Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Your Third Step into Game Design and Development

Are you ready to take the next step in your journey into game design and development? In this module, we will introduce the course and kick off your third game project, a 3D Shooter. In the first part of the assignment, follow along with the tutorial videos introduced in this module. In the second part of the project, you will modify the game to make it your own.

Game Assets

A big part of game development is developing the game assets. Game assets in Unity include the visuals (2D and 3D graphics, fonts, materials, animations), audio (sound effects, voice acting, ambient sounds, and music), and even the game logic (C# scripts), amongst other things. In this module, we will explore concepts and creation techniques of graphics, concepts and creation techniques of audio, the asset pipeline, and explore programming best practices.

Level Design and Game Balancing

In this module, we will explore level design and game balancing. Level design is where the ‘rubber meets the road’. The level design is where the gameplay, storyline, art, and technology all come together to create the actual game world the player experiences. We have discussed the idea of creating experience goals, designing, playtesting, comparing the difference between the experience goals and the actual experience, and then iterating on the design, several times. This is game balancing. It is what iterative design is all about.

Making Your Game Better

Prototyping is one of the most critical skills a game designer can cultivate. The ability to "find the fun" in gameplay design is critical to being a successful designer. In this module we will discuss prototyping of a game. This can then be put in front of players during a playtest, allowing you to better understand if the underlying mechanics, systems and aesthetic are something that players may find engaging. As you work on your 3D Shooter project, you should be playtesting. In this module, you will also finish up the 3D Shooter project, submit it for peer review, and peer review your fellow learners games. Finish the course strong!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in the field of game design and development

Develops professional skills and deep expertise in a particular topic or set of topics

Teaches industry-standard tools such as Unity

Teaches the core fundamentals and principles of game design

Teaches the core concepts of game development such as level design, game balancing, prototyping, and playtesting

Requires students to complete a 3D First-Person Shooter game project

Reviews summary

Practical unity and theory course

According to students, Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter balances theory and practice to teach Unity to learners. Learners say that theory is detailed and doesn't require a degree. The practical component utilizes a sophisticated project and components. Students say that the practical implementation is disjointed from the theory and that understanding the components may be time-consuming. Despite this, students say that this course is a good option to learn Unity and that the theoretical portion is worthwhile.

Complex final project

"A sophisticated game can be developed for the final project assignment because sophisticated components are provided."

In-depth theory

"Lot's of interesting topics are discussed in theory that I never thought would form part of my interest."

"The theory doesn't require a degree to understand but has enough depth to get you thinking and broaden your horizon."

Practical is disjointed from theory

"The practical part however is lacking and the two feel quite disjointed."

"No where in the practical code teaching are these reinforced, exemplified or illustrated in any explicit way."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter with these activities:

Review basic programming concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of programming fundamentals before diving into game development to ensure a smoother learning process.

Browse courses on Programming

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Review resources on basic programming concepts, such as variables, data types, and control structures.
Practice writing simple programs to reinforce your understanding.

Read "The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell

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Gain insights into game design principles and methodologies from an industry expert to enhance your game development skills.

View The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Discuss the book's ideas with classmates or online forums.

Join a game design community or online forum

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Engage with other game designers to exchange ideas, get feedback, and stay updated on industry trends.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Join a game design community or online forum.
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your work.

Five other activities

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Develop a 2D game prototype

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Create a 2D game prototype to practice applying game design principles and game development techniques.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Design the game mechanics and rules.
Create the game assets, including sprites, backgrounds, and sounds.
Develop the game code using a game engine like Unity or Phaser.
Test and iterate on the game prototype.

Complete a Unity or Unreal Engine tutorial series

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Enhance your game development skills by following a structured tutorial series in a game engine like Unity or Unreal Engine.

Browse courses on Unity

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Choose a tutorial series that aligns with your goals.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises.

Create a blog post or video tutorial on a game design topic

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Share your knowledge and understanding of game design by creating a blog post or video tutorial, which reinforces your learning and benefits others.

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Choose a topic and research the subject.
Write or create the blog post or video tutorial.
Publish your content and promote it.

Design and develop a game concept document

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Create a comprehensive game concept document that outlines your game's design, mechanics, and vision to enhance your project planning and communication skills.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Brainstorm and finalize your game concept.
Write a detailed description of the game's story, characters, and gameplay.
Create concept art and mockups to illustrate your ideas.

Participate in a game design or development competition

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Challenge yourself by participating in a game design or development competition to test your skills, receive feedback, and showcase your work.

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Find a suitable competition and review the rules.
Design and develop your game entry.
Submit your entry and await the results.

Career center

Learners who complete Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Designer

The primary purpose of this course is to teach the fundamentals of game design. With level design, game balancing, prototyping, and playtesting as its main components, you will learn about an array of techniques that go into game development. You will also be introduced to the Unity 2020 game engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Artist

Game Artists are responsible for much of the visual experience of a game. With a keen eye for detail and technical skill, they use techniques covered in this course to create 2D and 3D graphics, fonts, materials, animations, and more. Through coursework, this course will teach the foundations of digital art for games.

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Software Developer

With the Unity 2020 game engine, users will be introduced to the world of software development. This 3D First-Person Shooter game is built in the Unity game engine in C#. Students who have aspirations of working with C# will greatly benefit from this course as it features concepts such as programming best practices and the asset pipeline.

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Programmer

Programmers bring games to life, creating the logic and code that drives the game's mechanics. This course teaches C# scripting, an industry standard programming language used for games. Students will learn programming best practices, a vital skill for Programmers in the gaming industry.

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Audio Engineer

The audio behind a game can be just as crucial as the gameplay. Audio Engineers will be able to use this course to learn the concepts and creation techniques of audio. It also covers ambient sounds and music, important parts of worldbuilding for video games and other media.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts, also known as game testers, provide insight and feedback on features, functions, and usability. This course can help aspiring Quality Assurance Analysts understand the end-user experience and what game designers are looking to create. They will also learn prototyping techniques, allowing them to create rough drafts and simulations for testing.

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User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers make sure that products are user-friendly and enjoyable to interact with. This course will help aspiring User Experience Designers understand the principles of game design and how to create an enjoyable experience for players.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee all aspects of a game's development. This course will help teach aspiring Project Managers the various stages of a game's development, from prototyping to the final product.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers bring clarity to complex topics, which is exactly what game mechanics and development can be. This course can help budding Technical Writers learn to explain complex game systems in an easy-to-understand way.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers help create a brand for games and lead promotional campaigns. This course may be useful for those entering Marketing Management due to its coverage of experience goals. Understanding how to create a fun user experience is important for the marketing side of the industry.

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Game Producer

Game Producers help to keep a project on track and ensure that it meets the needs of the development team, stakeholders, and players. This course may be useful because it covers concepts like prototyping, game balancing, and playtesting, all of which are important to Game Producers.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts use data to improve products and services. This course will help aspiring Data Analysts understand how to collect, analyze, and interpret data from games. This is crucial for making data-driven decisions that can improve the game experience.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses understand their needs and develop solutions to meet those needs. This course may be useful for those entering Business Analysis because it covers concepts like game balancing and prototyping, which can be applied to understanding and meeting the needs of clients.

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Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design and implement computer systems. This course may be useful for Systems Analysts because it covers concepts like programming best practices and the asset pipeline, which can be applied to designing and implementing complex systems.

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Information Architect

Information Architects design and organize the structure of websites and other digital products. This course may be useful for Information Architects because it covers concepts like level design and game balancing, which can be applied to organizing and structuring information in a way that is easy to understand and use.

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