Learn How to Design a Video Game at NYFA
The 3-Week Game Design Program is an immersive, hands-on course designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of game development. Through a blend of live instruction, interactive exercises, and project-based learning, students will gain practical skills in game design, coding, 3D art, and user testing.
Program Description Program Name: 3-Week Game Design Summer Camps for Teens I
Each student will work on their own individual project, gaining hands-on experience through every stage of the game development process. The first week focuses on building essential skills and pre-production planning, where students will decide on their game concept, outline a production plan, divide their tasks, and create a proof of concept. The second week and part of the third are dedicated to full production, with an emphasis on prototyping, playtesting, and iteration. In the final phase, students will concentrate on polishing their games—refining visuals, mechanics, and making quality-of-life improvements to create a smooth and engaging player experience.
By the end of the program, students will have a solid foundation in the game development process and experience working with industry-standard tools like Unity.
Core Subjects
The following core subjects are included:
- Intro to Unity: Starting from the basics, students will learn how to navigate and utilize the Unity Game Development Engine, one of the most widely used tools in the gaming, film, VR, and architecture industries. This course will cover fundamental aspects like the interface, asset management, and basic scene building, giving students a hands-on understanding of the engine’s powerful capabilities.
- Play-testing and Refinement: Students will take the games they’ve created in class and conduct user-centric playtesting sessions. By gathering feedback from testers, students will learn how to refine and iterate on their game designs, making improvements to gameplay mechanics, controls, and overall player experience. This hands-on process emphasizes the importance of feedback loops in game development.
- Coding: Students will learn the basics of computer programming using C# (C Sharp), one of the most versatile and widely used programming languages in the game industry. Through this class, students will gain an understanding of the logic behind game mechanics and learn how to implement essential features like movement, collision detection, and basic AI.
- Game Studio: In this class, students will simulate the experience of working in a professional game development studio. They will collaborate as part of a production team, developing their games within specific project parameters and deadlines. This experience will help students understand the dynamics of teamwork, communication, and workflow in a game development setting.
- Game Design Workshop: Students will dive deep into the design structures and systems of existing games through live gameplay analysis and group feedback. This course encourages critical thinking about game mechanics, storytelling, user experience, and level design. By analyzing successful games, students will learn how to apply these principles to their own projects.
- 3D Art: In this class, students will learn the production pipeline for 3D modeling and texturing, using Maya, an industry-standard 3D modeling software. Students will gain hands-on experience creating 3D assets for games, including characters, environments, and props, while also learning about the importance of optimizing models for game engines.
Final Project
By the end of the program, each student will complete a guided final project of their choice, utilizing everything they’ve learned throughout the course. Students will focus on a game concept they are passionate about, applying their knowledge of Unity, C# coding, 3D art, play-testing, and game design. The final project will serve as a portfolio piece, demonstrating the student’s ability to create a complete game prototype.
Throughout the course, students will work both individually and collaboratively, allowing them to develop their technical skills and experience the workflow of a professional game development studio. By the end of the program, students will have a comprehensive understanding of game design and development, a solid portfolio project, and the skills necessary to move forward in the world of game development.