Courses I teach at SCAD-Atlanta

For the complete SCAD Interactive Design & Game Development curriculum click here. 

You can also visit the Student Gallery page for student work samples from my classes.

 

Undergraduate

 

ITGM 240 – Modeling, Materials and Lighting
In this course, students learn the skills required to model and texture objects and characters as well as model more efficiently and accurately. Students use advanced tools, bake textures and work with UV texture editing systems to cut, sew and manipulate textures on geometry. Students also learn to model in polygons as well as in surfaces offered within software (i.e. subdivision surfaces). Assignments are designed to be presented professionally and enhance students’ portfolios. Prerequisite: ANIM 250 or ITGM 208 or VSFX 210.

ITGM 258 – Modeling for Game Development

Students develop an understanding of 3-D, the principles of modeling, and video game aesthetics while exploring the creation of 3-D models specifically designed for integration into a game engine. Aesthetics, construction, communication, sculptural skills and quality of work are emphasized. Prerequisite: ITGM 240.

ITGM 310 – Animation for Games

In this course, students create character rigs and animation assets for games. Topics covered range from key frame animation and editing motion capture data to importing each student’s final animation into an existing game engine. Prerequisite: ANIM 250 or ITGM 258 or VSFX 210.

ITGM 333 – Sculptural Texturing for Games

This course focuses on the creation of complex organic models, 2-D and 3-D textures for use in video game development. Traditional 2-D photo editing, painting software and 3-D painting and sculpting applications are combined to provide maximum emphasis on art, mood, and extreme detail. Additional techniques relating to the use of complex systems within available hardware constraints also are discussed. In this course students explore, discuss and participate in critiques related to professional methodologies, techniques and practices. Results-oriented techniques are emphasized. Prerequisite: ITGM 208 or ITGM 240 or ANIM 250 or VSFX 210.

ITGM 352 – Environment and Level Design

This course centers on the physical building of virtual worlds and the aesthetic/game-play needs associated with these worlds. Students create a variety of level types, including indoor and outdoor world levels, optimizing the created worlds for export to industry-standard game engines. The course also covers the rebuilding and repositioning of game geometry for game play purposes. Specific techniques for exporting geometry from various 3-D applications are also presented, as well as game-play spaces, action and interaction and ways to create interactive, highly responsive worlds. Prerequisite: ITGM 208.

ITGM 360 – Interactive Game Project

Students design and develop games, Web sites and interactive media through a series of technical and design workshops. The course explores intermediate and advanced technical and conceptual aspects of design and development for group-based games and interactive projects. Prerequisite: ITGM 303.

ITGM 364 – Scripting for Games

In this course students write scripts for a current game engine in order to alter its existing functionality as well as create new interactive elements. Ultimately, students learn to create what industry calls an engine modification (MOD). Prerequisites: ITGM 303, ITGM 352.

ITGM 380 Interactive Design and Game Development Portfolio

This course focuses on integrating imagery, Web sites, video and various elements into an interactive portfolio. Concepts, cross-platform developments and issues concerning aesthetics, interface design and use of media are addressed. Students collect relevant material and produce a CD/DVD/Web-based portfolio, packaging for portfolio, résumé, cover letter, business card, flatbook portfolio and optional VHS-based material. Prerequisite(s): ITGM 350 or ITGM 351 or ITGM 352 or ITGM 353.

ITGM 405 – Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I

Students apply their skills to creating a workable interactive project or video game in a simulated professional environment. Topics include content creation within a limited resource environment. The course emphasizes production-oriented goals in order to provide students with a professional skill set and a body of fine art. Prerequisite: ITGM 402 or ITGM 403 or ITGM 440 or ITGM 452.

ITGM 410 Mobile Games Development

Students in this course use industry standard tools to build games for mobile devices such as PDAs and mobile phones. Interface design issues, user input for mobile devices and programming for mobile devices are covered. Prerequisite: ITGM 303.

