Bachelor of Game Design and Development

This subject builds and expands on foundational 3D asset creation techniques. Students will explore more advanced methodologies used in professional practice and integrate them into their existing workflows. This includes the areas of modeling, sculpting, texturing, shading and other 3D processes. With these principles and techniques, students will be able to achieve even greater artistic results with better efficiency.

Pre-requisite: ACR103 3D Asset Creation

Assessment Tasks: 3D design project

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject introduces students to design thinking through the 'Double Diamond’ methodology, a collaborative process that facilitates the investigation of project challenges, synthesises appropriate concepts and delivers proposals that fulfil the needs of people, the possibilities of technology and the requirements for business success. It is a methodology that utilises both divergent and convergent thinking approaches to problem-solving. It is a method that focuses upon meanings instead of features and the quest for disruptive change, instead of incremental improvement. Students are emphatically encouraged to adopt a visionary approach. Divided into four distinct phases –Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver –the Double Diamond is a simple visual roadmap which helps students understand and frame their design-thinking to define problems, develop potential solutions and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Assessment Tasks: Proposal, Presentation, Blog, Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online, Intensive

In this course students explore the historical, pedagogical, and social foundations of game-based learning and education. Students will evaluate contemporary best-practice in serious game design, development, and assessment, critically assessing the scholarly literature and identifying gaps in game-based learning research and practice. Students will apply what they have learned to the creation of their own digital prototypes, expanding their game design repertoire by confronting the unique challenges associated with developing games to educate, inform, and persuade.

Pre-requisite: GDP102 Game Design Principles and GPF104 Game Production Foundation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject provides students with foundational and core skills in rigging and animating characters and 3D elements in industry pipelines. The principles in animation, kinematics, rigging mechanics, animation direction and performance are explored to inform the processes involved. Students will investigate industry techniques and practices and apply these in common scenarios in the field of game development and 3D animation.

Pre-requisite: ACR103 3D Asset Creation

Assessment Tasks: Render 3D animation, portfolio

Delivery Mode: On Campus

The goal of this subject is to provide the students with an opportunity to collaborate on a series of projects, and enhance collaborative skills working within a team of people across multiple disciplines. Additionally, the assignments in this subject will challenge the student in finding creative solutions to project management and small scale rapid game creation. In teams, students will be asked to create and present various game prototypes over the duration of the subject. 

Pre-requisite: GPF104 Game Production Foundation

Bachelor of Game Programming Pre-requisite: GAM101 Game Programming I, GDP102 Game Design Principles and ADS103 Algorithms and Data Structures

Assessment Tasks: Software Project and Journal

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject introduces students to the fundamentals of user experience design by introducing research methods to identify and explore user needs in contemporary digital applications. Students will first define the user experience problem and hypothesise on solutions before analysing and addressing audience and content requirements. Students will work through concept development, prototyping, validation and testing phases to create and refine user-centred design solutions for interactive media.

Pre-requisite: DIG103 Interaction Design, GDP102 Game Design Principles (only for BGDD25), GPF104 Game Production Foundation (only for BGDD25)

Assessment Tasks: Web Based UI Prototype, Report, Video

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Problem-based learning (PBL) builds students’ capacity to become increasingly proficient at addressing complex design problems with creative confidence. Students enhance their design thinking skills and mindsets to deal with the natural uncertainty of complex problems in this subject. They acquire the confidence to iteratively reframe these problems and take risks to create novel evidence-based solutions while preserving ambiguity throughout the process. Students acquire the necessary skills by engaging actively, independently and in collaborative multidisciplinary teams with complex social and meaningful problems. Learning happens by living the process, witnessing their peers’ progress and reflecting on their own experience while supported with academic learning resources.

Assessment Tasks: Report, Individual Reflection, Self and Peer Evaluation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online, Intensive

This subject delves into the rapidly evolving domains of mobile and immersive technologies, focusing on their application in creating engaging games for casual markets. It encompasses the study of mobile platforms and applications of extended reality (XR), emphasising both theoretical foundations and practical implementations. Students will explore the design, development, and deployment of mobile games, considering user experience (UX) principles, interface design, and the integration of sensory modalities. Ethical considerations, industry standards, and emerging trends will also be examined to provide a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Pre-requisite: RGP204 Rapid Game Prototype

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject is designed to provide students with professional experience in an area related to their field of study or the career they are working towards. The aim of providing industry specific opportunities is to enable students to develop skills that will enhance their prospects of gaining meaningful employment and building their career for the future. Much of the benefit of work integrated learning comes from observation, practicing under supervision and reflection.

Work Integrated Learning is an excellent way to broaden the students learning environment while they are studying. It allows them to see first-hand how what they are learning in their degree translates into practice, as well as how ‘real world’ practice relates to what they are learning at university. This subject will develop work ready skills and boost students’ employability while they are studying. There are two work integrated learning options available to students:

Option 1: WIL302

Internship Students are offered the opportunity to work within a professional design environment for an extended period of time. It encourages students to build long-term relationships with the design industry and exposes them to the rigour of applied design practice while building their confidence in adapting to new environments. It also provides a context in which to enhance their communication skills and work collaboratively in a professional arena. Students will undertake a series of research tasks, conducting interviews and gathering data in order to understand the key concepts in managing a professional design practice with emphasis placed on the operation of the professional design environment.

