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Video Game Design

The Video Game Design course provides an opportunity for students to design and develop video games for mobile devices, consoles, and personal computers using the Unity environment. The curriculum follows the Unity Essentials and Junior Programmer pathways and culminates in the creation of a game designed by the

student.

In the first module, students will explore the essential features of the Unity editor by creating and managing basic 2D and 3D scenes. The first game they create will be a gravity simulation where they have to roll a large boulder through a maze. Students will learn about Unity’s history and use in industries such as art, design, and programming.

In the second module, students will learn the basics of coding in the C# programming language by creating several 3D video games. Students will program a top-down game with the objective of transporting food to hungry animals. They will be introduced to if-then statements, random value generators, collision detection algorithms, prefabs, and instantiation. Students will be able to read and improve simple C# code using the Visual Studio integrated development environment. They will learn how to diagnose and debug common compilation errors and glitches. In the third module, students will generate vast terrains and world environments using the Unity Terrain Editor. Unity’s architectural Pro-Builder tool will be utilized to create complex structures and game levels. Students will control lighting and use materials and shaders to control how light reflects to the camera.

In the last two weeks of the course, students will design and develop a unique video game that will demonstrate all of the skills obtained in the course. Students may choose a two-dimensional platformer, a 3D racing kart game, or a first-person adventure project.

Throughout the course, students will peer review video games created by their classmates, and use the iterative process to reflect on feedback provided on their own game and revise. Students will engage in discussions about current trends in the game industry and the future of the field.

Acknowledgements

  • Please Note: This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.
  • This course is an introductory-level class on video game design that does not require previous experience in computer programming.

Course Objectives

Course Essential Questions:

  • What are the significant careers that require Unity?
  • What are the fundamental coding skills in C# required to create a video game?
  • What are the benefits of prefab instantiation in video game development?
  • How do video game developers use Unity to create a scene in 2D vs 3D?

Course Objectives:

  • Create a video game in Unity that incorporates programming, design, and art elements.
  • Control the behavior of video game elements through coding in the C# programming language.
  • Utilize the major components of the Unity editor interface to control the physics, position, and behavior of standard objects in a video game.
  • Design and develop a video game that demonstrates the skills obtained in the course.

Additional Requirements

  • In addition to VHS Learning system requirements, students will need the following desktop application: Unity 3D Hub and Editor
  • Due to the Unity 3D software required, this course requires regular access to a computer running Microsoft Windows 7, 8, or 10 or Apple Mac OSX 10.13+. This course cannot be completed on a Chromebook, iPad, or mobile device. Unity 3D requires a computer running 64-bit Microsoft Windows 10 or newer, with 8GB of RAM and 30GB of free hard drive space.
  • Students must create Unity 3D and Visual Studio Microsoft accounts to complete this course and will be directed to do so during the first week.