Technology

Video Game Development

Channel your creative side in a multibillion-dollar industry. Turn game designers’ concepts and ideas into playable games with a Video Game Development program. Gain skills in planning, game execution (coding), and the testing of games.

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    Area of Interest is required
    In-Class: Instructor-led classes held in-person at one or more of our 4 campuses.
    Hybrid: Instructor-led classes on a set schedule held remotely on video over the Internet, with some courses delivered in-person at one of our 4 campuses.
    Remote: Instructor-led classes on a set schedule, held remotely live on video over the Internet.
    Online: Flexible schedule with a set weekly pace and the support of facilitators when you need it; delivered over the Internet.
    Preferred Method of Learning is required
    Campus is required
    Consent is required

    Type

    Diploma

    Duration

    85 Weeks

    Internship

    16 Weeks

    Program Outline

    View Outline Arrow Icon Pointing Right

    About The Program

    The Video Game Development diploma program offers the chance to build a gaming portfolio that includes multiple gaming projects using C++, HTML5, DirectX and Unity Games. Develop real-world understanding through a 16-week field placement so that you graduate with the development skills and experience that employers want.

     

    Career Opportunities

    As a Video Game Development graduate, you will qualify for positions such as Quality Assurance/Game Testers, 2D/3D Game Programmers, Mobile Game Programmers, Game AI Programmers, and Level Designers.

    Employers Who Have Hired Eastern Grads

    • Spandrel Interactive Inc.
    • BMM Test Labs
    • Cantankerous Games
    • HB Studio
    • TMP Games
    • Gogii Games Lighthouse Studio
    • Gorilla Soup Studios
    • Eurigs Computer Games

    Salary

    100 %

    Employment Rate*

    $ 36

    Average Wage/hr**

    $ 57

    High Wage/hr**

    *Employment Rate based on 2021 contactable Eastern graduates employed in a related field within 12 months.

    Source: workingincanada.gc.ca

    NOC Code: 2174 - **Wage data rounded down to the nearest dollar and based on New Brunswick data. Average wage doesn't reflect the starting salary but represents the middle value between lowest to highest wages. Local (or regional) income may vary. Last updated in Dec 2022.

    Available Learning Options

    At Eastern College, you can choose the learning option that meets your needs. This program is currently available in:

    In-Class

    Instructor-led classes held in-person at one or more of our 4 campuses.

    Video Game Development

    Duration: 85 Weeks

    Internship: 16 Weeks

    Program Outline NB

    Remote

    Instructor-led classes on a set schedule, held remotely live on video over the Internet.

    Video Game Development

    Duration: 85 Weeks

    Internship: 16 Weeks

    Program Outline NB

    Program Details

    Are you interested in working for an indie gaming outlet or triple A (AAA) gaming studio? The Video Game Development diploma program at Eastern College is designed to teach you the skills you need to be successful in a variety of video game development roles.

    In this program, you’ll focus on programming, scripting, game level planning and sound design, and publish your own games, from prototype to release. Develop games using Unity, Unreal, C++, C#, Java, Swift and more! You’ll also learn how to implement artificial intelligence (AI) into your own 2D and 3D games.

    Graduate with a portfolio of games and projects that you can be proud to present to potential employers.

    A four-month field placement is included to provide you with industry experience.

    This program was developed with industry professionals and is regularly updated to reflect current industry trends.

