© 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Art and Design Unit 2 Lesson 1 Skills in the Game Industry

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Big Idea Specific skills are necessary in order to obtain and keep a job in the competitive design industry.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ What Skills are Needed in the Game Industry? Communication Creativity Problem Solving Teamwork Gantt Charts Team roles

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Communication skills listening and speaking Good communication requires effort Need to clearly communicate ideas and have all members of the team understand

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Creativity Each new game needs to be different and exciting to attract customers Studies suggest that creativity is innate and cannot be taught - others believe creativity can be nurtured So how do you know if you are creative? There are several online tests or evaluations you can take

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Problem Solving A mental process used to find a solution to a complex or simple task What makes a good problem solver? There are several online tests or evaluations you can take to find out how you solve problems

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Technology competence Creating games requires technology skills such as 3D modeling, game scripting, applying materials and textures to scenes, and creating documents and spreadsheets Many game cells have divisions of labor where one might specialize in one or more skills

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ TEAM ROLES

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Team Roles Game teams- called cells Cells work together is a secure environment for very long hours During development the idea should be guarded Each member has specific roles and/or responsibilities

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Team Roles: Producer Person in charge of the project He/she manages the development team, schedules, reports, hires and assures quality control The producer keeps the team on schedule so the game can be completed on time and under budget

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Team Roles: Programmer Software engineer concerned with the core mechanics of game play Programs the game engine, scripting various commands and develops the User Interface (UI) Writes code for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms that control computer- managed opponents

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team: Lever Designer In charge of creating a game level Makes sure all assets and actions of the level work together as designed

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team: Writer Responsible for the storyline of the game Makes sure the dialogue is appropriate for the characters and the scenes are themed to follow the storyline set forth in the storyboard

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team: Art Designer Responsible for the visual elements of the game Keeps track of assets, sprites, models, backgrounds, and polygon count Ensures the theme carries over into scene layouts and character designs

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team: Audio Responsible for all sounds, musical score, background music, ambient sounds and voiceovers Ensures the sounds match the theme and mood of the game

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team: Tester Responsible for testing and analyzing the game for defects, glitches, and bugs Cheat codes are built into the game to help the testers Should be a good game player with a working knowledge of the design, game play, and programming of the game Good entry-level position

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ TEAM STRUCTURE

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Teamwork - part of a design team Successful team = players doing their part in a timely manner Teamwork requires Responsibility Initiative Dependability Dress Respect

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Divisor of Labor - allow members to specialize in certain areas Roles may be group leaders with several other team members working together Good communication skills and a strong work ethic are essential

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Team Skills Gantt chart –shows a project schedule including start and finish dates who is responsible for what overall progress Shows planned and actual completion dates Can be edited daily

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ MAKING A GANTT CHART

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Making A Gantt Chart Order of production (What happens first) 1.Preproduction 2.Production 3.Post production

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Making A Gantt Chart Order of production (What happens first) 1.Preproduction: The design phase assemble team game idea brainstorm sketching

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Making A Gantt Chart Order of production (What happens first) 1.Preproduction: assemble team, game idea, brainstorm, sketching 2.Production: create characters, levels, UI, programming, sounds, and other game components, test and correct, add final touches, ship 3.Post production: maintenance, marketing, outsourcing

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Making A Gantt Chart Steps to creating a Gantt chart 1.Identify the list of required tasks. 2.Estimate the time requirements (hours) and responsible person for each task. 3.Determine the order of completion for each task and if there are any dependencies (task one must be completed before task two).

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Making A Gantt Chart Steps to creating a Gantt chart 4. Create a rough draft of the chart. 5. Update the chart as needed.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Big Idea Specific skills are necessary in order to obtain and keep a job in the competitive design industry.

© 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 2 Skills in the Game Industry Images Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 2 Skills in the Game Industry Images Reproduced with permission Unity. Microsoft clipart. Photo by Phyllis Jones. Student images.