Animation and Graphic Game Programming Degree

The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Animation and Graphic Game Programming will be awarded upon successful completion the program.

(Earn your AGGP degree through the Division of Community Education evenings option in four years. Contact Professor Simkin at for details.)

The business of game development in the United States has recently passed $13 billion dollars in annual sales, almost twice the annual sales of motion pictures. The game industry is fast growing with opportunities for a wide variety of jobs. A number of "hot spots" for game development exist throughout the country. The greater Boston area is one of these spots with several major studios.

Creating computer programs using animated graphics is a challenging and fascinating process. It is very exciting to see others play the games you created!

The Animation and Graphic Game Programming (AGGP) curriculum focuses on programming and the technical computer aspects of game development. Successful game development programmers possess a high level of skill and expertise in programming, math, and physics to make the artistic come to life. An introduction to tools and skills for game development and game production will be provided to support team projects. This introduction to common tools and skills will include those used by artists and designers.

This program prepares students for:

• entry level computer programming jobs in the entertainment business or a wide range of industries such as medical, forensics, architectural, training development, advertising or any industry incorporating animation and graphics to improve communication; and/or
• the opportunity for advanced education in the field of animation and graphics via degree granting schools or specialized schools focused on the entertainment fields.

The AGGP program focuses on C\C++, the main programming language used to develop games. Students will learn strong C++ programming skills including data structures with pointers, Windows application programming, and Microsoft's DirectX programming. Other important programming and scripting languages used to in development and production of games. This will include Adobe Flash Actionscript, Microsoft C#, Sun Java, and Epic's Unreal Script.

The students will be introduced to game development with Adobe Flash and Actionscript. An example of what is possible for students to create in the first course of the AGGP curriculum is available at the following link: http://www.metrocast.net/~mtibbals/. (Please refer to the note at the bottom of this web page).

Math and physics play a key role in game development and are incorporated in all related courses. Students are required to take a specific course blending math, physics, and game programming. Having a course devoted to this topic is relatively unique in game development curriculums at the community college and bachelor levels.

Students will have an introduction to 2-D and 3-D programming using Microsoft's XNA Game Studio. XNA Game Studio is a software framework for game development built on top of Microsoft .NET technology. Using XNA, students will learn cross platform programming among Windows PCs, Xbox 360s, and Windows 7 Phone devices. Students programming with XNA who do exceptional and polished work will find an opportunity to submit their work for sale on Xbox Live Indie Games Marketplace and the Window 7 Phone Application Marketplace.

The students will learn to utilize Epic's Unreal Engine, the leading state of the art 3-D engine used in a large portion of the industry. The Unreal Engine and games using the engine have has won numerous prestigious industry awards, including several "Game of the Year" awards. Students will learn to create custom content and maps using 3ds Max and the Unreal Engine tools. Students are required to take a second course on 3-D application design using the Unreal Engine and Unreal Script, a C++ and Java like language created to script the Unreal Engine. Students will be provided an opportunity to use the Unreal Engine for their capstone team project.

In the past few years, game development has exploded in the areas of web based multi-player games and hand held devices. These changes have been fueled by advancements in new technology and lower barrier of entry including a significantly smaller team sizes. The massive adoption of social networks such as Facebook and the increasing use of new smart phones and other hand held devices with health application creation support have provided new ways to serve content to users. Students will be introduced to these emerging technologies and work with leading platforms associated with Apple's iPhone, Google's Android, and the Microsoft Windows 7 Phone. As with XNA Game Studio described above, students who do exceptional and polished work with these technologies will find an opportunity to submit their work for sale in application marketplaces.

Keys to the success of the graduates:

Having a passion for games is required for this degree, and one's passion for games must be all encompassing. Creating games is not the same as playing them! Successful individuals in the game industry possess good time management skills, self motivation, and a strong work ethic. Long hours of research and development are expected and required of students in the AGGP program.
Each student will be required to develop a portfolio to display their skills and projects. The content provided in this portfolio will include work that demonstrates one's individual skills and ability to work within a structure of a team. In addition, each student will take part in a capstone team project that will demonstrate both skills and teamwork. Student portfolios are required to be made available on the Internet with an easily accessible web address.

Transfer Information

• Transferring to other institutions
• Transfer (Articulation) Agreements
  specific to this program
• Transferring to NHTI

There are a number of schools at which continued education is possible; please review the range of possibilities at http://www.gamecareerguide.com/.
(Please refer to the note at the bottom of this web page)

Specific Admission Requirements

1. Minimum Math Requirement: Provides the ability to complete the AGGP curriculum and the ability to obtain an initial job. High school algebra I with a grade of “C” or higher or NHTI's MT 103 Algebra I - Part I and MT 104 Algebra I - Part II, both with grades of “C” or higher. A mathematics assessment test is required prior to registration into MT 123 Intermediate Algebra. (Prepares students for MT 123 math track.)

   Preferred Math: Ability to create more effective games in the AGGP curriculum and improves transferability to some other colleges. High school algebra I, algebra II, and geometry with grades of “C” or higher, or NHTI's MT 108 Introductory Technical Mathematics I and MT 109 Introductory Technical Mathematics II both with grades of “C” or higher. A mathematics assessment test is required prior to registration into MT 133 Elementary Functions. (Prepares students for MT 133 math track.)

   Best Math: Ability to make very effective games while in the AGGP program and improves transferability to a wide range of colleges. Those students who have had high school math beyond the courses listed for "Preferred Math" listed above should take either MT 134 Pre-Calculus or MT 205 Calculus. Most major schools offering a BS degree in game development require Calculus in the initial first two years. A mathematics assessment test is required and/or approval of the Department Head prior to registration into either MT 134 Pre-Calculus or MT 205 Calculus.

2. High school level physics is recommended.
3. Basic working knowledge of the Windows operating system, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and the Internet or IT 102 PC Applications with a grade of “C” or higher. (Students may be required to take computer skills assessment test.)

Internship Considerations
The college must ensure that individuals (customers, employees, etc.) at internship and service learning sites are not adversely affected by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students participating in internship and field experiences must demonstrate the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships with employees, customers and clients.

Curriculum for 09-10 (see page 21)
Course Descriptions for 09-10 (see page 7)

# Indicates major field courses.
* Recommend the combination of MT 133 Elementary Functions and PH 133 Physics I: Mechanics, Heat for those students planning to continue their education. One of the following math courses must be completed as part of the AGGP curriculum to graduate: MT 123, MT 133, MT 134 or MT 205.
** Any course with a prefix of AN, EO, HI, IDS, PS, PY or SO (except HI 104 and HI 105).
*** Required to take FA 101 and one Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language course as part of the degree. Students are strongly advised to select the second course from the following list: FA 103, FA 104, FA 120, FA 130, FA 133, FA 201 or FA 210.
+ BI 100, CH 100, and PH 100 do not meet this requirement.

(There exists a three year path through the above two year curriculum for those students who need a reduced load. Contact Professor Simkin at for details.)

(Please note: The above links to web sites are not 508 accessible. If you would like more information regarding the content housed on these external sites, please contact Terrance Simkin at or Greg Walek at .)

Revised: 17 Aug 2010

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