core development tools functionalities, pre-existing components, assets and/or example projects, and how they are used in the creation of games or game content. You are able to show your skills through a simple proof of concept created with ready asset(s).

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3): You can analyze a variety of the core development tools functionalities, pre-existing components, assets and/or example projects, and how they are used in the creation of games or game content. You are capable of using them to create simple proof of concept(s) that take several ready assets into use. You can be productive in a role as an implementer of specific specialty area.

Very Good (4): You have a thorough understanding of the core development tools functionalities, pre-existing components, assets and/or example projects, and how they are used in the creation of games or game content. You are capable of using them to create complex proof of concept(s) that take several ready assets into use. You are capable of using 3rd party extensions, or modify the used assets (game content or functionalities). You have done collaboration with another game developer in your game prototype creation process.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): You can critically evaluate the core development tools functionalities, pre-existing components, assets and/or example projects, and how they are used in the creation of games or game content. You are capable of using them to create complex proof of concept(s). You also have in-depth knowledge on some specific part(s) of the game engine and asset(s). You have participated into the group game prototype creation process.

Further information

Suitable for anyone who is interested in the game creation process.