Introduction to Game Art (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

This course provides students with the essential introduction to the necessary skills to design, create, and implement art for video games It’s a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of game art.

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
• Design and Implement Art for Game Objects: Create art for game objects to be used in a game engine. Implementing art and animations for objects.
• Create Interactive Game Graphics: Learn the basics of graphic design as it applies to games, including character design, environment creation, and animation.
• Design and Implement Visual Effects for Games: Create visual effects to be used in a game engine.
• Optimise art for games: Understand the importance and techniques of optimizing art for games, ensuring that game environments, characters, and assets are designed to maximize efficiency and performance.
• Design and Develop a Small-Scale Game:
Utilize a game engine to design and develop a small-scale game, demonstrating an understanding of the game development process.

Content (course unit)

Introduction to Game Art:
• Overview of game development and the role of a game artist.

Game Engines:
• Introduction to game engines, their components, and how they facilitate game development.

Game Art for game Objects:
• Understanding art for game objects, implementing art and animations.

Interactive game art:
• Introduction to graphic design for games, including character design, environment creation, and animation.

Optimisation:
• Introduction to optimising art for game engines including file formats and techniques of optimizing art for games.

Visual Effects for Games:
• Introduction to Visual Effects design for games and how to design and implement them for games.

Level design:
• Understanding of level design and building in game engines.

Game Building and Release:
• Steps to compile, build, and release a game on an online platform.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student:
• Design Basic Game Art Components
• Utilize Basic Art Creation Tools and export art to be used in Game Engines
• Understand the Role of Art in Game Development

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student:
• Identify Aesthetic and Technical Problems in Game Art
• Apply Design Principles to Solve Art-Related Issues
• Design and Implement Detailed Game Art Components
• Understand and Apply Intermediate Artistic Techniques.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student:
• Is able to apply Comprehensive Game Art Development Skills
• Implement Advanced Art Optimization Techniques
• Create Cohesive and Immersive Game Worlds
• Apply Professional Standards in Art Production

Location and time

Mostly at Mediapolis (two remote lectures via Zoom)

Assessment methods and criteria

Course work project
Active participation

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Lectures
Practical exercises
Independent work

Learning materials

Digital resources

Student workload

27h x 5