TECH 290 - Building Game Worlds: Level Design, Mods, and Quality Assurance

Topics include level design, game modifications (“mods”), quality assurance and testing. Provides an overview of level design and testing, two of the most common entry-level positions in the game industry. Mods, based on existing game engines, vary from individual hobby activities to AAA-published titles like Counterstrike (originally created by college students) and are a powerful tool in an aspiring game developer’s portfolio. PREREQUISITE(S): TECH 190, or successful completion of the departmental skills assessment. TECH 225 is recommended but not required. Assessment Level(s): ENGL 101/ENGL 011. Four hours each week.

4 semester hours

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

Speak and write about the course topics with sufficient proficiency.
Apply critical thinking to a variety of topics in the course.
Use common terminology of game development.
Examine the history of game modifications (“mods”).
Understand the evolution of the “prosumer” concept and its importance in game marketing.
Analyze the evolving interaction between game companies and players and the development of game centered communities.
Describe the variety of career paths in the gaming industry and identify skills needed for success in some of these different career paths.
Describe the roles of Level Designers & Quality Assurance members of a game development team.
Evaluate game engines, level editors and other software used in level design, modding and testing.
Understand how to choose and apply the above software applications.
Create and test interactive 3D game worlds with characters, terrain and architecture.
Write interactive dialogue and stories.
Design for different game genres.
Develop business, design, teamwork and production skills while learning standard gaming business practices by demonstrating the steps necessary to create levels, mods and test plans.
Actively participate with others in a game development team situation.
Identify business and legal issues involved in the game creation process.

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