Class Digital Game Development I

The objective of this CU is that students understand the role of game engines, as well as learn the basics of one in particule, Unity.

In this CU, students will learn how to use Unity, consolidating their knowledge in programming, as well as how to import graphical and sound elements, with the goal of being able to create a vertical slice for a videogame based on a movie of their choosing.

The students will have to develop this vertical slice, presenting it as a pitch, acompanied with a technical report about the work

1. Game engine concepts
2. 2. Introduction to Unity
3. 3. Sprites and tilemaps
   1. Importing sprites
   2. SpriteRenderer
   3. Animation
   4. Tilemaps
4. Introduction to scripting
   1. Concept of GameObject , Asset and Component
   2. Object lifecycle
   3. Reference systems
   4. Prefabs
5. Input and control methods
6. Physics
   1. Rigid bodies
   2. Colliders and Triggers
   3. Raycasting
7. Object instantiation
8. Study of simple game mechanics:
   1. Movement
   2. Jumping
   3. Enemies
   4. Shooting
   5. Collectibles
   6. Energy and life
9. Camera control
10. Game interfaces
    1. GUI principles
    2. Basic components
11. Scene management
12. Special effects
13. Sound effects
    1. Importing audio
    2. Audio usage
14. Builds
15. Development of platformer games
    1. Concept, mechanics, level design and progression
    2. Art integration
    3. Programing
    4. Final build

This curriculur unit includes both theoretical and practical classes, as well as project support classes.

The examples used in this unit illustrate to the students the practices tried and tested in the standard videogame industry. Students will also have access to videos and the presentations, besides the projects created during classes, which are done in a tutorial fashion.

GIBSON, J. (2014). Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development: From Concept to Playable Game with Unity and C#. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley Professional. ISBN: 9780321933164

MENARD, M., & WAGSTAFF, B. (2014). Game Development with Unity (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning PTR. ISBN: 9781305110540

TRISTEM, B., & GEIG, M. (2015). Unity Game Development in 24 Hours (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Sams Publishing. ISBN: 9780672337512