Course Title: Virtual Environments

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Virtual Environments

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
VART2493	City Campus	Undergraduate	345H Media and Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014

Course Coordinator: Dr Adam Nash

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99252598

Course Coordinator Email: adam.nash@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 14.11.12

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

It is assumed students have successfully completed first year of BP214 Bachelor of Design (Games).

Course Description

This core course will enable you to develop the practical and theoretical knowledge and ability necessary to design, execute and use virtual environments in the context of digital games, interactive entertainment and simulation. Emphasis is placed on the development of practical, real-world skills and analytical understanding, with a specific focus on level design for games. 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Objectives:
Use software tools to design, execute and use virtual environments.
Effectively analyse and critically respond to contemporary virtual environments.
Use contemporary industry-relevant process in relation to the design of virtual environments.


Capabilities:
Produce technical and conceptual professional level output relevant to game design, digital art, interactive entertainment, training and simulation.
Realise creative and innovative outcomes through the use of modeling, imaging and other tools in making games and interactive media content.
Develop knowledge of software to a professional standard and to be technically innovative and resourceful in approaching future versions of software in order to sustain your individual career.
Identify and articulate the requirements of a brief in order to produce appropriate structures and content to fulfill the brief.
Critically analyse and provide feedback on your own and other people outputs in relation to industry and academic standards.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to design and execute a virtual environment for use in the contemporary digital games, interactive entertainment and simulation industries.
Design and execute levels relevant to digital games.
Analyse the contemporary conventions of level design and virtual environment practice and be able to communicate this to other diverse practitioners.

Overview of Learning Activities

Learning takes place within a studio environment. You will study the design, execution and use of game levels and virtual environments specifically within the context of contemporary digital games and broader interactive art, entertainment and simulation industries. The focus of studies will be the understanding, use, design and construction of levels within virtual environments, as well as complete virtual environments.  Presentations and screenings illustrating key concepts in portfolio production will be followed by group discussion and design activities. You will be expected to prepare for and contribute to class sessions via formal presentations and participation in discussion and technical skills exercises. You will be expected to create and analyse examples of virtual environments and game levels, in order to develop an intermediate level of technical and conceptual skill in this area.

Overview of Learning Resources

Studio classes will consist of a mixture of conceptual and practical tutorials with hands-on skill exercises within a studio environment. Online resources will also be provided to reinforce and extend these studio sessions. You will also engage in self-directed learning activities outside of class. Such activities involve iterative imaging exercises, research, reflection, planning, preparation and the development of your assignments. The lecturer will provide guidance in these self-directed learning acitivities.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on your ability to effectively design and execute creative works in the context of virtual environments in digital games and interactive art and entertainment. Assignments consist of in-class presentations of critical presentations, discussion, as well as ongoing creative projects.