Interactive Software Development

What is ISD?

The Interactive Software Development program at DMI is an innovative one-year program that will put graduates on the cutting edge of today’s interactive world. The core of this year-long curriculum is learning to program in C# and the Unity Game Engine. These technical skills are combined with teaching in game theory, 3D assets and authoring that will round out students’ education and prepare them for a career in the industry.

How does it work?

Students will work in teams for approximately 350 hours, or 14 weeks, on term projects. These projects will simulate working in the industry, as students will create and demonstrate functional games and apps for real-world situations in mobile, desktop and browser environments. This team project, along with individual projects, will build a resume and a portfolio of work each student can use to showcase their skills to prospective employers.

When can I start?

This program currently runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The program includes 1,024 hours of instruction, and attendance is mandatory. Students who complete the program will take a demo reel and their group projects with them upon graduation to showcase their work for prospective employers.

INTERACTIVE CODING

• Overview of modern programming languages including C#
• Foundation in key computing architectures that will be used in the program
• Code revision systems and how they are used by developers
• Developing in C#
• Key math principles for game development including vectors, normal and matrices
• Game Development History
• Term Project

GRAPHICS FOR DEVELOPERS

• Graphic design fundamentals including design, color and type
• Creating and editing 2D images for games, such as bitmap and vector files
• Fundamentals of sound creation, editing, and sound effects
• Basic 2D animation
• 3D modeling, building organic and inorganic 3D models and integrating them into a game engine
• 3D animation for game assets
• Motion capture for 3D game projects
• Term Project

INTERFACE, INTERACTION & GAME DESIGN

• User interface design including topics in color, clarity and layout
• Testing user interface and user experience and user feedback models
• Overview of virtual reality, augmented reality and interfaces like the Oculus Rift
• Game design theory. Students will explore what makes a game or interactive experience great from the player/user perspective
• Designing and testing game play. Mockups and prototypes will be created; gathering and implementing bug feedback
• Interactive web development which includes developing browser, server and social platform based projects
• Term Project

ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT

• Overview of mobile game development and platform specific topics including Apple OS, Android OS and other emerging technologies in the mobile space
• Designing and building a mobile game /app focusing on delivering a working complete app store/marketplace releasable project
• A mobile based game project where you are tasked to deliver a working and playable complete basic mobile-based game
• A 2D gaming project in the web or mobile space focusing on enhanced game play and pushing the boundaries of the 2D game space
• A 3D gaming project where you and your team will use a leading game engine to deliver your complete game project on schedule
• An advanced several week development capstone project with input from an industry adviser
• A workforce transition module completes the program

• GAME PROGRAMMER

Game Programmers design and write the computer code that runs and controls a game typically via an engine.

• LEVEL EDITOR

Level Editors define and create interactive architecture for a segment of a game, including the landscape, buildings and objects.

• TECHNICAL ARTISTS

Technical Artists act as a bridge between the Artists and Programmers working on a game.

• GAME DESIGNER

Game Designers devise what a game consists of and how it plays, defining all the core elements.

• VR/AR DEVELOPER

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are high growth areas that employ interactive developers, creating cutting edge training, industrial and game-based content.

• QA TESTER

QA Testers test, tune and debug a game and suggest refinements that ensure its quality and playability, assuring quality in a game and finding all its flaws before it goes public. QA can be a great way to get your career going in the field.