PCI Video Game Development


Course Description

A course for the study of the foundational skills in video game development. The course covers an overview of relevant programming methodology, 2D art and design, animation, and level design. A class project is developed in Unity


Instructors

J. Walker Orr, Ph.D.
Office hours: WMR 216 (see schedule)

Anna Alsager


Texts

required



Objectives

Students will learn the essentials of video game development in Unity include programming in C, character design and animation, and level design.


Course Organization

Students will learn the essentials of video game development in Unity include programming in C#, character design and animation, and level design.

This course is pass/fail. In order to pass you must complete at a satisfactory level 75% of the proposed project. Students are also expected to participate in every class section, with exceptions. See the assignment page for more detail.

Over the course of the week, students will create a finished and playable game experience. This project will be completed during the lab time and will be submitted electronically into the shared google drive, or presented live during playtesting.

This class is primarily lecture and lab focused; half of the day dedicated to lecture, the other half dedicated to lab time. The majority of learning will be done experimenting with concepts, using new software, and fabricating a 2D playable game experience.

It is easy to fall behind being due to the nature of each class period building off the next. Achievable ‘Soft’ deadlines will be expected at the end of every day, but will not count against the students grade. All work is to be completed by 3pm the final day of the PCI.


Collaboration

See the GFU CS/IS/Cyber policies for collaboration and discussion of collaboration and academic integrity. Most students would be surprised at how easy it is to detect collaboration in programming—please do not test us! Remember: you always have willing and legal collaborators in the faculty.

Almost all of life is filled with collaboration (i.e., people working together). Yet in our academic system, we artificially limit collaboration. These limits are designed to force you to learn fundamental principles and build specific skills. It is very artificial but intensional for your own benefit. The only way for you to learn is by doing the work.

To be clear, do not:


Spiritual Formation

Besides EYS, I am always available to discuss the Christian faith if you have any questions or doubts. Send me an email, come by my office hours, or talk to my after class, Christ is the reason I am at GFU, I always have time to talk about faith.


Grading

The final course grade will be based on:

Grading Scale


Tentative Schedule

Day 1

Intro to Unity & World Building

Afternoon Lab 2pm - 5pm: World Creation
Check-in: A playable world & stand-in character

Day 2

Intro to Unity Programming in C# & Animation

Afternoon Lab 2pm - 5pm: Scripting & Collectable Creation
Check-in: A character that moves, jumps, & collects

Day 3

Enemy Character Design & Programming

Afternoon Lab 2pm - 5pm: Custom character & animation
Check-in: An animated, moving enemy

Day 4

Custom Art & Animation

Afternoon Lab 2pm - 5pm: Programming & Art
Check-in: Customized art & animation for characters

Day 5

Finishing Touches

Afternoon Lab 2pm - 5pm: Demonstration of your game
Check-in: A 2D platformer game


This page was last modified on 2025-06-27 at 02:31:02.

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