Bachelor of Game DevelopmentMajor in Game Programming

Semester 1

• GDP201 Advanced programming techniques for games

  GDP201 is a subject that provides practical training in advanced programming techniques required for the video game industry. This course builds on the programming skills and techniques learned in GDP101 Introduction to object-oriented programming and C++. It explores advanced programming methodologies commonly used in real-time game development, including memory management, test-driven development, asynchronous programming, regular expressions, and data-oriented programming. Through practical assessment tasks, students will analyze and solve complex problems commonly found in games using advanced programming techniques.

  The focus of GDP201 is on developing advanced programming language features and concepts necessary for cutting-edge game development. Students will leverage the features of the C# programming language and Unity 3D game engine to create games system components, analyze memory management features, and apply test-driven development methodologies to comprehensively test and debug their projects. Students will also learn how to use the profiling features in Unity to analyze and optimize code and system runtime performance. The course emphasizes the importance of understanding the consequences of various methodologies, techniques, and concepts for real-time applications and games. By developing these skills, students will become better equipped to handle the technical challenges that come with developing video games, making them valuable assets to the industry. Students will be assessed through a report on memory management, an inventory system project using Unity, and optimizing a boid flocking demonstration using ECS for Unity.

• GDP202 Algorithms and data structures

  GDP202 is an exciting subject that will teach you how to design and implement efficient algorithms and data structures, essential skills for modern programming. This unit will build upon the object-oriented programming principles you have learned in GDP101 and equip you with the knowledge to implement static and dynamic data structures such as arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, graphs, trees, and hash tables. You will also learn sorting and searching algorithms, algorithm efficiency, and the appropriate use of various data structures and algorithms.

  By the end of this subject, you will be able to apply fundamental data structures and algorithms to implement real-time games and applications. The skills and knowledge you acquire in GDP202 will be crucial to optimizing code and enhancing the performance of game projects. This subject will provide you with practical training, including implementing different sorting algorithms, creating a binary tree, and recreating a classic arcade game using various data structures. A final short-answer and multiple-choice exam will also test your knowledge and understanding of the subject.

• GDC201 Human-computer interaction and user experience design

  In this unit you will explore the key principles and theories of human-computer interaction (HCI) and study user experience (UX), user interface (UI) and gamification concepts to design interfaces for interactive systems. You will learn about input/output (I/O) channels, interaction models and frameworks, memory and information processing in humans and computer systems for the development of intuitive interfaces that users can easily grasp and control.

  You will also develop skills in articulating and critically evaluating UX design ideas and practice wireframing to creatively solve UI design and gamification problems by redesigning and prototyping new experiences. You will adapt your UX knowledge and skills across diverse enterprise contexts that underpin the development of digital games and applications.

• GDC200A Game development project 3

  Building on the knowledge and skills gained in GDC100B Game development project 2, you will work in a team to design and develop a 3D narrative-based game and produce more complex game documentation including a game design document, art bible and technical design document, and evaluate other teams’ games through pilot playtesting and critique. You will adapt the scope and focus of your project using iterative system design principles throughout development, focusing on an initial, simplified implementation that progressively gains more complexity and a broader feature set until the final system is complete. You will obtain weekly feedback from a supervisory team of academics, regarding the project in progress and utilize this feedback to develop next iteration of the prototype.

  You will further develop your teamwork skills forming an interdisciplinary team and demonstrate intermediate level design skills through the creation of a game concept. Your team will draft the system architecture and produce a level of the game prototype using a commercial-level game engine. The group project will utilise the individual skills of team members in game art, design and programming to collaborate effectively on the final product in a studio-simulated environment. Your individual contributions will form part of your professional portfolio.

Semester 2

• GDP203 Software engineering

  GDP203 Software Engineering is an essential unit for anyone looking to become a skilled game developer. This unit delves into the software development methodologies and software design patterns commonly used in game development. You’ll learn how to describe the design of systems using the Unified Modelling Language (UML), estimate software complexity, and integrate proven solutions to common architectural problems. By studying contemporary system design and software engineering methodologies, you’ll develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to develop solutions to complex problems in game development.

  This unit takes a software design-centric approach to game development, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop effective solutions to complex problems. You will explore various software development methodologies, including test-driven development, and writing technical documentation. Additionally, you will learn how to design and implement game systems using common programming patterns. Through a series of programming exercises and technical documentation assignments, you’ll gain hands-on experience applying the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the course.

• GDP204 Network programming for connected games

  GDP204 Network Programming for Connected Games is a dynamic and hands-on unit that builds on advanced programming techniques for games and delves into the world of connected games. Connected games are highly successful and generate significant revenue, making it crucial for game developers to understand how to build them. This unit covers both programming and networking concepts, giving students a broad understanding of how games are built and how they function online.

  Students will learn about networking fundamentals for game development, including internetworking methods, protocols, and specifications. Through practical experience, they will gain knowledge in designing for global scale and dedicated servers, building a minimal client and server, and exploring security, cheating, and ethical considerations in connected games. By the end of the unit, students will have created a network multiplayer game prototype using a game engine, putting their skills into practice and preparing them for a career in the exciting and rapidly growing field of online game development.

