Post-secondary School Game Design Program Puts You In the Field in 4 Semesters
Today’s video games are about much more than finding a prize at the end of each level or saving the princess. They involve many levels with intricate story lines, characters and real-life scenarios. Today’s video games also incorporate full-body interaction with systems like Nintendo Wii becoming extremely popular. In fact, each year billions of dollars worth of video games are sold all over the world. This means that the people inventing the games must possess the creativity to continue the evolution in gaming. If you think you have what it takes and are willing to learn both the creative and business sides of the industry, one of Canada’s game design programs may be for you. These undertaking will prepare you for positions as: game concept artists, concept and environments and effects artists, character and level designers, character and 3D modelers/texture artists, and character animators.
Centennial College’s Game Art and Design is a unique diploma program that was developed by industry professionals to prepare you for a career of imagination, innovative design and storytelling in the dynamic, ever-expanding and intensely creative interactive game industry. Through a hands-on curriculum with emphasis on both game design and creative story development skills, you will learn how to build 2D and 3D art assets for games, develop game environment and characters and express your one-of-a-kind creativity. Small class sizes allow you to get several hours of one-on-one help with each project. Specific courses in the game design program include: Game Theory, Unreal Editor, Character Design, Digital Painting, 3D Modelling and Texturing, and many others. To complement classroom learning, you will also partake in a field placement during which you’ll have the opportunity to put into practice what you have learned in the game design program and acquire new knowledge from gaming professionals.
To apply for this game design program, you must have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. You must also the compulsory English 12C or U credit, a skills assessment or equivalent. Aside from academic requirements, you will be required to submit a mandatory portfolio that features 10 to 15 life drawings, sketches, paintings, sculptures or digitally produced artwork. Preference for the program will be given to applicants who can demonstrate some familiarity with one or more graphics applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, 3DS Max or Maya. If you do not submit digital artwork, you will be tested to determine your level of computer proficiency. “Drawing is very essential to game design and animation,” sums up Michael Jordana, a professor and co-coordinator of the game design program at Centennial. “You need to present yourself as somewhat of a conceptual artist with a love of technology and an aesthetic for art.”
Today’s video games are about much more than finding a prize at the end of each level or saving the princess. They involve many levels with intricate story lines, characters and real-life scenarios. Today’s video games also incorporate full-body interaction with systems like Nintendo Wii becoming extremely popular. In fact, each year billions of dollars worth of video games are sold all over the world. This means that the people inventing the games must possess the creativity to continue the evolution in gaming. If you think you have what it takes and are willing to learn both the creative and business sides of the industry, one of Canada’s game design programs may be for you. These undertaking will prepare you for positions as: game concept artists, concept and environments and effects artists, character and level designers, character and 3D modelers/texture artists, and character animators.
Centennial College’s Game Art and Design is a unique diploma program that was developed by industry professionals to prepare you for a career of imagination, innovative design and storytelling in the dynamic, ever-expanding and intensely creative interactive game industry. Through a hands-on curriculum with emphasis on both game design and creative story development skills, you will learn how to build 2D and 3D art assets for games, develop game environment and characters and express your one-of-a-kind creativity. Small class sizes allow you to get several hours of one-on-one help with each project. Specific courses in the game design program include: Game Theory, Unreal Editor, Character Design, Digital Painting, 3D Modelling and Texturing, and many others. To complement classroom learning, you will also partake in a field placement during which you’ll have the opportunity to put into practice what you have learned in the game design program and acquire new knowledge from gaming professionals.
To apply for this game design program, you must have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. You must also the compulsory English 12C or U credit, a skills assessment or equivalent. Aside from academic requirements, you will be required to submit a mandatory portfolio that features 10 to 15 life drawings, sketches, paintings, sculptures or digitally produced artwork. Preference for the program will be given to applicants who can demonstrate some familiarity with one or more graphics applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, 3DS Max or Maya. If you do not submit digital artwork, you will be tested to determine your level of computer proficiency. “Drawing is very essential to game design and animation,” sums up Michael Jordana, a professor and co-coordinator of the game design program at Centennial. “You need to present yourself as somewhat of a conceptual artist with a love of technology and an aesthetic for art.”