Advance Your Game Creation Skills
Welcome to the continuation of the Introduction to Video Games Creation course! Building on the fundamentals you learned in IVGC Free, this advanced program will guide you through creating your first fully functioning games and mastering more complex concepts. With IVGC+, you’ll dive deeper into game creation, earning an additional 25 credits and working towards a total of 35 credits, which can be used as part of your degree studies or as evidence of your skills when applying to universities and jobs in the gaming industry.
Included in:
IVGC+ Membership
What You'll Achieve with IVGC+
In this comprehensive course, you'll gain the knowledge and experience needed to create your own games, including a text adventure, card combat game, mobile snake game, and space shooter. This journey is designed to help you develop advanced skills, equipping you with the expertise to stand out in the industry.
Complete Course Overview
The IVGC+ course consists of 8 advanced modules, building on the foundation established in IVGC Free. Each module will help you expand your knowledge and develop hands-on experience with game creation. Here's the recommended order of study:
Theoretical Modules – Expanding Your Understanding
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M15: Ideation and Value Creation in Games – 1 Credit
Explore the process of ideation and value creation within game studios. This module offers a broad understanding of how game studios operate, how new knowledge is generated, and how to develop games that offer unique value to players. You'll gain insight into daily studio life and the decision-making process around resource allocation. -
M16: Artificial Intelligence for Games – 2 Credits
AI has been a fundamental part of video game evolution, and this module introduces you to its application in game creation. You'll learn how AI is integrated into games, enhancing gameplay, and making in-game characters more engaging and challenging.
Game Development Modules – Create Your Own Games
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M2: “The Return” - Text-Adventure Game – 1 Credit
Create your own text-based adventure game, "The Return." Using a flexible and expandable architecture, you'll gain essential skills in game programming, laying a solid foundation for future projects. By the end of this module, you’ll have a completed game that you can showcase in your portfolio. -
M3: “Merlin’s Demon War” - Card Combat Game – 4 Credits
Develop a fully functional card combat game, learning a variety of techniques such as importing 2D graphics, creating animations, adding randomization, using interaction systems, and implementing sound effects. This module offers comprehensive insights into building an engaging game experience. -
M4: Pixel Art 2D – 2 Credits
Delve into the world of pixel art, a key game art skill. You’ll learn character design, environment creation, and animation, gaining techniques such as anti-aliasing, dithering, and color reduction. This module is perfect for anyone interested in enhancing their visual game development skills. -
M5: Mobile Snake Game – 5 Credits
Learn how to develop a mobile game, starting with the classic Snake game! You'll discover essential techniques for mobile development, including setting up an Android system for debugging, adding touch controls, implementing simple procedural generation, and deploying your project on a smartphone. -
M6: Space Shooter Game – 10 Credits
The most advanced module of the course, this module guides you through a full Unity development cycle while you create your own space shooter game. You’ll manage all aspects of game creation, from technical planning and source control to user interface design, sound effects, and particle systems. By the end, you'll have a polished, professional-quality game ready to showcase.
Course Curriculum
- M2 - Instructions
- 1. Introduction (3:34)
- 2. Project Setup (11:24)
- 3. World Data Structures (9:15)
- 4. Creating a Game Controller (9:01)
- 5. Processing User Input (16:30)
- 6. Implementing a System of Action (12:46)
- 7. Adding the Go action (9:31)
- 8. Adding Items (24:47)
- 9. Item Interactions (46:42)
- 10. Adding a Conversation (21:18)
- 11. Finish the Game (22:21)
- 12. Completing the Assignment (4:22)
- M2 - Assignment - Submit your deliverable
- M3 - Instructions
- 1. Introduction (2:43)
- 2. Project Setup (4:07)
- 3. Importing Graphics and GUI (35:24)
- 4. Creating the Cards (20:04)
- 5. Coding the Cards (33:02)
- 6. Creating the Player (21:02)
- 7. Dealing the Cards and Coroutines (24:21)
- 8. Adding Drag and Drop (23:35)
- 9. Adding the Attack Effect (38:32)
- 10. Adding the Defence Effects (31:43)
- 11. Finished off Gameplay (58:24)
- 12. Adding Sound Effects (25:30)
- 13. Completing the Assignment (4:29)
- M3 - Assignment - Submit your deliverables
- M5 - Instructions
- 1. Introduction (1:30)
- 2. Project Setup (5:06)
- 3. Assets and GameController (4:32)
- 4. Phone Setup (6:32)
- 5. Swipe Controls (17:49)
- 6. Adding the Snake Head (16:42)
- 7. Adding the rest of the Snake (19:36)
- 8. Getting the body parts to follow the head (16:58)
- 9. Creating Walls and Eggs (19:25)
- 10. Collisions (11:44)
- 11. Game Progression (27:35)
- 12. Score and GUI (15:37)
- 13. Sounds and Phone Deployment (14:12)
- 14. Assignment (3:12)
- M5 - Assignment - Submit your deliverables
Professional Tools You'll Use
Throughout this course, you’ll gain hands-on experience with essential tools widely used in the game industry:
- Unity – One of the most versatile game engines, Unity is widely used by indie developers and major studios alike. Mastering Unity will open opportunities in 2D, 3D, and VR/AR game creation, equipping you with skills sought after by employers.
- Blender – An industry-standard 3D modeling software, Blender allows you to create assets, animations, and game environments. Game studios rely on Blender for high-quality game content, making it an invaluable tool for aspiring game creators.
- Krita – This open-source painting program is widely used for creating textures, concept art, and 2D assets. Mastering Krita will enable you to contribute to the visual aspects of game projects, enhancing your overall skill set.
- Visual Studio – A leading IDE for C# programming, Visual Studio is essential for anyone working with Unity. Learning to code in this environment prepares you for real-world game development, as it's the go-to choice for many game studios.
How You’ll Complete the Course
The IVGC+ course offers the flexibility to study at your own pace, with all lessons available online via Teachable. Here’s how you’ll progress:
- Follow the Video Lectures: Access and stream professionally taught video lessons at any time. Each video comes with lesson summaries, subtitles, and transcriptions to ensure a smooth learning experience. Note that some subtitles and transcriptions were generated using AI, so minor errors may occur.
- Complete the Assignments: After studying each module, demonstrate your understanding by completing an assignment. These assignments may include:
- Quizzes: Answer multiple-choice questions to achieve the required passing score.
- Essays: Write essays to express your understanding, meeting the word count specified in the assignment.
- Deliverables: Submit project files to showcase your skills and learning progress.
- Assessment and Credits: Instructors will assess your work, and you’ll be notified upon passing each module. Successfully completing the assignments awards you the credits that contribute to your journey.
Technical Requirements
To complete the course effectively, you will need:
- A PC or Mac with Windows or macOS.
- A 3-button mouse for efficient navigation and control.
- Graphic Tablet (Optional): While not mandatory, a graphic tablet is recommended for learners interested in digital art and design, offering a more professional experience
Recognized Credits and Certificate
Completing this course earns you up to 25 university credits. You'll receive a Certificate of Studies upon completion. If you live in Finland and have a HETU (Finnish social security number), you'll also be eligible for an official Finnish Open University Transcript of Records (ToR). These credits can be part of your degree studies or serve as valuable evidence of your skills and interest when applying to European universities.
Get Started with IVGC+ Today!
This course is brought to you in partnership with XAMK South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences, Cambridge Gamechanger Ltd (Cambridge Academy of Gaming and Innovation), and Cypherdelic Ltd. Begin your journey into advanced game creation today and gain the skills needed to excel in the gaming industry.