About Game Development
We conducted interviews with multiple studio heads, game development professionals, and academics to identify the key needs in a comprehensive Game Development education. In doing so, we identified the following academic priorities:
- Project-based learning
- A holistic understanding of game development
- A collaborative studio environment
- Strong technical skills
- Basic aesthetic understanding
Our Game Dev major provides skills to work in the games industry; it focuses on giving students a broad base of experience to succeed in both small and large firms.
The Unity Engine is central to this program. Students will complete 15 credit hours of work in Unity, learning key principles of game design, systems design, and ultimately build their own fully-functioning game as part of their capstone project.
Experts & Contributors
Dr. Charles Severance, University of Michigan - Dr. Charles Severance holds a PhD in Computer Science from Michigan State University. He is the former Executive Director of the Sakai Foundation, and one of the world’s leading online CS educators. His contributions and curriculum form the basis of our programming curriculum
Fereshteh Forough, CEO - Code To Inspire - Fereshteh is the CEO and founder of Code To Inspire, a not-for-profit coding school for girls in Afghanistan. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Unity Global Education. Her expertise in teaching coding and game development to students with no prior experience directly shaped the philosophy of the Game Development courses.
Renee Gittins, Executive Director- IGDA, Forbes 30 under 30 - Renee Gittins is the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association. Because of her dual roles as chair of a developer’s association, and studio head (Stumbling Cat), Renee has a sharp understanding of the tensions that often exist between business and development roles within the games industry. Her understanding of this tension directly informed the managerial skills conveyed throughout this curriculum.
Thomas O’Connor, Studio Director - PlayEveryWare, Thomas O’Connor is the studio director of PlayEveryWare, a game studio in Seattle best known for their work porting games between systems. Tom’s expertise in understanding the business side of the games industry was vital in determining which learning objectives to include in Convention, Event, and Trade Show Planning, as well as Production in the Games Industry and Distribution of Games.
Industry Alignment
Unity - Unity is the world’s most-used game engine. It powers 50% of mobile games and 60% of Augmented-Reality and Virtual Reality content. The Unity engine is intended to be readily accessible, low-cost, and powerful. The Introduction to Games Course was developed using materials provided by Unity.
IGDA - The IGDA (International Game Developers Association) is a nonprofit professional association whose stated mission is to “support and empower game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.” The Esports & Gaming Major was developed with significant input from the IGDA’s Game Education Chair, Suzanne Freyjadis, and conforms to the IGDA 2020 curriculum framework as closely as possible.
PlayEveryWare - PlayEveryWare is a game studio based in Seattle, Washington. They work primarily in porting games between systems, and asset development. PlayEveryWare provides internship opportunities to Game Development students, and provides some of the best working conditions in the industry. PlayEveryWare studio director Thomas O’Connor is a contributor to the Game Development Major.
Stumbling Cat - Stumbling Cat is a game studio based in Baltimore, Maryland that focuses on building games which challenge players to approach problems through wits and the use of their conflict resolution skills instead of violence. They are known for centering on diverse protagonists, and creating games that encourage exploration and creativity.
Career Outlook
This is a programming degree so it is relatively easy to pivot into computer science early on if students decide to go a different path. This creates two promising pathways for students.
According to , the median salary for a game developer is slightly over $100,000. often start around $60,000 with significant room for growth.
For those that want to pursue a career in Game Development, common titles include:
- Game Developer
- Technical Gameplay Designer
- Computer Game Programmer
- Gameplay Engineer
- Unity Game Engineer
Curriculum Highlights
Note: This is a programming degree, it is not well suited - as a major - to students who want to pursue business, art or management roles within the games industry. For those, see Esports Management.
Sample Game Development Courses:
- Introductions to Games
- Unity 1: Working with Unity
- Capstone Project: Building a Game
Computer Science Requirements:
- Programming for Everyone
- Data Structures
- Introduction to C: How Computers Really Work
Math Required: Calc I, Stats, Probability
Hardest Class: Algorithms or Unity II. Both classes are highly technical. However, students will have a solid basis in programming before taking either class, improving success.
