Bachelor of Game Design

In this practical subject students will learn the entire 3D workflow (pipeline) required to create their own uniquely designed 3D characters. The areas covered will include props and background development, using industry standard 3D software, 3D interface navigation, fundamental 3D theory, character design, modelling, texturing, lighting, skinning, camera animation and rendering. These skills will provide a firm foundation for creating 3D objects and characters. Students will also be introduced to essential skills required for professional practice, including project management, presentation skills, naming conventions and file management.

In this subject, students will be introduced to game theory, genre, history and context. They will research and report on the nature of the game industry and analyse the mechanics of game design. They will critically review case studies of a variety of games, with gameplay taking a leading role in discovering several classes of games, their structures and characteristics. The activities in this subject will encourage collaboration and self-reflection, leading students to develop communication skills and to engage in critical thought.

This practical subject introduces the foundational skills and concepts required for game level design. During the subject, students will learn about the principles of level design, progression and gameplay, as well as exploring the elements required to create effective environmental narratives. The skills of iterative design, responding to a brief, and reflecting and adapting after feedback will all be focused on as students follow an industry-standard production process, and construct a high fidelity game level using pre-built assets.

In this subject, students will be introduced to the core concepts and fundamentals of games programming. This will involve acquiring fundamental knowledge of game-specific programming languages, understanding data types and how to manipulate them with functions and variables using those languages, and an understanding of scripting game logic. This subject should enable the building of tools to create games within the game engine and is an essential skill for game designers to master. The subject overall will require problem-solving skills, debugging, professional communication, peer evaluation, iteration, and application of feedback.

In this subject, students will expand on their existing 3D skills and extend these to animation. The principles of animation will be applied to 3D characters, props, accessories and background assets, using advanced 3D industry standard software. Fundamental animation theory and techniques will be explored and applied, so that students can create convincing body mechanics and engaging, stylised performances. Time management and communication skills will also be developed as students learn to balance workload with due dates of deliverables and present their work for feedback.

In this subject, students will learn what it takes to bring 3D models to life, utilising the fundamental theories and practises of animation rigging to create a skeleton for organic and hard surface models. Students will apply controllers to the skeleton to create an animation-ready rig that could be applied in interactive or cinematic media. Students will use problem solving and planning skills, and will demonstrate communication skills in presenting their work.

The Game Development Lab consists of project based learning, in which students design a range of 3D assets and integrate them into a game engine. The project will be planned and implemented in response to a brief and will involve identifying game development team roles and 3D sculpting of models using industry standard 3D modelling software. Models will be textured, then undergo optimisation and retopology to ensure their effective operation in a game engine environment where introductory level game engine programming will be applied. Students will utilise a production cycle, responding to a brief and modifying assets through multiple iterations in response to testing and peer review. Ethical considerations will be taken into account and applied to the design of game assets. The subject will engage students in collaboration, planning, and project management. It will include agile methodology, presentation and professional communication skills, and response to feedback on industry standards.

Freelancing has become one of the major forms of employment in the areas of media and games. This subject will provide valuable information on how to manage as an independent entrepreneur in the creative industries. The focus will be on legal requirements, finance and monetisation, types of business models, documentation and admin, budgeting, pitching and promotional skills. Examples of successful freelance artists will be examined, and students will research industry and analyse their findings to identify likely areas of opportunity within their field. They will learn about networking, professional communication, planning and presentation skills.

In this subject students will immerse themselves in the future of the creative media industry. They will research and report on new and emerging technologies, their potential applications and benefits, and will provide an overview of their capacity to change the nature of the media or games industries. They will investigate contemporary theories and processes and consider how they may shape the next generation. Students will also trial new and current technologies to arrive at findings on how they could be implemented to produce media, or modify working practices. This subject will also involve market analysis to predict trends and directions in the marketplace, which will assist students in planning their future creative and career directions in media and games. Their research will include hands on experience of technologies to explore their potential uses in the context of games, film and animation. Students will analyse and evaluate the feasibility and costs associated with the use of these technologies. They will develop skills required to maintain knowledge currency, through experimentation, analysis, industry networking, professional communication, presentation and reporting. 

The emerging field of virtual production enables realistic combinations of objects, characters and environments to produce composite images. In this subject virtual production technologies and techniques will be studied in detail as students engage with the blending of virtual environments with live action images. The subject will cover virtual environments, virtual props and assets, background projections using green screen or live projection, integration of live action images with virtual elements through camera tracking, matching sound, lighting and colour. Facial motion capture and the use of digital doubles using 3D modelling and animation will be introduced, and the animation and surfacing of 3D creatures and other assets will be enhanced by incorporating particle effects such as explosions, fire, smoke and rain. Advanced game engine functions will be used to composite image elements and animate components to produce realistic virtual multilevel images. Students will utilise creative thinking, problem solving skills, collaboration and teamwork, self-reflection and response to feedback.

Forge 1 is part one of a subject that runs across two terms, where students will learn to operate in a professional team, under workplace-like pressure, applying their knowledge, skills and aptitudes to complete a project to contemporary industry standards. In Forge 1, the focus will be on researching client needs and preparing a range of pre-production material required for the development of an industry project. Planning and project management skills will be sharpened, and pre-visualisation of narrative content will be developed to deliver comprehensive planning materials for a substantial production that will be completed in Forge 2 in the final term of study. 

AIT’s The Professional Internship Program aligns students with professional industry organisations where they will work to develop relevant skills oriented to their chosen careers. The elective program aims to enhance the contextual capabilities, skills and knowledge students have developed throughout their course. It will provide an opportunity for students to apply what they know, be mentored, receive feedback and seek opportunities for development in a real-world setting, as well as be exposed to emerging trends and technology that impact their industry. This program can only be undertaken in the final term of the associated qualification. Prior to commencement of the internship, AIT will determine a suitable placement company based on the student’s individual needs, to ensure their supervision, safety and wellbeing are adequate.

This is an elective subject which does not require students to attend class. While support and feedback will be provided, this subject is undertaken off campus and requires students to work with minimal academic interaction. It may be completed independently or in collaboration with peers. In this subject, students complete an industry project of their choosing, related to their area of study. The project will be conceived and developed for a relevant contextual setting, and be presented as a proposal of a specific task, or solution to a problem or opportunity faced by an organisation or industry. The subject is an opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate self-regulated, independent research and study skills, time and project management and professional communication.

This subject helps students search for and prepare themselves for employment. It provides guidelines for how to prepare effective resources for enhancing their prospects in finding employment. Students will be introduced to interview techniques and personal branding through the development of a professional internet and social media presence. They will also learn how to produce effective presentations of their high-quality work, targeted at employers.

Forge 2 is part two of a subject that runs across two terms, where students will learn to operate in a professional team, under workplace-like pressure, applying their knowledge, skills and attitudes to complete a project to contemporary industry standards. During Forge 2, students will focus on developing an industry project, based on the pre-production elements that were completed during the Forge 1 subject. The production, to be completed in teams, will be developed in a double subject and presented to industry representatives at the completion of the project. A key aim of the subject is to develop the student’s speed and efficiency in a collaborative work environment. The process of brief, plan, execute, present and reflect will help students become accustomed to project-based work. The subject also challenges students to innovate, to learn from both success and failure, to “know themselves”, and to learn how to work with others. Students will be mentored, critiqued and assessed during this process, with industry experts providing feedback on project outcomes.