• GDP205 Computer graphics using shaders

  GDP205 is a fascinating subject that explores computer graphics using shaders, an essential component of modern video games. The subject delves into the techniques and algorithms used in real-time rendering of computer graphics, with a strong focus on shader programming. Shaders are user-defined programs that run on a graphics processor and execute a programmable stage of the rendering pipeline. Students will gain a thorough understanding of how graphics are created and displayed in modern games and learn how to take control of graphics hardware to optimize performance. They will also get hands-on experience in writing graphics shaders using GLSL and HLSL shader programming language within the Unity 3D game engine.

  GDP205 is highly relevant to the video game industry, as advanced techniques and algorithms used in modern real-time rendering are necessary to create high-quality visuals in modern games. Shaders and optimized performance are crucial skills for graphics programmers to have to take control of graphics hardware and provide players with an efficient and visually stunning experience. Students will gain these essential skills and knowledge through GDP205, and the practical assessments, such as writing a surface shader, a terrain shader, and a shader optimized for mobile platforms, will provide them with the experience and portfolio of work that they can use to showcase their abilities to potential employers.

• GDC200B Game development project 4

  In this unit, you will build upon the 3D prototype designed in GDC200A Game development project 3. You will gain intermediate level knowledge of project development while leveraging technical skills in your area of specialisation to complete and deliver the vertical slice and produce detailed game documentation and a post-mortem. In a studio-simulated environment, you will work in groups to manage the continued production of a 3D narrative-based game using a commercial-level game engine, exploring the quality assurance process and the production and post-production stages of game development such as scheduling, budgeting, marketing and playtesting to produce a vertical slice of the game.

  You will adapt the scope and focus of your project using iterative system design principles and utilising weekly feedback from a supervisory team of academics regarding the project in progress, you will develop the next iteration of the prototype.
  You will further develop your teamwork skills through the creation of a game concept. In addition to developing your project you will be involved in providing constructive feedback to your peers in a professional manner at the end of this unit.

Semester 1

• GDP301 Systems programming and cross-platform development

  The GDP301 Systems programming and cross-platform development course is an essential course for students interested in the video game industry. This course focuses on designing and developing games that can be deployed across multiple platforms using the Unity game engine. Students will gain valuable knowledge on GUI design, data and resource management, mobile optimization, and profiling, which are essential skills for cross-platform game development. The course covers a wide range of topics such as hardware constraints and platform design considerations, input devices, mobile shaders, and native application programming interfaces (APIs).

  The importance of this course lies in the complexity of deploying games across different platforms. It equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to efficiently deploy games using cross-platform tool chains, continuous integration, and automated build generation. Through this course, students will develop problem-solving skills and consolidate their knowledge in cross-platform game development. The course will be assessed through the creation of a technical design document for a cross-platform game, setting up a continuous integration workflow, and developing and deploying a cross-platform game project. By understanding the requirements and constraints of different platforms, students will be well-prepared for various job opportunities in the video game industry.

• GDC301 Game studies for wellbeing

  This unit builds on the concepts of gameplay introduced in GDC102 Introduction to game design and explores digital games and their social, cultural, psychological and ethical impacts on society. You will be introduced to theories of the social context of play and examine its relationship to digital gameplay, the player experience and human wellbeing, and evaluate how games can be used as positive tools for wellbeing.

  Through a critical examination of existing literature, you will identify an area of societal wellbeing where games are not being applied to address social, cultural, psychological or ethical issues. To bridge this gap, you will design a game concept to meet the needs of this particular population. You will also develop skills in articulating ideas for innovative game concepts for wellbeing and be able to reflect upon and document your own ideas with reference to existing theories.

• GDC302 Virtual and augmented reality technologies

  Virtual reality (VR) provides highly interactive and seamless immersive experiences and augmented reality (AR) technology allows users to interact with virtual objects, people and settings that have been overlaid onto real-world environments, augmenting user experience with computer-generated imagery and sounds. In this unit you will explore the pioneering developments in visualisation, immersion, and interaction to investigate innovative concepts and implementations in VR and AR. You will learn how simulation techniques are used to build virtual worlds in which users are immersed to deceive the human senses so that the perceptual cues that reach the brain are aligned with an alternative reality.

  You will develop knowledge of a range of hardware and software available to game developers to produce immersive experiences in mixed media and examine state of the art methods for real world motion tracking to enable augmented spaces. Through a critical analysis of contemporary VR and AR technologies and applications in advergaming you will explore the design principles and content creation process for developing VR and AR applications by designing and deploying your own innovative concept in a group project.

• GDC300A Major game production 1

  This unit is the first part of the capstone project in which you will work in a studio-simulated environment on the production of a potentially commercially viable product. You will consider human computer interaction and user experience design in game development, applying the tools and techniques necessary to design novel gameplay experiences. You will explore technological advances, propose new techniques for human-computer interaction in a game development project.

