Game Design, BS

Major
On Campus, Day
Communications Media
game design student drawing

In Short

The major in Game Design – the first of its kind in a public institution in the Northeast – seeks to make the methods and tools of game design and development accessible to everyone.

What we're working on

image of student game
Dab Revo - A freestyle dancing game with rhythm game roots. Think you're too cool for this game? Well you're not... We like fun!
student game image
Legend of the Dungeon - An adventure game with 8 fully explorable dungeons and bosses.
student game image
Friender Bender - A local-multiplayer sabotage driving game. Up to 4 players take turns controlling 1 car, avoiding obstacles and navigating 2 increasingly crazy courses. If the player crashes while driving, they lose a life. If they lose all of their lives, they’re eliminated. The last player left driving is the winner!
student game image
Outerworld Image - Outerworld Image is a surreal, meditative photography game. Walk around a neon planet, taking photos at your leisure that can be saved and shared, while listening to some calming music and not thinking about the end of the world. Created by five students in a semester.
student game image
Laserface - Blow up the city and cause destruction with the LASER on your FACE. You're LASERFACE.

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Program Overview

We strive to produce strong game creators with robust skill sets, able to work independently or in productive teams to create powerful, thought-provoking games with solid gameplay mechanics, unified aesthetics, and engaging stories.

Students learn core concepts of game design, foundations of visual art, and fundamentals of game logic and programming. They learn to design games by creative brainstorming, problem-solving, iterating, and focusing on the player. They learn to develop artistic concepts into fully realized 2D and 3D art assets based on solid research and art foundations.

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Professor Jeff Warmouth with Game Design students

Students build proficiencies with current software, platforms, hardware, programming languages, and anticipate learning new tools as needed. They are eager to explore the problems and possibilities inherent in new platforms including mobile, VR, augmented reality, or tools not yet imagined.

A game design student working with 3D modeling software

Students learn to consider games through historical, social, aesthetic, and theoretical lenses, and to develop a sense of civic and global responsibility through the study and practice of serious games. They transcend aesthetic, formal, mechanical, and convention limitations to design excellent games with personal vision.

Game design students working in a computer lab

Students develop skills in managing time, resources, and personalities by working towards a common goal with their production teams. They learn to manage, playtest, critique, troubleshoot, and release game projects that create memorable experiences for players. And they promote their achievements in order to expand opportunities for their games and themselves.

Check out the Burg Blog for more on our game design program and the ideaLab. 

Experiential Opportunities

Professor Jeffrey Warmouth and student Jules Stackhouse in the game design studio at the theater…
Communications Media Internships

Internships

Internships are a great opportunity to get valuable, real-world experiences before entering a competitive job market.
Read more about: Internships
Three photos of a woman's face behind a sheer fabric

Visions

Visions is the juried honors showcase of the year's best original student work in the Communications Media Department. The entire campus and local community looks forward to this annual event, which consists of a gallery art exhibition, a film/video screening, and a presentation forum.
Read more about: Visions
Game design students abroad in Japan

Study Abroad

Students also work beyond the traditional classroom. Opportunities include study abroad programs, professional capstone projects, and internships. In Spring 2016, eighteen game design students traveled to Japan to visit game studios and academic programs.
Read more about: Study Abroad

Curriculum and Other Information

Game Design students will, through a combination of required courses and electives, be exposed to and attain competency in the following concepts, practices and skills:

  • Analytical understanding of games, gameplay, and game design
  • Foundations in visual art and creative writing
  • Principles of game logic and programming
  • Industry-standard game engines and software
  • Team-based iterative design process
  • Games as media of communication and aesthetic expression
  • Game and level designers
  • Producers
  • Data managers
  • Production assistants
  • Interactive designers
  • Game analysts
  • Writers
  • Game artists
  • Programmers
  • Game localization positions
  • Quality assurance testers

Visit the Student Games Showcase to see and play a selection of student-created games.

Undergraduate Day Tuition and Fees