Course Structure:

Contents

– Game design

– Storytelling

– Audio-visual design

– Animation

– Prototyping

– Programming and technology

– Project management

– Game & media studies

Approach

– Focus on both academic theory and professional practice

– Project oriented learning

– Transdisciplinary collaboration

Specialization Tracks

Students in the Digital Games B. A. program have to decide for a specialization track that will determine their future path in game design and development. While in the first year of studies all students will be introduced to the basics of each field of focus, the specializations offer advanced studies in one of the tracks from the second year on until graduation.

Specialization Track: Game Arts

The Game Arts specialization track of the B. A. Digital Games program addresses students who are interested in focusing on the audiovisual side of the game development process. Students will be introduced to the creation of compelling art concepts and the overall dramaturgic use of art as part of an original game idea.

Course examples are:

– Life Drawing & Drawing in Perspective

– Games related Graphic Design

– Game Art Concepts

– Creative Process

– 2D and 3D Art and Animation (with a particular focus on3D)

– Acting for Animation

– Character & World Design

– Sound Design

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CGL

Cologne Game Lab

Technology

Arts Sciences

TH Köln

Specialization Track: Game Design

As one of the three specializations of the Digital Games B. A. program, the Game Design track addresses students who want to focus on the creation and communication of the overall ludic and narrative game concept. Basic studies in narratology, traditional linear and non-linear dramaturgical approaches and ludology will be accompanied by practical exercises in writing and pitching game concepts. Moreover, students will be equipped with crucial management skills such as supervising development and iterations and giving guidance to all creative departments in turning an original game idea into are lease candidate.

Further instruction and advanced practice will include:

– game design fundamentals

– creating game design document

– player analysis and play testing

– systems design

– game mechanics and storytelling in analogue and digital

games

– dramatic and epic storytelling

– open worlds

– story worlds

– level design

– single player / multiplayer mechanics

– serious games and games based learning

Specialization Track: Game Programming

As one of the three specializations of the Digital Games B. A. program, the Game Programming track addresses students who are interested in the software development and programming of digital games. Starting off with basic studies in common programming languages, students will be introduced to creating game worlds and interaction with the help of algorithms and database structures.

Further instruction and advanced practice will include:

– computer architecture

– basic mathematics (trigonometry, linear algebra, 3D)

– basic informatics (algorithms, artificial intelligence)

– frontend (2D/3D graphics, browser)

– backend technology (network, database, client/server)

– operating system specifics

– software management

– game engines

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