TECH 190 - Introduction to Game and Simulation Development

Covers the gaming industry, careers, and the basic terminology. Topics include history of gaming; an industry overview; career paths, the state of the job market, and skills needed for success in various jobs; genres and platforms; societal issues; the study of games and “play;” the future of gaming; development of design, teamwork, business, and production skills. PREREQUISITE(S): None, but previous computer experience strongly recommended. Assessment Level(s): ENGL 101 /ENGL 011 , READ 120 . Four hours each week.

4 semester hours

Course Outcomes:
Upon course completion, a student will be able to:

Use common terminology of game development
Examine the history of game development in the US and overseas
Examine the growing cluster of game-related companies in Maryland
Identify different organizations using game technology for entertainment and/or for educational uses.
Describe the variety of career paths in the gaming industry such as game design, programming, traditional art, audio, production, script writing, motion capture etc.
Identify the skills needed for success in these different career paths
Analyze the state of the gaming job market
Describe traditional and blended game genres (RPG, Action, Sports, etc.)
Identify different gaming platforms (PC, handhelds, consoles, etc.)
Analyze the use of “serious games” for advocacy, education, advertising, simulation, and other purposes.
Analyze what makes a game “fun” using the principles of ludology.
Develop business, design, teamwork and production skills while learning standard gaming business practices by demonstrating the steps necessary to create test plans, design documents, content, characters, environments, levels, marketing plans and/or funding presentations.
Actively participate with others students in the class in order to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of working in a development team situation
Identify business and legal issues involved in the game creation process.
Evaluate popular controversies surrounding video games such as issues of violence, addiction, gender stereotyping and legal liability.
Analyze whether or not these issues are more problematic in immersive games than in other forms of media like books and movies.
Discuss how games are beginning to be integrated with other forms of art and media from movies to network news to military recruitment advertising.
Discuss the societal impact of “serious games” and how game technology can be used to save lives.
Analyze the future of gaming by discussing different platforms (online games, wireless, pda’s), genres, multiplayer options and applications.

View Schedule of Classes