Animation and Graphic Game Programming
Curriculum for students entering program in 2008-09.
Specific Admission Requirements
(Earn your AGGP degree through the Division of Community Education evenings option in four years. Contact Professor Simkin at for details.)
The business of computer game development in the United States has recently passed the $13 billion dollar annual sales level, almost twice the annual sales for admission to movie theaters in the motion picture industry. Computer game development is a fast growing industry with opportunities for a wide variety of jobs. There are over 50 companies in the computer game development industry in the Boston and surrounding area. There are a number of "hot spots" for computer game development around the country. Boston and the surrounding area is one of the spots with over six 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 love of computer games is desirable for this degree. But creating computer games is not the same as playing computer games. Successful programmers in computer game development possess a high level of skill and expertise in programming, math, and physics making the artistic digital display come to life. Long hours of research and development are required.
The teams developing computer games normally fall into two major categories; the creative graphic artists and the programmers. Each must understand the tools and processes used in the other specialty to be able to communicate effectively. The Animation and Graphic Game Programming (AGGP) curriculum focuses primarily on the programming and computer technical aspects. However, introduction to the tools and skills of artistic digital design will be covered to support a successful team development understanding.
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.
In New Hampshire, you may transfer to two schools based on inter-school agreements after graduating from the AGGP degree to pursue your BS or BA degrees in fields related to game development; Southern New Hampshire University and Daniel Webster College. There are a number of schools at which continued education is possible, please review the range of possibilities at http://www.gamasutra.com/education/. (Please refer to the note at the bottom of this web page).
Microsoft in late 2007 issued a press release announcing their XNA development technology for creating games on the Xbox 360, ten schools were included leading the way in adding this capability to their curriculum. New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) was included in this list and NHTI was the only two year school included. This cutting edge concept adds to AGGP solid traditional game development languages and tools.
The AGGP program will focus on the programming language C++ which is the main language used to develop computer games. The programming language C# will also be included as it is emerging as the next language for game development. Other languages used include Adobe Flash Actionscript, Sun Java, and Autodesk 3ds Max scripting.
The students will be introduced to computer game development initially with Adobe Flash using the programming language ActionScript which is very C++ like. Visit the following student link to see what is developed in the first course of the AGGP curriculum, http://www.metrocast.net/~mtibbals/. (Please refer to the note at the bottom of this web page)
The students will progress from 2-D to 3-D game development. Learning to utilize a 3-D game engine will be part of the curriculum using Steam Source. The programming Application Program Interface DirectX will be covered. Artistic skills will be covered in two required fine arts courses related to drawing and display as well as two courses using a state of the art graphic development environment; Adobe Photoshop and Autodesk 3ds Max.
Both math and physics play a key role to successful game development and are incorporated in all the game related courses. There is a focus on these topics in a specific course blending animation graphics which is relatively unique in the field of game development curriculum at the community college level.
Key to the success of the graduates:
Each student will be required to develop a portfolio to display their talents and creative capabilities. Each student is expected to take part in a computer project with a game development company to gain "real world" experience.
The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Animation and Graphic Game Programming will be awarded upon successful completion of all program requirements.
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.
CL - Numbers in the CL column below designate the number of lecture/classroom hours per week for the course
LAB - Numbers in the LAB column below designate the number of simulation laboratory, laboratory or clinical
hours per week for the course
CR - Numbers in the CR column below designate the number of credit hours for the course
| Course Number | Course Title | CL | LAB | CR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR | |||||
| Fall Semester | |||||
| # | AG 101 | Introduction to Game Design and Creation with Programming | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | CP 107 | Introduction to Programming with C++ | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | DV 193 | Introduction to Photoshop | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EN 101 | English Composition | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| MT 123 | Intermediate Algebra or | MT 133 | Elementary Functions * | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 | |||||
| Spring Semester | |||||
| # | AG 110 | Math and Physics for Game Programmers | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | AG 120 | Advanced Topics in C# and C++ | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | AG 130 | Introduction to 2-D Game Development | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| EN 120 | Communications or | ||||
| EN 125 | Communication and the Literature of Science and Technology | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| FA xxx | Fine Arts *** | 2 | 3-4 | 3-4 | |
| PH 133 | Physics I: Mechanics Heat or | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
| XX xxx | Science Elective + | 3-4 | 0 | 3-4 | |
| 18-20 | |||||
| SECOND YEAR | |||||
| Fall Semester | |||||
| # | AG 225 | 3-D Game Engine Application Development | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | AG 290 | Project Definition and Portfolio Specifications | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| # | CP 235 | Algorithms with Object Oriented Programming | 3 | 3 | 4 | Students must take one of the following Fine Arts (FA) courses not taken first year, second semester: |
| FA xxx | Fine Arts *** | 2 | 3-4 | 3-4 | |
| XX xxx | Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XX xxx | Social Science Elective** | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 17-18 | |||||
| Spring Semester | |||||
| # | AG 235 | Digital Art Modeling and Animation | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | AG 250 | DirectX Application Development with C++ | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| # | AG 292 | Portfolio Development | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| # | AG 293 | Animation and Graphic Game Programming Project | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| # | CP 252 | Networking and Internet Technologies | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | |||||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 67-70 | ||||
# 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: MT123, MT133, MT134 or MT205.
** Any course with a prefix of AN, EO, HI, PS, PY or SO (except HI 104 and HI 105).
+ BI 100, CH 100, and PH 100 do not meet this requirement.
