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Syllabus
Advanced Cycle of Video Game Art and Design
The program begins with a solid foundation in concept art and digital painting, exploring everything from the fundamentals to advanced techniques for visual creation in video games. It delves into the design, planning, and techniques of conceptual art, where students learn how to bring imaginary worlds to life, from futuristic cities to fantasy landscapes. Project integration teaches how to take these ideas from initial concept to full development, emphasizing the importance of a professional portfolio. In addition, understanding the video game market, vital to the success of any project, is covered. The design of the playable experience, systems and narrative, and the advanced level design are pillars that allow students to create games that are not only visually stunning but also engaging and challenging. Finally, you are taught how to prepare and present game proposals, combining all the skills learned to launch compelling ideas to the market.
| Matter | Area | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Concept Art and Digital Paining of Environments | Fundamentals of Concept Art and Digital Paining | Introduction to concept art |
| Design and planning of environments | Fundamentals of Digital Drawing and Painting | |
| Color and Light Theory: | ||
| Environmental Narrative | ||
| Advanced Digital Painting Techniques | Visual Development | |
| Textures and Materials | ||
| Advanced Lighting Techniques | ||
| Advanced Perspective and Composition | ||
| Concept Art of Specific Environments | Science Fiction Environments | |
| Fantasy Environments | ||
| Urban Environments and Architecture | ||
| Project Integration and Development | From Concept to Production | |
| Individual Project Development | ||
| Presentation and Portfolio | Polish and Final Details | |
| Creating a Concept Art Portfolio | ||
| Game Design & Conceptualization | Market Understanding and Initial Concept | Video Game Market Analysis |
| Commented Gameplay | ||
| Concept development and initial documentation | What is Game Design | |
| The Game Design Document | ||
| Gameplay Experience Design | Player motivation | |
| Player Types | ||
| CMDA | ||
| Game loop | ||
| Tutorials | ||
| CCC | ||
| Systems Design and Narrative | State machines and AIs | |
| Game Balance | ||
| Level Design and Advanced Documentation | Introduction to Level Design | |
| Types of levels | ||
| Level Design Workflow | ||
| Levels according to genres | ||
| Preparation and Presentation of the Game Proposal | Preparation of the final project | |
| Commercial presentation of the project |
This program combines an in-depth exploration in character design and UX/UI, preparing students to face real challenges in video game creation. It begins with the fundamentals of character design, where you are taught how to conceptualize and develop unique characters, followed by advanced drawing and design techniques that allow you to bring these concepts to life through a mastery of color, texture, and costumes. Visual storytelling is emphasized to create dynamic characters that enrich the story and game world. The preparation of a portfolio and professional presentation culminates this section, ensuring that students can showcase their work effectively.
In parallel, UX/UI design is addressed, starting with the fundamentals of UX/UI, followed by in-depth UX research that informs design decisions. Gaming-specific UI design is explored to create intuitive and engaging interfaces, while UX design for interaction focuses on creating immersive user experiences. Integrating UX/UI into game development is crucial to the success of the final product, teaching students how to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. The completion of a capstone project and the preparation of a portfolio in this area ensure a complete understanding and the ability to apply this knowledge in real contexts.
| 2D Character Design | Fundamentals of Character Design | Introduction to Character Design for Video Games |
| Concept Development and Character Creation | Fundamentals of Drawing | |
| Character Design Principles: | ||
| Brainstorming and Conceptualization Techniques | ||
| Advanced Drawing and Design Techniques | Character Design by Video Game Genre | |
| Advanced Anatomy for Artists | ||
| Color, Texture & Costume | Expression and Body Language | |
| Stylization and Exaggeration | ||
| Advanced Color Theory | ||
| Visual Narrative and Dynamic Character Creation | Costume Design & Accessories | |
| Texturing and Patterns | ||
| Visual Narrative through Character Design | ||
| Professional Portfolio & Presentation | Supporting Character and Antagonist Design | |
| Dynamic Posing and Composition | ||
| Preparation of the final project | ||
| Experience Design and User Interface (UX/UI) | UX/UI Fundamentals | Introduction to UX/UI |
| UX Design Principles | ||
| UI Design Principles | ||
| UX Research | User Understanding | |
| Analysis and Synthesis | ||
| Competitive Evaluation | ||
| UI Design in Video Games | UI elements | |
| UI Prototyping | ||
| Responsive and Adaptive Design | ||
| UX Design for Interaction | Narrative and User Experience | |
| Game Mechanics and UX | ||
| Usability Testing | ||
| UX/UI Integration in Game Development | Multidisciplinary Collaboration | |
| Technical UI Implementation | ||
| Feedback and Continuous Improvement | ||
| Portfolio and Final Project | Designing a Complete Experience | |
| Building a UX/UI Portfolio |
The program comprehensively covers 3D design, from fundamentals and basic anatomy to advanced modeling, texturing, and animation techniques. It starts with a solid understanding of anatomy for 3D designers, crucial for creating realistic characters and elements. The course progresses into modeling, where everything from basic to advanced techniques is taught, preparing students to face any design challenge. Texturing and materials give the models realism and detail, while rigging and basic animation introduce dynamics and movement.
