Game Design and Programming
About the Program
Develop and integrate key programming skills in an intensive, hands-on program. Build a professional portfolio of your work, and turn your passion for video games into an exciting, high-paying career.
Learning Outcomes
- Write and interpret coding languages for software and game development;
- Apply critical thinking to diagnose and fix errors in a codebase;
- Integrate art, sound, and design specifications to create playable games;
- Map game environments, and implement AI elements;
- Execute quality individual or team-based design projects.
Profile
Successful Game Programmers have a unique combination of skills, including:
Technical Know-How
Master computer science, programming, math, physics, and design.Curiosity
Explore, learn, and understand the virtual and non-virtual worlds around us.Collaboration
Communicate, listen, and achieve goals through teamwork.Detailed Planning
Grasp timelines, scrutinize task aspects meticulously for excellence.Problem Solving
Analyze complex problems and identify effective solutions.
Career Prospects
Vancouver is well-established as a video game creation hub with continual industry growth.
Game Programmers are among the most in-demand professionals across video game studios.
Access diverse opportunities for a rewarding career.
Career Fields
- Generalist programmer, or programmer specialized in:
- Gameplay,
- Graphics,
- Networks,
- Artificial Intelligence (AI),
- Rendering,
- User Interface (UI),
- Tools,
- Mobile developer,
- Software or Build Engineer.
Diploma & Accreditation
This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Required Materials
It has been determined that your study program requires a particularly powerful computer. We understand that such specifications can lead to significant costs. Therefore, it is acceptable to use a computer from the "Creativity PC" category and to utilize the technological solutions that the College will implement to work around the limitations of your machine.
Minimum Requirements:
- Intel Core i7 processor or equivalent
- 32 GB of RAM or more
- 1TB or larger SSD (Solid State Drive)
- NVIDIA RTX 2060 (or superior) or AMD equivalent
- Windows 11 (Home, Education, or Pro versions).
Recommended Requirements:
- Intel Core i7 processor or equivalent
- 64 GB of RAM or more
- 2TB or larger SSD (Solid State Drive)
- NVIDIA 3080RTX GPU or AMD equivalent
- Windows 11 (Home, Education, or Pro versions).
Opportunities
Cutting-edge facilities & equipment
Facilities include:
- State-of-the-art workstations,
- Virtual Reality Suite (Emerging Technologies Lab),
- Equipment sign out,
- Comprehensive game library and consoles,
- Private tutoring spaces.
Gain proficiency with software and languages such as:
- Microsoft Visual Studio,
- Unreal Engine,
- Unity Engine,
- C++ and C#,
- GitHub,
- SQL,
- Adobe Photoshop,
- Maya.
Admissions Criteria
Domestic applicants generally require:
Proof of secondary school graduation or equivalent
Copy of government-issued photo ID
68 percent in Math 11 (or equivalent) or take the Accuplacer Placement Test
International applicants generally require:
Proof of secondary school graduation (with official English translations)
Copy of a valid Passport
Proof of English proficiency
68 percent in Math 11 (or equivalent) or take the Accuplacer Placement Test
Academic Dates
List of Courses
QUARTER 1
- Game Design I
- Introduction to Computer Programming
- Level Design I
- Applied Mathematics
QUARTER 2
- History of Games
- Object-Oriented Programming in C++ I
- Mini Games and Prototyping
- Geometry and Linear Algebra
QUARTER 3
- Digital Imaging
- Object-Oriented Programming in C++ II
- Introduction to C# Programming
- Statistics
QUARTER 4
- Basic 3D Concepts
- 2D Games Programming
- Programming for Game Engines
- Critical Thinking
QUARTER 5
- Portfolio I
- Algorithms and Data Patterns
- Intro Mobile Game Programming
- Elective 100
*Actual course order subject to change
Tuition & Aid
Make a plan with the support of LaSalle College Vancouver's Financial Planning Services! Let us:
- Estimate the cost of your education,
- Add up your available education-cost resources,
- Subtract available resources from estimated cost,
So that you can get money matters out of the way and focus on your dream career!
