Game Design and Development

As a student in the Game Design and Development concentration, you’ll experience the entire game development cycle—from creating concept art and UI & UX for games to coding for artificial intelligence and virtual reality gaming experiences. Students will develop specialized skills that prepare them for cutting-edge careers in one of the most vibrant, multifaceted, and expansive industries ever. Students will acquire the breadth of knowledge needed to build a career not just in game programming but in other industries that use gaming and simulation, from education to healthcare and public policy. 

Careers and Earning Potential
  • Game/Level Designer: $88,000 (indeed.com)
  • Animation VFX: $69,560 (bls.gov)
  • Character Concept Artist: $65,000 (indeed.com)
  • 3D Character Artist: $65,000 (indeed.com) 
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the concentration in Design and Media, students will be able to: 

Production Skills and Technical Knowledge

  • Demonstrate proficiency with technology related to contemporary game production
  • Create design documentation and detailed paper maps for a professional preproduction package
  • Effectively use visual and code-based scripting to implement game and level mechanics

Conceptual Thinking

  • Identify, gather, assess, record, and research relevant information for a game idea
  • Design, organize, and build game prototypes in established game engines
  • Analyze and discuss game trends and issues

Written and Oral Communication

  • Clearly and professionally present work and ideas
  • Evaluate and critique work in chosen game area

Visual Communication

  • Integrate objects, environments, characters, and props into a cohesive game experience
  • Use appropriate media to communicate ideas throughout the design process
  • Draw, design, and render forms (2D/3D) to game industry standards

Professional Readiness

  • Produce a professional demo reel or portfolio which meets industry standards
  • Work cooperatively and effectively in a professional production environment
  • Identify strengths within game development and/or design and develop a portfolio tailored to showcase them
  • Practice meeting deadlines and submit work according to professional presentation standards

Prerequisites

Option 1: Students with an earned degree from one of the following programs.
  • AS in Television Production (Leeward CC)
  • AS in Digital Media (Leeward CC)
  • AS in New Media Arts (Kapi‘olani CC)
  • AS in MELE (Honolulu CC)
  • AS in Communication Arts (Honolulu CC)
  • Graduates of other creative media or communications programs will also be considered for admission.
Option 2: UH West O’ahu Creative Media Degree Requirements

Students who have earned an AS from a UH Media Design program may have an adequate background to waive these requirements. Please consult with Sharla Hanaoka.

Undergraduate General Education Requirements

  • General Education Requirements (31 Credits)
  • Writing Skills Requirement (3 credits)
  • Lower Division Math Requirement (0-3 credits)

Creative Media Foundational Requirement: (15-18 credits)

  • ART 112 Introduction to Digital Art (Will satisfy general ed DA requirement)
  • CM 120 Introduction to Digital Video

Plus, choose 12 credits from the list below:

  • ART 101 Introduction to Visual Arts
  • ART 107D Introduction to Digital Photography
  • ART 113D Introduction to Digital Drawing
  • ART 126 3D Computer Graphics
  • ART 221 Design for Print and Web
  • ART 229 Interface Design I
  • ART 231 Art Through Applied Geometry
  • ART 240 Typography and Color Design
  • CM 140 History of Video Games
  • CM 142 Introduction to Video Game Design
  • CM 143 Introduction to Game Art
  • CM 150 Film Analysis and Storytelling
  • CM 151 Pre-Production: Digital Video
  • CM 152 Principles of Video Editing
  • CM 153 Sound Design for Digital Media
  • CM 155 Introduction to Screenwriting
  • CM 160 The Mobile Word
  • CM 161 Intro to iOS Mobile App Development
  • CM 251 Animation and Special Effects
  • ICS 101 Digital Tools for the Information World
  • ICS 111 Introduction to Computer Science

Core Requirements

Creative Media Core Requirements (21 Credits):

  • CM 256 Creatives in Media
  • ENG 313 Introduction to Creative Writing (WI)
  • CM 314 Music, Sound & Media
  • CM 320 Creative Producing
  • CM 401 Creative Professionals
  • HIST 363: 20th Century Popular, Mass & Counter-Culture
  • SD 360: Dynamics of Effective Leadership (WI)

Game Design and Development Concentration Requirement (12 credits)

Complete 12 credits from the following:

  • CM 340 The Modern Game Industry
  • CM 341 Writing and Storytelling for Video Games
  • CM 342 Applied Game Design
  • CM 343 Game Level Design
  • CM 352 Transmedia and Emerging Media
  • CM 358 Web Series Production
  • CM 359 Branded Entertainment: Online Video Campaign
  • CM 390 Creative Media Internship
  • CM 391 Game Design Project
  • CM 400(A) Master Class: Advanced Screenwriting (a);Stop-Motion Animation (b); Documentary Arts (c)
  • CM 402 Archival Research for Media Makers
  • CM 403 Special Topics

Capstone Requirement: 6 UD Credits

  • CM 489 Pre-Capstone Experience (WI)
  • CM 490 Senior Project or CM 491 Senior Practicum

Electives

Game Design and Development Concentration Electives (9 credits)

