International Game Architecture and Design – (B.Eng.)

Contents

In the International Game Architecture and Design programme, your creative, technological and commercial skills will be trained. In the development of games you will need to develop specific skills to make the right choices in content, design, graphics, storyline and audio.

During your four years of study you will work in the Game Lab. Together with your fellow students you will learn, practically, how to develop games. Throughout your studies the assignments become increasingly complex.

Variations

If you apply for the International Game Architecture and Design programme, the first choice you make is which variation you want to study in. What are the options?

• 3D Visual Art Produce art for the latest generation of 3D PC and console games. Strong art skills are required in order to successfully complete this specialisation.

• Programming Train towards programming jobs within the video games industry. C++ is the primary language used for teaching and assignments. The ability to think in an abstract way, strong mathematical skills and an aptitude and passion for programming are required.
• Design and Production Design and management training for game designers, level designers, narrative designers and game producers across all genres and platforms, including console and online development. Design theory, entertainment theory, concept development, narrative development, level development, production management and business management are the core skills focused on in this Design and Production variation.
• Indie Game Development Indie Game Development prepares students for a popular and profitable industry that combines casual gaming, social media and smartphone/tablet application development. Indie game developers are cross-over specialists: tech savy, aesthetically skilled and design-capable entrepreneurs.

Course planning

3D Visual Art

3D Visual Art delivers 3D modellers, animators, character artists and environment artists for the gaming and film industries.

This variation teaches 3D modelling, texturing, rendering, drawing, animation and world building. 3D Visual Art is popular with students who have artistic skills and a passion for visual arts in a gaming context.

Year 1

You concentrate on 3D modelling, drawing, animation and rendering in the first year. It is an intensive start to a Visual Arts specialisation that also introduces you to videogame history, game production methodologies and art theory.

Year 2

Life drawing, architecture and human anatomy focus on realistic representation of characters and environment. World building classes create environments from concept to in-game implementation. Texture classes focus on different ways to make textures for 3D models.

Year 3

You polish your modelling, animation and rendering skills while compiling a portfolio that showcases their best artwork.
In the second half of the year you do a work placement in an industry studio environment.

Year 4

You choose an area of specialisation related to your current academic and/or industry interest and produce a body of work and graduation thesis.

Programming

Programming delivers hardware and software engineers for the gaming industries, including console, online and mobile platforms.

This variation teaches mathematics, C++, hardware technology, game programming, graphics programming, and mobile and social network technologies. Programming is popular with students who have technological skills and a passion for game development.

Year 1

You gain the solid mathematics foundation needed for game development, including algebra, calculus and physics. Students learn C++, the most common programming language used in games. You are also introduced to basic game theory, design, balancing and production methodologies as well as audiovisualisation.

Year 2

This is an intensive year of programming. You learn the hardware components of modern gaming platforms. Game Technology courses teach simulated physics, AI and software architecture and design. You also receive a comprehensive grounding in graphics technology in games, including rendering engines. Students learn mobile/smartphone application development as well as the server technologies required for massive multiplayer gaming.

Year 3

Advanced Game Technology builds on and extends the GT, GP and HA courses. These courses provide in-depth exposure to game console programming, GPGPU, special effects and procedural content programming, as well as rapid prototyping, improving the practical skill level of students to junior game developer level.
In the second half of the year you do a work placement in an industry studio environment.

Year 4

You choose an area of specialisation related to your current academic and/or industry interest and produce a body of work and graduation thesis.
topics in the first year are mathematics (an essential subject for programmers), and programming in c++.
In addition to this there are theoretical classes on, for instance, art for programmers and English.

Design and Production

Design & Production delivers game designers, level designers, narrative designers and producers for the gaming industries, including console, online, mobile and board games.

This variation teaches you concept development, game design, game production, business management, interactive storytelling and basic technology and computer graphics. Design & Production is very popular with students who have leadership and conceptual aspirations for the game industry and communication skills.

Year 1

You are introduced to basic game theory (ludology), game design, balancing and quality assurance. You learn project management and game production methodologies as well as gain a comprehensive overview of the history of videogames. Concept Design introduces entertainment theories, prototyping methodologies, and pitch documentation for the conceptualisation phase of development. You are introduced to 3D graphics, including modelling, to facilitate their communication with artists and facilitate level development.

Year 2

Business Management covers the legal, marketing, management, business and financing aspects of game production. Narratology focusses on storytelling methodologies, scriptwriting, gameplay dialogue and target group design. Level Design explores theory, methodology and development of multiplayer and single player levels. Technology introduces students to the basic requirements of online and console programming to facilitate communication with programmers and facilitate prototyping development.

Year 3

Advanced design courses include casual and serious gaming, designing massively multiplayer online (MMO) games as well as single-player campaigns, and designing for future technologies.
In the second half of the year you do an work placement in an industry studio environment.

Year 4

You choose an area of specialisation related to your current academic and/or industry interest and produce a body of work and graduation thesis.

Indie Game Development

Indie Game Development is a variation that teaches concept development, game design, online and mobile application development, 2D and 3D art and small business management.
Indie Game Development is so popular with potential employers our students are inundated with commercial projects in their second year of study.

Year 1

You learn project management and game production methodologies as well as audiovisualisation techniques. Concept Design introduces entertainment theories, prototyping methodologies, and pitch documentation for the conceptualisation phase of development. Visual Design covers the fundamentals of 2D art and design for environments, including animation. Technology introduces students to programming languages and game data structures.

Year 2

Business Management covers the legal, marketing, management, business and financing aspects of game production. You are introduced to basic game theory (ludology), game design, balancing and quality assurance. In Computer Graphics students concentrate on 3D graphics and modelling. Mobile Technology introduces students to the development and deployment of mobile Apps. Server Technology covers client-server architecture and the core technologies of web and mobile applications.

Year 3

This year continues the multi-disciplinary nature of the IGD program. The Design stream covers future technologies, casual and serious game design. Rendering and shading is explored in Computer Graphics. The Social Networks courses introduce a variety of server technologies associated with social networked and massive multi-player gaming. In the second half of the year you do a work placement in an industry studio environment.

Year 4

You choose an area of specialisation related to their current academic and/or industry interest and produce a body of work and graduation thesis.

Placement

International Game Architecture and Design students go on placement during the second half of their third year. For a period of 20 weeks, you are part of the workforce in a company that matches your interests and ambitions.

NHTV boasts an extensive network of placement companies both in the Netherlands and abroad. You may, of course, also find a placement position yourself.

Graduation

In the fourth year, you work on a 20-week graduation project. On behalf of a company you perform several professional tasks, which may include assisting in engine programming, tools programming, audio programming, artificial intelligence programming, level design, 3D model building, 2D texturing, 3D character animating and so on.

Academic degree in one year

In the fourth year, all NHTV students are offered the opportunity of studying a pre-master's programme in Strategic Business Management and Marketing. This degree enables you to continue with a Master of Science programme at several universities and earn a Master of Science (MSc) degree in one year's time.

Accreditation

Accredited by: NVAO in: Netherlands

Funding details

Scholarships / Grants:

China Scholarship Counsil:
The scholarship programme is designed for good quality Chinese students who want to study or do research in the Netherlands for an academic year either during or after their studies in China. The main purpose of the China Programme is the exchange of talented Chinese and Dutch students.
For additional information: Website

NHTV Breda:
Per year there is a limited number of scholarships available for non-EU/EEA-students to contribute in the costs of the tuition fee.
For additional information: Website