  You will work through aspects of the industry-based game development cycle, building on the knowledge and skills gained in GDC200B Game development project 4 and GDC201 Human-computer interaction and user experience design to further develop your teamwork skills and demonstrate advanced level design skills through the creation of an alpha version of an original and innovative game. The group project will utilise the individual skills of team members in game art, design and programming in collaborating effectively on the final product in a studio-simulated environment. Your individual contributions will form part of your professional portfolio.

  You will be working more independently, while receiving feedback from your supervisor as a group, and utilising the skills you have gained to create a game that will form the heart of your portfolio. You will also provide constructive feedback to your peers in a professional manner and reflect upon and document your own performance and role in this project.

Semester 2

• * GDC300I Internship

  This unit provides an opportunity for students to complete work-integrated learning (WIL) through a full-time internship (36hrs/week) over the course of a semester. The unit will help you gain local professional experience in the game industry and choose from a diverse range of roles. You will need to apply for an internship position with an industry partner of AIE Institute or present an organisation and project for approval. If selected, you will undertake professional responsibility for a range of tasks and duties at a workplace in the game industry. For the major part of the unit, you will work with both an Industry Mentor (the nominated representative of the internship location) and an AIE Institute WIL Coordinator to complete a major internship project or a few smaller game development projects.

  Project topics will be agreed between the AIE Institute, the student and the industry partner, and will also include playtesting. The specific work projects/ and related duties you will undertake will be determined in consultation between you, your Industry Mentor and AIE Institute to ensure appropriate standards are maintained and the internship project/s and related tasks align to the course learning outcomes.

  Throughout the internship, you will be expected to maintain communication with your WIL Coordinator via email. You will be required to submit internship reports that reflect on your learning during the internship.

  * Limited positions may be available, and a selection process applies. Learn more here.

• GDC300B Major game production 2

  This unit is the second part of the capstone project building upon skills learnt in GDC300A Major game production 1 and progressing the alpha version of the game your team developed. You will progress through the industry development cycle to the completion of a publishable gold version. You will demonstrate advanced level knowledge of project development while leveraging technical skills in your area of specialisation, deliver game documentation and a post-mortem. You will apply professional level teamwork and project management skills and demonstrate advanced level design skills during the development and completion of the game.

  You will also apply basic business planning skills to pitch a business plan, explore production and post-production stages, and complete your individual professional portfolio. You will be working more independently, while receiving feedback from your supervisor as a group, and utilising the skills you have gained throughout your study.

  The final stage of the project requires you to provide constructive feedback to your peers in a professional manner and reflect upon and document your own performance and role in this project from initial design in GDC300A to final completion.

• GDC303 Entrepreneurship and commercialisation in games

  This unit will explore the nature of entrepreneurship and the role of the entrepreneur in pursuing innovative game concepts and technologies. You will extend your enterprise and business planning skills to cultivate and exemplify your identity as a professional practitioner by pursuing innovative game concepts, together with learning how to analyse case studies and conduct market analysis to develop strategic business plans.

  This unit will include seminars and guest lectures given by established game development entrepreneurs, who will touch on key challenges experienced by start-ups including funding. Through multi-disciplinary teamwork, oral and written communication, and self-management skills you will collaborate on developing a business plan for a game start-up or technology and deliver a game pitch to an industry panel. You will also evaluate and peer review other teams’ business plans and pitches.

• GDP304 Artificial intelligence for games

  In GDP304, you will learn about various AI techniques and algorithms that allow game developers to create immersive and engaging games. You will build on your existing knowledge of programming techniques for games and learn about pathfinding, decision-making, planning, navigation, and more. By applying these concepts to help the AI agents in your simulated game worlds achieve specific goals, you will gain the skills to create more efficient and effective game systems.

  Understanding AI techniques and algorithms is crucial for creating convincing and challenging AI opponents, which enhances the player experience and adds realism to games. By mastering AI for games, you will be able to develop more polished and engaging games. You will be assessed on your practical implementation of various AI algorithms and techniques. You will program pathfinding algorithms, create a finite state machine-based AI system, and write a real-time application that demonstrates AI agents implementing artificial intelligence behaviours and decision-making techniques. By the end of the course, you will have the skills and knowledge necessary to create efficient and engaging AI systems for modern games.

• GDP306 Advanced Graphics Architecture

  This unit provides game programming students with a deep dive into advanced computer graphics techniques, of the kind that are behind most modern AAA games and underpin the high-quality renderers in Unity, Unreal and others. Using the modern Vulkan API as a framework, students will build a fully featured rendering engine over the course of the subject using the latest techniques.

  This subject builds upon the foundations laid in the previous computer graphics subjects and introduces students to the modern rendering pipeline including raytracing features, volumetrics, screen space effects and compute shaders.

  This unit emphasises low level C++ and shader coding which further reinforces the C++ skills gained in earlier subjects, and the end result is a rendering engine capstone project that would make a great addition to any student’s portfolio!