Complete 9 credits from the following:

  • ART 320 Web Design & Development
  • BUSA 300 Principles of Marketing
  • BUSA 304 Consumer Behavior
  • BUSA 305 Advertising & Promotion Management
  • CM 201 Forensic Photography
  • CM 311 Audio Post Production I
  • CM 315 Interactive Applications
  • CM 316 User Experience
  • CM 317 Motion Graphics
  • CM 321 Representations of Film/TV Productions
  • CM 322 Documentary Film Research & Development
  • CM 330 Audio Post Production II
  • *CM 340 The Modern Game Industry
  • *CM 341 Writing and Storytelling for Video Games
  • *CM 342 Applied Game Design
  • *CM 343 Game Level Design
  • CM 350 Creative Strategy
  • CM 351 Innovative Advertising
  • *CM 352 Transmedia and Emerging Media
  • CM 353 Making a Short Film
  • CM 354 Short copy for Campaigns
  • *CM 358 Web Series Production
  • *CM 359 Branded Entertainment: Online Video Campaign
  • CM 378 Visual Depictions of the Human Experience and Media Power
  • *CM 390 Creative Media Internship
  • *CM 391 Game Design Project
  • *CM 400(A) Master Class: Advanced Screenwriting (a);Stop-Motion Animation (b); Documentary Arts (c)
  • *CM 402 Archival Research for Media Makers
  • *CM 403 Special Topics
  • CM 430 Mastering Social Media
  • ENG 317 Pidgin Creative Writing Workshop
  • ENG 300c Introduction to Cultural Theory
  • ENG 360 Literature & Film
  • ENG 361 History of Film
  • ENG 367(A) Film Genres and Directors a) Film Noir; b) The Western; c) Gangster Film; d) Science Fiction Film; e) The Road Movie
  • ENG 368(A) Topics in Television Studies a) TV and American Culture; b) The TV Medical Drama; and c) Television Auteurs
  • ENG 385 Fairy Tales and Their Adaptations
  • ENG 441 Gender & Sexuality in Literature & Film
  • HIST 243 Asia Cool: Modern Asia & Pop Culture
  • HIST 311 Chinese Culture
  • HIST 321 Japanese Culture
  • HIST 325 Asian Economies, Business & Consumers
  • HIST 326 Japan Cool: Anime, Manga, and Film
  • HIST 496 Contemporary Oceanic Film
  • HPST 304 Hawaiian-Pacific Traditions
  • HPST 461 Traditional Art of Hawaii
  • HPST 462 Traditional Art of the Pacific
  • HPST 477 Polynesian and Micronesian Mythology
  • HPST 478 Hawaiian Mythology I
  • HPST 479 Hawaiian Mythology II
  • ICS 113 Database Fundamentals
  • ICS 184 Network Fundamentals
  • ICS 211 Introduction to Computer Science II
  • ICS 240 Operating Systems
  • MGT 301 Business Ethics
  • MGT 320 Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management
  • PHIL 439 Philosophy and Film

*Courses may only be used once to fulfill the Communication & New Media Technologies Concentration OR Concentration Elective requirement

Electives Requirement (17-26 credits)

Check with your College Success Advisor to confirm how many electives are needed.

Program Overview

As a student in the Game Design and Development concentration, you’ll experience the entire game development cycle—from creating concept art and UI & UX for games to coding for artificial intelligence and virtual reality gaming experiences. Students will develop specialized skills that prepare them for cutting-edge careers in one of the most vibrant, multifaceted, and expansive industries ever. Students will acquire the breadth of knowledge needed to build a career not just in game programming but in other industries that use gaming and simulation, from education to healthcare and public policy. 

Careers and Earning Potential
  • Game/Level Designer: $88,000 (indeed.com)
  • Animation VFX: $69,560 (bls.gov)
  • Character Concept Artist: $65,000 (indeed.com)
  • 3D Character Artist: $65,000 (indeed.com) 
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the concentration in Design and Media, students will be able to: 

Production Skills and Technical Knowledge

  • Demonstrate proficiency with technology related to contemporary game production
  • Create design documentation and detailed paper maps for a professional preproduction package
  • Effectively use visual and code-based scripting to implement game and level mechanics

Conceptual Thinking

  • Identify, gather, assess, record, and research relevant information for a game idea
  • Design, organize, and build game prototypes in established game engines
  • Analyze and discuss game trends and issues

Written and Oral Communication

  • Clearly and professionally present work and ideas
  • Evaluate and critique work in chosen game area

Visual Communication

  • Integrate objects, environments, characters, and props into a cohesive game experience
  • Use appropriate media to communicate ideas throughout the design process
  • Draw, design, and render forms (2D/3D) to game industry standards

Professional Readiness

  • Produce a professional demo reel or portfolio which meets industry standards
  • Work cooperatively and effectively in a professional production environment
  • Identify strengths within game development and/or design and develop a portfolio tailored to showcase them
  • Practice meeting deadlines and submit work according to professional presentation standards

Sharla Hanaoka, Associate Director Creative Media

Contact an Admission Specialist