Option 2: WIL302B Industry Live Brief

This subject requires students to respond to criteria set within the context of an Industry Live Project. An understanding of research methodologies appropriate to professional practice and the documentation of personal creative investigation will be explored. Students will also further investigate and examine entrepreneurial and commercial opportunities through collaborative work practice. The subject is delivered from a cross discipline perspective and draws on both discipline specific and common design practices. Students are required to work both independently or as part of a collaborative team in order to conduct research, analyse and define project parameters and deliver innovative solutions that expand the notion of an industry live brief.

Assessment Tasks: Internship, e-Journal

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Students develop game project documentation to be used in the development of a game, enhancing their skills in the areas of industry procedures and game design principles. Students draw on learning from previous materials to debate and justify the contents of their design. Teams need to communicate the project, ideas and scope through presentation, documentation, and playable prototypes. During this preproduction period, the environment is studio based, helping students prepare for industry realities.

Pre-requisite: GPR202 3D Graphics Programming, RGP204 Rapid Game Prototype, GDP204 Game Development PlayStation (only a pre-requisite for Bachelor of Game Design & Development and Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming)

Assessment Tasks: Software Prototype, Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject focusses on developing and producing an industry-ready creative technology project. In the pre-requisite subject (PPR301 Pre-Production Capstone 1), students addressed the pre-production components of a digital game. During this subject, students move from pre-production planning, to product development.

Students will work collaboratively to manage the processes surrounding production, design and development of their projects. They will formulate strategies that can be used to solve problems and adapt to changes and modifications so that the final product aligns with agreed outcomes.

Additionally, students will be required to explore developing technologies that can be incorporated into a digital project, and to reflect on, communicate and document their experiences.

Pre-requisite: PPR301 Pre-Production capstone 1

Assessment Tasks: Software project and report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Credit: This is a 30-credit point subject

This subject explores the fundamental principles of producing animations within 3D software. Students are first introduced to a range of techniques relating to key frame based animation such as speed, ease and velocity. Students are also introduced to alternative methods of animation including procedural and dynamics based simulations. These skills are designed to expand student awareness of methodologies in creating animation and their application to a wide range of potential outcomes such as game design, broadcast motion design and branded identity.

Assessment Tasks: Video and Process Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Digital Environments and Human Scale introduces students to the diverse bodies of both physical humans and digital avatars. Students examine the impacts of body inclusion on the ethical design of digital and physical environments and utilise digital tools to explore innovative outcomes. Typical dimensions of built environment elements for spatial planning outcomes will be researched and questioned as notions of body standards are challenged. Utilising cross-disciplinary approaches, students are introduced to the significance of personas and narratives in creating meaningful spatial experiences

Assessment Tasks: Test, Visual and Verbal Presentation, Renders/Photographs

Delivery Mode: Online

This subject focuses on developing the students’ understanding of the structural elements of architecture. Students will examine an architect’s informed approach to structures in the design process. Structural principles are conveyed through diagrams and simple equations. Students integrate their knowledge of structural principles with research of buildings to document and present the fundamental role of structure in architectural design.

Assessment Tasks: Test, Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

In this subject, students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts and methodologies utilised in software development. Students will develop proficiency in user requirement analysis and software planning in order to address software project requirements. Fundamental procedural programming skills followed by Object Oriented Programming (OOP) paradigm will be introduced to enable students to deliver viable coding solutions. Lastly, students will verify and validate software solutions using an industry standard modelling language for presentation to technical and non-technical audiences.

Pre-requisite: ITP122 Introduction to Programming (only a pre-requisite for Diploma of Information Technology, Bachelor of Information Technology and Associate Degree of Information Technology courses)

Assessment Tasks: Workbook, software project

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject explores the groundwork theory and practice of user experience (UX), user interface (UI) and frontend web development and design. The subject initially covers fundamental concepts in UX and UI design. It then transitions to the fundamentals of front-end development and design by teaching students how to code webpages using HTML and CSS. Students will code their own visual designs using a knowledge base of the fundamentals within these two markup languages. In addition to this, students will learn the basic principles of responsive design, and how web pages need to be designed for a variety of screen based media including phones, tablets, laptops and televisions. This subject gives students a foundation of web based digital skills that are required in a variety of design related career opportunities.

Assessment Tasks: Design Documentation, Webpage Development, Responsive Webpage

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Design Studio 2 offers an introduction to the building blocks of creating and developing brands and is designed to give students a broad understanding of the stages and methodologies adopted in the brand development process. The subject draws on the theory and practice that sits behind brand creation. It covers the broad spectrum of brand development, values, trends and branding techniques, as well as fundamentals such as brand positioning and brand architecture. The subject also explores the relationship between branding and audiences, cross-cultural influences and shifts in consumer behaviour. Students must first understand and apply the fundamentals of branding and then go on to use that knowledge as the basis for developing and progressing a brand. This theoretical and practical subject will equip students with the knowledge and insight with which to build their own branding expertise.