Lighting, rendering, and compositing are essential for the final visualization of projects, teaching how to present work in a professional manner. The importance of preparing a portfolio and final project is emphasized, allowing students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. In addition, conceptualization and preliminary design, advanced 3D modeling, and more sophisticated texturing and materials techniques are covered. Integration into game engines and optimization and publishing prepare students for the launch of projects in the real market, ensuring that they acquire a comprehensive understanding of 3D design applied to video games.
| 3D Character Design | Fundamentals of 3D Design and Anatomy | Introduction to 3D Design |
| Basic Anatomy for 3D Designers | Basic Anatomy for 3D Designers | |
| Conceptualization and References | ||
| Basic and Advanced Modeling | Basic 3D Modeling | |
| Advanced and Detailed Modeling | ||
| Mesh Optimization | ||
| Texturing & Materials | UV Mapping and Basic Texturing | |
| Advanced Texturing | ||
| Materials and Shaders | ||
| Basic Rigging and Animation | Introduction to Rigging | |
| Character Animation | ||
| Dynamics and Simulations | ||
| Lighting, Rendering and Compositing | 3D lighting | |
| Rendering | ||
| Composition and Post-Production | ||
| Portfolio Preparation and Final Project | Preparation of the final project piece | |
| Portfolio Creation | ||
| 3D Environment Design | Conceptualization and Preliminary Design | Conceptualization of Environments |
| Design and Planning | ||
| Advanced 3D Modeling | Terrain Modeling and Landscaping | |
| Architecture and Structure Modeling | ||
| Texturing & Materials | Creating PBR Textures and Materials | |
| Advanced UV Mapping and Baking Techniques | ||
| Lighting and Rendering | Advanced Lighting Techniques | |
| Rendering and Post-Processing | ||
| Game Engine Integration | Unreal Engine Integration | |
| Unity integration | ||
| Optimization and Publishing | Optimization of Gaming Environments | |
| Final Project | ||
| Preparing for Publication |
This program delves into the art and science behind level design in video games, exploring everything from advanced concepts to hands-on implementation with Unreal Engine. It starts with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of Unreal Engine and Blueprints, allowing students to master character control and user interaction. As it progresses, the course dives into genre-specific design and prototyping, adapting techniques to create unique gaming experiences.
The importance of narrative and setting is emphasized, teaching how to create worlds that captivate players and fully immerse themselves in the game experience. The integration of advanced techniques, such as game logic, gameplay, user interfaces, and HUDs, along with sound and music through Blueprints, prepares students to face complex design challenges.
The development cycle is completed with playtesting and feedback, which are essential for refining and optimizing the levels. The preparation of a portfolio and the presentation of projects culminate learning, equipping students with the necessary tools to present their work in a professional manner, ready for the video game industry.
| Level Design with Unreal | Advanced Concepts in Level Design | Applied Design Theories |
| Multiplayer Level Design | ||
| Tools & Technologies | ||
| Design and Prototyping with Unreal | Unreal Engine Tools | |
| Rapid Prototyping | ||
| Gender Level Design | Combat Levels | |
| Stealth Levels | ||
| Exploration Levels | ||
| Puzzle Levels | ||
| Playtesting and Feedback | Playtesting Strategies | |
| Publishing and Community | ||
| Narrative and Setting in Level Design | Environmental Storytelling | |
| Mission Design | ||
| Advanced Technique Integration | Scripting and Automation | |
| Portfolio and Project Presentation | Building a Professional Portfolio | |
| Presentation of Projects to the Community | ||
| Artist Programming with Unreal | Unreal Engine and Blueprints Fundamentals | Introduction to Unreal Engine |
| Blueprint Basics | ||
| Tier Design with Blueprints | ||
| Character Control and User Input | Actors and Pawns | |
| Player Inputs and Controls | ||
| Animation with Blueprints | ||
| Game Logic and Gameplay | Gameplay Essentials | |
| Collision Logic and Triggers | ||
| Interactive Elements | ||
| User Interfaces and HUDs | Creating User Interfaces | |
| HUD and Visual Feedback | ||
| Widgets & Blueprints | ||
| Sound and Music with Blueprints | Audio Fundamentals in Unreal | |
| Music and Sound Ambience | ||
| Sound Interactivity | ||
| Optimization and Testing | Blueprint Optimization | |
| Testing & Quality | ||
| Production Preparation |
The program culminates with a final project that consolidates the learning acquired, starting with the definition of the cycle project, where students conceptualize their vision. Team training is crucial, promoting collaboration and leveraging multidisciplinary skills. Next, the development of documentation establishes a solid foundation for the project, followed by meticulous planning that guides the creation process.
The production stage is intensive, where ideas are transformed into reality, marked by the practical implementation of concepts. Testing and feedback are vital stages, allowing you to iterate and improve the project based on real evidence and objective opinions. Polishing and optimising refines the project, ensuring quality and cohesion. The final presentation offers students the opportunity to showcase their work, demonstrating their ability to carry out complete projects from conception to realization, preparing them to face the challenges of the professional world.
| Final Project | Project definition |
| Team formation | |
| Documentation Development | |
| Project planning | |
| Production stage | |
| Testing and Feedback | |
| Polished and optimized | |
| Final presentation |
The pre-incubation program offers a unique experience, designed to support students in transitioning their academic projects into viable business ventures. At the beginning, students are carefully assigned to a Level Up incubator team, specifically selected to complement their profile and specialization. Throughout the program, personalized follow-up is provided through mentoring and tutoring, ensuring professional and project development according to high industry standards.
Additionally, participants receive specialized support in design and art, crucial elements for the differentiation and success of any commercial project in the field of video games. This accompaniment not only refines the aesthetics of the project, but also strengthens its value proposition in the market.
At the end of the program, a final performance report is prepared, providing students with a detailed assessment of their progress and achievements. This document serves as an invaluable tool for continuous improvement and as an endorsement of your skills and experience to potential employers in the video game sector.
| Pre-incubation program | Assignment to the incubator team |
| Mentoring and tutoring follow-up | |
| Design and art support for commercial project | |
| Final Performance Report |
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