Mastering Game Development and Design Through Harvard University
Game Development – A Specialization From Harvard University
Developed by Harvard University and offered through the edX platform, this free online course will teach you how to develop 2D and 3D games. Through lectures and hands-on projects, you will learn to program games using frameworks such as Unity and Love2D, along with programming languages like Lua and C#.
2D Games
Video game graphics can be divided into two categories: 2D and 3D. 2D games use flat graphics called sprites that are displayed on the screen without three-dimensional geometry. In contrast, 3D games provide a realistic and immersive gaming experience. The choice of one type of game design depends on the goals of the game developer and the desired gaming experience.
2D games are easier to play, which makes them suitable for beginners and can attract more audience. They are also cheaper and faster to make, and updates can be implemented more easily. This is why many popular mobile games like Angry Birds and Undertale are 2D.
Whether you are in the mood for a relaxing puzzle game, high-octane racing or epic battles, there is a 2D or 3D game to satisfy your craving. You can even try out a new genre of game, such as the 2.5D games that use both 2D and 3D graphics.
3D Games
In this specialization, you will build games with a team of other students. You will follow best practices, from brainstorming and early prototyping to the development of a playable game. You will also learn how to create 3D graphics and audio. The course is a combination of an Introduction to Computer Science and the fundamentals of Game Programming.
Students will build a variety of games, including a dodgeball game and a game modeled after the popular infinity run game. They will learn a lot of important coding concepts, such as if/then and looping, as well as how to design gameplay that is fun, exciting, and engaging.
Many colleges offer undergraduate majors in video game development, including the University of Utah and Michigan State, large public universities such as UW-Stout, tech colleges such as Worcester Polytechnic and Drexel, and small private schools like Hampshire College. Some of these colleges also have impressive facilities for developing and testing video games.
Game Design
Game design is the process of creating a game. It involves fleshing out the game’s mechanics, defining how it starts and ends, and setting up winning conditions. It also includes creating a game’s rules and instructions. Game design is often iterative, with revisions made throughout the development process.
A successful game design must balance player experience, playability, and learning. It must be fun, challenging, and engaging while also providing clear instruction and feedback to the players. This is a challenge that many game designers struggle with.
The Harvard college video game development club was founded by Chris Rodowicz ’17 and is an active student group. Members meet every Saturday evening in the Science Center basement to work on various projects. They use a variety of development frameworks and tools to develop their games. They also host a weekly tournament for students to participate in. eSports is slowly gaining popularity in the United States and is a promising field for the future of gaming.
Game Programming
Game programming is the software development that supports video games. Almost all of the games we play on consoles, computers, and mobile phones are created by skilled game programmers. Game programming requires substantial skill in software engineering and computer programming. Some college undergraduate majors have an entire track devoted to game design and development. Other universities offer graduate programs in game design and programming. Some coding boot camps also offer intensive training in game development.
Game programmers often have a significant say in a game’s final design. They must be familiar with multiple languages and platforms, side-step buggy language implementations and refactor code to meet performance requirements and the limitations of hardware.
As technology has improved and players’ expectations have grown, game development teams have become increasingly specialized. Initially, art production was relegated to full-time artists and then game programming became a separate discipline from game design. Programmers may have to create prototypes, document specifications, and create unit tests and procedures.