New Bachelor of Science Degree: Game Art
Program focuses on 3D for games
With new titles like Halo 3, BioShock, and Heavenly Sword pushing the possibilities of immersive gaming to new heights, the creation of complex and realistic art is more important than ever to video game production. To help prepare the next generation of game artists, Full Sail is introducing the newest addition to its lineup of degrees for the real world – the Game Art Bachelor of Science Degree Program.
Debuting in January 2008, the Game Art program will bridge the gap between Full Sail’s Computer Animation and Game Development degrees by blending curriculum elements from the two programs together with industry-specific courses that cater to careers in gaming graphics.
“The Game Art program is going to focus on 3D content for games,” explains Pete Bandstra, Program Director for Full Sail’s Game Art and Computer Animation Degree Programs. “The program will include topics such as level design and characters for games, as well as effects and texturing in real time, and how they all relate to the heart of game production.”
Providing the foundations of cutting-edge content-creation – with a heavy emphasis on character development, shading and lighting, and modeling – the program gives students hands-on experience through courses such as Animation Production, Level Design, Object Perspective, Production Modeling, and Software Technology.
“Game Art follows all the foundations and all the fundamentals of the industry, everything that goes into it,” Bandstra says. “These classes offer a parallel between traditional art and the latest software techniques, that’s really the foundation. And then we expand from there, covering the core concepts of game art production.”
A core component of the program is that Game Art students, much like in a real world setting, are paired with students from Full Sail’s Game Development program for their final projects. During an intensive five-month stretch, the two teams will work together to implement their character, object, and landscape content into a fully functional and playable game.
“They’ll actually go through the exercise of a game production, which … is going to be a tremendous experience,” Bandstra continues. “The difference is that students will actually see their graphics as a final product, and see how they hold up while in a playable game. Also, the experience of having worked with different types of people, like digital artists and programmers, will be great preparation for an artist. We’re all really excited to see what kinds of projects come out of it!”
Debuting in January 2008, the Game Art program will bridge the gap between Full Sail’s Computer Animation and Game Development degrees by blending curriculum elements from the two programs together with industry-specific courses that cater to careers in gaming graphics.
“The Game Art program is going to focus on 3D content for games,” explains Pete Bandstra, Program Director for Full Sail’s Game Art and Computer Animation Degree Programs. “The program will include topics such as level design and characters for games, as well as effects and texturing in real time, and how they all relate to the heart of game production.”
Providing the foundations of cutting-edge content-creation – with a heavy emphasis on character development, shading and lighting, and modeling – the program gives students hands-on experience through courses such as Animation Production, Level Design, Object Perspective, Production Modeling, and Software Technology.
“Game Art follows all the foundations and all the fundamentals of the industry, everything that goes into it,” Bandstra says. “These classes offer a parallel between traditional art and the latest software techniques, that’s really the foundation. And then we expand from there, covering the core concepts of game art production.”
A core component of the program is that Game Art students, much like in a real world setting, are paired with students from Full Sail’s Game Development program for their final projects. During an intensive five-month stretch, the two teams will work together to implement their character, object, and landscape content into a fully functional and playable game.
“They’ll actually go through the exercise of a game production, which … is going to be a tremendous experience,” Bandstra continues. “The difference is that students will actually see their graphics as a final product, and see how they hold up while in a playable game. Also, the experience of having worked with different types of people, like digital artists and programmers, will be great preparation for an artist. We’re all really excited to see what kinds of projects come out of it!”