Assessment Tasks: Report, Presentation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online, Intensive

This subject continues to develop a variety of different modelling and 3D design skills suitable for the creation of professional photorealistic and/or stylised modelling outcomes. This subject introduces various hard surface modelling and shading techniques, design approaches and technical solutions common to the creation of complex 3D forms in a range of environments. These skills are applicable for a variety of applications such as film prop/set design, game level/world design, architectural visualisation and 3D printing.

Pre-requisite: ANP100 Animation Principles

Assessment Tasks: 3D Model, Render, Progress Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject covers the theory and methodology of 3D procedural geometry and animation workflows which enable students to develop 3D models, assets and content non-destructively. The subject explores how retaining the ability to edit 3D assets and animation throughout the 3D production is beneficial for both artist and client. Students are encouraged to solve complex problems in 3D with rapid prototyping to produce reusable assets. This subject is designed to modernise student 3D workflows and problemsolving skills with forward looking methodologies.

Pre-requisite: ANP100 Animation Principles

Assessment Tasks: Video, 3D File, Process Report, Render

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject develops idea generation and concept development practices applied to motion graphic sequences. As a means of enriching the design process, the history of motion graphic traditions such as broadcast and film title design are also investigated. Students develop motion graphic animations using a variety of techniques that may include kinetic typography, 2D and 2.5D animation, video compositing, visual effects, and rotoscoping. By exploring new techniques students expand their video, animation and mixed media production abilities.

Assessment Tasks: Video Pitch Presentation, Process Diary, Render

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

In this subject, students will apply principles and theories of user experience, contextualised to the built environment, to produce a virtual, interactive outcome. Exploring the rapidly evolving concepts of online immersive environments and the intersection between the virtual and physical world, students will craft a unique experiential narrative for a spatial outcome. This will include components for interactive real-time engagement for a virtual audience with consideration of the impacts on human experience and behaviour.

Assessment Tasks: Report, presentation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Game Programming II builds upon the foundational principles introduced in Game Programming I, providing students with a deeper understanding of the programming and design skills required for game development.

In this subject, students will engage with an industry-standard game engine and programming language, further developing their abilities to design, implement, and debug games. Emphasis will be placed on breaking down complex game development problems into smaller, manageable tasks and applying object-oriented programming concepts to solve these challenges efficiently. The subject will also cover key industry-standard practices in code management and version control, providing students with valuable tools to effectively manage complex software projects. By the end of this subject, students will be able to respond effectively to game design briefs and contribute meaningfully to the development of engaging, high-quality games.

Pre-requisite: GAM101 Game Programming I

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject focuses on exploring a broader understanding of design portfolios and the presentation of creative works to form a cohesive and authentic personal narrative. Contextualised through the lens of current industry requirements, students define their own design philosophy, then use this to critique their work and compose a cohesive professional identity and portfolio. Supported by self-directed research, students evaluate contemporary styles, methods, and formats of presentation to deliver a portfolio and suite of materials that can be used to initiate dialogue between themselves and the design industry.

Assessment Tasks: Report, Design Artefact, Presentation, Design Portfolio, Resume

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject explores new media platforms and influence that video production has had with the rise of social media platforms and their associated micro-trends. This subject requires students to identify, research, develop and distribute branded outcomes within those micro-trends on a dedicated social media platform. Students are exposed to the psychological hooks that engage audiences and video production trends that have developed alongside the new platforms. Students are required to explore the nuances of audience and platform distribution strategies and analyse case studies surrounding successful and contextual outcomes. The subject dispels the idea that traditional distribution outlets for video production are the dominant forms of consumption.

Pre-requisite: LAP200 Live Action Production

Assessment Tasks: Video Production, Presentation, Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject focuses on different lighting and look development approaches of 3D assets and animations. Students explore different stylistic development techniques when using rendering engines. An emphasis is placed on a variety of material, textural, lighting, colour and shadow technical approaches that can change the look and feel of existing 3D assets. Students engage with production workflows to produce different stylistic visual outcomes. A variety of lighting techniques and light methodologies are employed to enhance the visual outcomes of 3D assets.

Pre-requisite: AAC202 Advanced 3D Asset Creation

Assessment Tasks: Render images and video, progress report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject covers the principles, and methods required for real-time 3D animation production. Students explore asset development using professional pipeline workflows between their 3D program and gaming engine. A focus is placed on optimisation of their 3D assets in order to ensure the best performance inside of the real-time engine. Scripting will be introduced to enable dynamic event driven animation sequences. The subject also covers animation production and production design concepts and techniques to equip students with strategies to produce a collaborative production.

Pre-requisite: AAC202 Advanced Asset Creation

Assessment Tasks: Render Video, Progress Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online