Game Programming

The A.A.S. degree in Game Programming prepares students for careers in the video game industry. With advances in online social networks as well as console, stereoscopic, and smart phone technology fueling rapid expansion, the video game industry boasts revenues of around $24 billion in the United States alone, according to the newly formed Congressional Caucus for Competitiveness in Entertainment Technology (E-Tech Caucus).

The Game Programming program prepares students for a number of career options, including game designer, software engineer, artificial intelligence programmer, graphics engineer, physics programmer, and user interface scripter.

Typical employers include game design studios, entertainment software companies, and online entertainment and education companies. The New York City / northern New Jersey metro region is one of the ten largest in the country for video game development, accounting for more than 70 game-affiliated companies.

Students explore and analyze professional game engines, scripting languages, graphics, networks, physics, and other components of game development. Most coursework takes place in a studio using regularly updated professional-quality hardware and software on PC computer platforms. Moreover, in their last year of study, Game Programming students collaborate with students from the Game Design program to produce a full, playable video game.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

• Understand the historical development of games;
• Describe and reference industry trends and technologies in video gaming;
• Apply the design process to research and develop professional video game concepts;
• Create diagrams and prototypes to specify game design concepts;
• Create a professional sales pitch for a game concept;
• Program game engine components such as resource management, entity-based systems, physics simulation, and user interfaces;
• Create a custom 2-D game engine;
• Develop skills to be a self-learner and problem solver;
• Work effectively on interdisciplinary teams producing functioning games and levels.

The Game Programming program may be pursued full-time or part-time. Admission requires a high school diploma or its equivalent and competency in English and mathematics as demonstrated by placement testing.

SEE ALSO:
Game Design degree program