ITGM 465 – Interactive Design and Game Development Studio II

Students work in a collaborative, simulated professional environment to address issues including content creation in a group dynamic, strategic planning, goal-oriented planning, and game theory and design. This course provides students with a significant amount of professional-quality material for portfolio inclusion. Prerequisite: ITGM 405.

ANIM 250 – Digital Form, Space and Lighting

Topics covered throughout this course include the theories of 3-D space, surface modeling, rendering, lighting and procedures for texture mapping. Students develop and construct 3-D computer models and sets. Prerequisite: CMPA 100 or CMPA 110.

ANIM 351 – Advanced Modeling for Computer Animation

This course emphasizes anatomical construction and digital re-creation of believable characters. Students develop and construct digital 3-D character models intended for animation. The course covers advanced topics in 3-D character design and modeling, with an emphasis on anatomy as it applies to predetermined movement requirements. Students explore the advanced subdivisional, polygon and NURBS modeling tools as they pertain to believable biped and quadruped characters. Prerequisite: ANIM 310.

 

Graduate

 

ITGM 710 – Character Development

This course examines how to develop characters by working in stages from 2-D character model sheets to the 3-D finished project. Subjects covered include plot and character development, information research and originality, the history of character development and developmental drawings of characters, settings and other materials. Other relevant issues such as artistic license and responsibility are covered in class discussions.

ITGM 721 – Environments for Games
This course centers on the physical building of virtual worlds and the aesthetic/game play needs associated with these worlds. Students create a variety of level types, including indoor and outdoor world levels, and then optimize those worlds for export to industry-standard game engines. The course also covers the rebuilding and repositioning of game geometry for game play and specific techniques for exporting geometry from various 3-D game applications. Prerequisite: ITGM 710.

ITGM 733 – Digital Sculpting for Video Games

This course explores the creation of complex models and textures for use in video game development. Students are introduced to current theory, functional aesthetics, and advanced techniques relevant to digital sculpture. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.

ITGM 748 Interactive Design and Game Development M.A. Final Project
Students have the option of choosing to develop a final project or a final portfolio. This course allows returning professionals who have already constructed professional portfolios to work on a full term project while giving those who are in need of a portfolio the chance to create one with the professionalism and presentation quality industry demands. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.

ITGM 749 Interactive Design and Game Development Portfolio
Students focus on the integration of imagery, Web sites, video and various other elements into an interactive portfolio. Concepts, cross-platform developments, and issues concerning aesthetics, interface design and the use of media are addressed. Students collect relevant material and produce a CD/DVD/Web-based portfolio, packaging for portfolio, r??sum??, cover letter, business cards, flat book portfolio and optional VHS-based material. M.A. students enroll in this course during their final quarter of studies in the interactive design and game development program. Prerequisite: ITGM 723.

ITGM 755 – Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I

In this required seminar/studio course, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed, with a strong emphasis on critique. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.

ITGM 755 Interactive Design and Game Development Studio I
In this required seminar/studio course, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed, with a strong emphasis on critique. Prerequisite: ITGM 705.

ITGM 765 – Interactive Design and Game Development Studio II

In this required seminar/studio, students develop and define a personal vision in their area of interest. As preparation for thesis work, this course is flexible and self-directed with a strong emphasis on critique. This course primarily addresses the development of preproduction work for the thesis. Prerequisite: ITGM 755.

ITGM 780 – Special Topics in Interactive Design and Game Development

This graduate elective course provides an opportunity for students to focus on particular issues in the field or to study advanced techniques and processes. Faculty, course content and prerequisites vary each time the course is offered. The course may include lectures, discussions, individual projects and critiques, depending on the nature of the topic.

ANIM 709 – Computer Generated Modeling and Design

This course focuses on the issues of modeling surfaces appropriate for use in animation. In particular, students are expected to develop an understanding of modeling organic forms.