*** Required to take two FA xxx courses as part of the degree. Required to take FA101 but may select the second course from the following: FA103, FA104, FA120, FA130, FA133, FA 201 or FA210.
(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.)
Meet the Faculty
Terrance “Terry” Simkin,
Program Coordinator and Professor, Animation and Graphic Game Programming
Professor Simkin has been the subject of several TV, radio and newspaper reports, including the Wall Street Journal, related to using leading edge technology in curriculum which has included; Microsoft .Net Framework, programming language C# and the use of XNA in Xbox 360 game development. He has been an invited speaker at game development conferences.
Professor Simkin has been teaching and developing computer games for over 12 years. He had been the Technical Advisor for an educational game development company Moonset Studios for several years. He created the AGGP curriculum based software tools and techniques used in the game development industry. As a result of his instructions many students have successfully obtained jobs in the computer game field.
Professor Simkin had taught computer programming languages, such as C, C++, Java and C# and computer related technologies at the NHTI for about 20 years in the Computer Engineering Technology program. Prior to coming to NHTI, he has had over two decades of programming experience in a wide range of engineering and research fields. Professor Simkin is a Microsoft Certified Professional in the field of Visual C++.
Rodney Dellafelice,
Professor Animation and Graphic Game Programming
Professor Dellafelice holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Lowell (MA), an M.S. in Electrical Engineering, and another M.S. in Computer Information Science with a concentration in Application Programming. Both Master's degrees are from the University of New Haven. He is also associated with the NH based company, "Voiceless Technologies, LLC," which plans to use animation technology to help hearing-impaired individuals learn to read.
Gregory "Grash" Walek,
Associate Professor Animation and Graphic Game Programming
Professor Greg Walek holds two degrees related to game development. He received his baccalaureate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Professor Walek completed his graduate studies from Guildhall at Southern Methodist University. He was the Technical Director and Lead Digital Editor on the award winning short film Chushingura, an Anime stylized presentation of "The 47 Samurai". Professor Walek has also worked on several short films involving and blending live action and 3d animation. While at Guildhall he studied digital game production with a specialization in level design. His senior project was "Eclipse", the critically acclaimed mod for "Half-Life 2". Before coming to NHTI, Professor Walek worked professionally in the industry on several shipped titles including "Catwoman"™ mobile game, "Batman Begins"™ mobile game, and the extremely popular action superhero "MARVEL: Ultimate Alliance" while working for Raven (http://www.ravensoft.com/) (Please refer to the note at the bottom of this web page). Please visit Professor Walek's web site to review examples of his work; http://www.gmwalek.com/ (Please refer to the note at the bottom of this web page).
What Our Students Say
Andrew Gillis
"When I graduated from high school, I had it set in my mind that I wanted to work in the Gaming Industry, but had no idea where to start. My counselor at the time pointed me towards NHTI, applauding its Computer Programming curriculum. Taking her advice was one of the best decisions I ever made. The courses at NHTI exposed me to a wide variety of programming languages, and the instructors patiently helped in learning the in and outs of object oriented programming.
The Computer Project at NHTI pairs students with companies to continue learning in a real world environment. The Instructors helped pave the way to my internship at Turbine Entertainment Software, where I was given the opportunity to work alongside a group of talented, veteran game designers. My education really paid off at the end of the Computer Project, when I was offered a full time position at Turbine, working on game systems programming for their Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games. http://www.turbinegames.com/"
Michael Tibbals
"I am really excited about the new AGGP degree program at NHTI. As soon as I saw the first course listed in the program of studies, I knew I had to try it out. After all, it was gaming that got me so interested in computers that I had signed up for the NHTI programming classes.
For my Computer Project, I was hoping for an internship where I could use my skills related to games and animation. My professor knew of a company right up my alley. I got hooked up with Hatchling Studios to help out in their interactive web/media department. Thanks mainly to the experience I gained through that first course in the AGGP degree, and the experience I gained from the other NHTI computer programming courses, I was soon working at Hatchling Studios on a full time basis. I love it! http://www.hatchlingstudios.com/" (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 July 18, 2008