    Course Listings: New Brunswick
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    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Career Planning & Preparation - Level I
    This module introduces tools for planning and preparing for a successful job search, so that students can maintain a career-focused approach throughout their education program. Students will learn about the "Hidden" Job Market and ways to access it in their upcoming job search, how to research opportunities and network for industry contacts, and use appropriate etiquette when communicating with prospective employers. Students will identify their personal skills, values and preferences for the workplace, begin preparation of a professional resume and references, and organize proof documents for their career portfolio. Class discussions on various self-management topics introduced in Student Success Strategies will round out this module, which is a pre-requisite for Career Planning and Preparation - Part II.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Career Planning & Preparation - Level II
    This module continues to build on the concepts and skills introduced in Career Planning and Preparation - Part I. Students will learn how to conduct an effective job search and identify various methods of applying for work with today's technology. Students will create a personal list of "Top Employers" and target current industry opportunities, while finalizing their professional resume, portfolio and career correspondence. Students will learn to identify the different types and forms of interviews, practice responding to typical questions, and practice follow-up, evaluation and negotiation techniques they can use to ensure success. Self-management topics from Career Planning and Preparation - Part I will be reviewed, with a focus towards on-the-job success in both learner placements and post-graduate employment.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Digital Literacy for Professionals
    This course has four units that introduces you to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. The first unit introduces you to using devices and handling information with topics on operating systems (Windows, MAC, and Linux), computer organization (folder management and naming conventions), cloud storage (including Microsoft OneDrive), types of web browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari), and fundamental troubleshooting. In the second unit, you will become familiar with creating and editing information through learning about file formats (pdf, mp4, docx), productivity (including iWork and Microsoft Office Suite) and creativity (Adobe, Canva, iMovie) platforms, and basic introduction to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The third unit on communicating and collaborating will introduce you to web conferencing applications (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams), mail applications (including Microsoft Outlook and Gmail,), project management tools (Trello, Asana), and time management tools (including Todoist, Outlook Calendar, and iCal), and building rapport virtually. In the final unit, you will gain an understanding on netiquette, cybersecurity, and digital wellness. After completing this course, you will have enhanced digital literacy skills as a professional in the working and learning environment.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Field Placement - Video Game Development
    At the successful completion of the classroom hours of this program, students will be placed in a 16-week internship at an outside organization. Students will have the opportunity to apply their new and developed skills in a real-world environment. Host sites include Video Game Developers.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Student Success Strategies
    In this orientation module, emphasis is placed on thinking about achieving success from Day One. This module stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic, and career success. This includes understanding learning styles and honing practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note-and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision making and problem solving skills, setting SMART goals and maintaining a positive attitude; techniques for managing change, stress and conflict will also be explored.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Advanced Graphics Programming
    This course continues where the introduction to graphics programming course left off and builds on those foundations. Students continue to explore additional APIs. Students will develop their skills in using Shaders, and apply this to their custom engine project.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Advanced Game Programming
    This course will develop student programming skills and further various object-oriented problem-solving techniques. Students will identify advanced object-oriented terminology and techniques commonly applied in video game development. This course examines more advanced programming and applies this to challenging projects. This course will enhance student capacity to design complex systems and work in a professional video game development environment.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Digital Media & Portfolios
    This course introduces students to the criteria used to identify and evaluate digital and interactive media and related technologies. Focus will be placed on the practices and tools used to create and maintain an online presence and portfolio within the video game industry.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Video Game Design
    This course introduces students to the historical development of video games and the social and cultural effects video games have on society. An analysis of existing video game mechanics, technical design, documentation, planning and implementation will allow students to approach video game design from a knowledge perspective. Students will generate game design documentation for both existing and their own video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Game Engines II 2D
    Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Video Game Design, Business & Organization, Engines II 2D, and Engines II 3D courses to develop an Unreal video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Game Engines II 3D
    This course will extend students’ knowledge of the Unreal Engine and 3D game programming for video games. Students will apply their knowledge of the Unreal Engine as they expand into the 3rd dimension while still leveraging blueprints. Mathematics and physics principles learned earlier will be applied to create and publish fully functional 3D games using the Unreal Engine and the C++ Programming language.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Game Engines I 2D
    This course will extend students’ knowledge of 2D game programming and development using the Unity game engine and the C# programming language. Students will learn how to work with the Unity Engine which will allow them to develop and publish 2D games that can be targeted to multiple platforms including mobile devices.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Game Engines I 3D
    This course will extend students’ knowledge of the Unity Engine and 3D game programming for video games. Students will apply their knowledge of the Unity Engine as they expand into the 3rd dimension. Mathematics and physics principles learned earlier will be applied to create and publish fully functional 3D games using the Unity Engine and the C# Programming language.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Fundamentals of Game Programming
    This course introduces students to programming and various object-oriented problem-solving techniques. Students will identify essential object-oriented terminology and techniques commonly applied to video game development. This course examines the fundamentals of programming and applies those to simple games. This foundation will be built upon in future courses.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Fundamentals of Graphics Programming
    This course continues where the introduction to programming course left off and builds on those foundations. Students are introduced to the graphics programming pipeline where they will learn how to identify and select the right rendering subsystem for their games based on platform and requirements. Students will be designing and building more elaborate games which they will have an opportunity to re-visit and improve upon in future courses.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Math & Physics for Games
    In this course, students will identify key mathematical and physics concepts found in video games. Students will recognize and interpret these concepts as they are applied to video game processes. Students will work through specific math and physics concepts used in most games and game engines.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Game Engines I Project
    Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Video Game Design, Business & Organization, Engines I 2D, and Engines I 3D courses to develop a Unity video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Game Engines II Project
    Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Video Game Design, Business & Organization, Engines II 2D, and Engines II 3D courses to develop an Unreal video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Rapid Game Development
    This course provides students with the knowledge and ability to rapidly prototype video game demos to showcase “proof-of-concepts”. Students in this course will also work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered to develop a video game prototype. Additionally, students will be mentored throughout the process to relay the skills and thought processes necessary to produce commercial quality video games.
    Admission Requirements
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    • Student has Grade 12 or equivalent or meets criteria for Mature Student Status.
    • Mature students must be 19 years of age, provide a Letter of Intent, provide most recent educational transcript, and pass a qualifying test.

    Career Quiz

    Take a quick and easy quiz to find out more about yourself, your goals, and identify your strengths and social style. This quiz gives you suggestions for what career areas you might consider based on your likes and preferences. Give it a try now!

    Technology Requirements

    This program requires students to bring their own device. Learn more about the technology requirements that will help you succeed.

    Learn More