Game – Art Program (G119)
-
Program Name:
Game – Art
- Code: G119
-
Credential:
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
-
Method of Study:
Full-time
-
Duration:
3 years (6 semesters)
- Centre:
- School:
- Location: Waterfront Campus
- Starting Months: January, September
-
Domestic Tuition:
$8,741.00 *
Compare up to 3 programs
Overview
Program Overview
Video games have become one of the leading forms of artistic expression in the 21st century. Game art requires a combination of talents, hard work and passion. The Game – Art three-year advanced diploma is a rigorous program of study that focuses on the principles and techniques of video game art creation required to break into the industry.
Full Description
Video games have become one of the leading forms of artistic expression in the 21st century. Game development requires a combination of talents, hard work and passion. The Game - Art three-year advanced diploma is a rigorous program of study that focuses on the principles and techniques of video game art creation required to break into the industry.
Students will develop both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional artistic abilities by learning concept art, sprite and pixel art, modelling, texturing, animation and level design. Taught by faculty with industry experience and mentored by local game industry leaders, students will develop games for commercial, educational and other purposes.
Students will have the unique opportunity to develop commercial quality games in a simulated video game studio environment, at times working with industry partners and game programmers. In the second year, students choose whether to specialize in game modelling or game animation.
Prior to graduation, each student will assemble a portfolio/demo of their creative work demonstrating their ability in game development and highlighting their chosen area of specialization. It is anticipated that graduates of the Game Development program will find employment in the game industry at entry-level positions.
Your Field Education Options
Students with approved portfolios are eligible for non-mandatory external field placements in Semester 5 and/or Semester 6.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Analyze the differences in game genres in order to develop games that meet the needs of specific markets.
- Analyze the history of video games to compare various approaches to game development.
- Support the development of games by identifying and relating concepts from a range of industry roles – programming, design, and art.
- Contribute as an individual and a member of a game development team to the effective completion of a game development project.
- Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the games industry.
- Perform all work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, legislation, industry standards and codes of ethics.
Courses
Required Courses
YEAR 1
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN1037 | Drawing I |
| DESN1084 | 2D Digital Art I |
| DESN1118 | Introduction to Modelling |
| DESN1130 | Interactive Prototyping I |
| DESN1083 | Studio Lab 1 |
| COMM1007 | College English |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN1038 | Drawing II |
| DESN2015 | 2D Digital Art II |
| DESN1119 | Introduction to Animation |
| DESN1131 | Interactive Prototyping II |
| DESN1086 | Studio Lab 2 |
| GHUM1029 | Design Culture |
GAME MODELLING SPECIALIZATION
YEAR 2
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2012 | Environment Modelling I |
| DESN1132 | Game Art and Architecture I |
| DESN2014 | Level Design I |
| DESN2010 | Texturing and Shading I |
| DESN2013 | Studio Lab 3 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
SEMESTER 4
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2018 | Environment Modelling II |
| DESN1133 | Game Art and Architecture II |
| DESN2016 | Level Design II |
| DESN2011 | Texturing and Shading II |
| DESN2017 | Studio Lab 4 |
| GHUM1089 | Sequential Arts |
YEAR 3
SEMESTER 5
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3014 | 3D Sculpting I |
| DESN3016 | Organic Modelling I |
| DESN3018 | Technical Art for Game Engines 1 |
| DESN3020 | Cinematics I |
| DESN3010 | Studio Lab 5 |
| DESN3022 | Game Portfolio Design |
SEMESTER 6
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3015 | 3D Sculpting II |
| DESN3017 | Organic Modelling II |
| DESN3024 | Technical Art for Game Engines 2 |
| DESN3021 | Cinematics II |
| DESN3012 | Studio Lab 6 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
GAME ANIMATION SPECIALIZATION
YEAR 2
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2019 | Body Mechanics 1 |
| DESN2020 | Rigging I |
| DESN2014 | Level Design I |
| DESN1136 | Motion Capture 1 |
| DESN2013 | Studio Lab 3 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
SEMESTER 4
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2022 | Body Mechanics 2 |
| DESN2021 | Rigging II |
| DESN2016 | Level Design II |
| DESN1137 | Motion Capture 2 |
| DESN2017 | Studio Lab 4 |
| GHUM1089 | Sequential Arts |
YEAR 3
SEMESTER 5
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3018 | Technical Art for Game Engines 1 |
| DESN3029 | Character Animation 1 |
| DESN3027 | Character Acting I |
| DESN3020 | Cinematics I |
| DESN3010 | Studio Lab 5 |
| DESN3022 | Game Portfolio Design |
SEMESTER 6
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3024 | Technical Art for Game Engines 2 |
| DESN3030 | Character Animation 2 |
| DESN3028 | Character Acting II |
| DESN3021 | Cinematics II |
| DESN3012 | Studio Lab 6 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Your Career
Graduates of this program will have acquired the necessary skills to be employed in various game and digital media studios, with careers in:
- Character art
- 2D environment art
- 3D environment art
- 3D modelling
- 3D animation
- Character modelling
- Level design
- Cinematic animation
- Special effects
- Texture design
- User interface design
- Quality assurance
Educational Pathways
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials (non-refundable), student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2019. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2020 and at later dates.
The fees include a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Tablet, Digital Tutors subscription and a membership to IGDA.
International students: Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
How to Qualify and Apply
Admission Requirements
Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic achievement, including the required courses, and any other selection criteria outlined below.
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent**
- Grade 12 English (C or U)
- Application Questionnaire *
- Portfolio *
* Qualified applicants will be invited to complete the application questionnaire and submit a portfolio electronically. Details on the application questionnaire and portfolio requirements will be communicated at a later date to qualified applicants, as part of the review process.
** Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and no OSSD)
Please note that George Brown is committed to ensuring that applicants will succeed in their program of choice and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants may be required to have grades higher than the minimum requirements stated.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit georgebrown.ca/transferguide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information.
Apply to
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges
Student Success
“At George Brown my professors were all people who worked, or are still working, in the industry allowing me to learn about it in its current form. Even now, working in the industry myself, some of the professors I had are now my coworkers. They taught me all the aspects of the development pipeline on top of my specialization helping me work comfortably between departments in the studio. Most importantly, I not only learned the software I need but learned how to learn, enabling me to quickly adapt to all sorts of complex and proprietary software and engines.”
“I grew up gaming. It's always been a huge part of my life, and I knew this was where I would end up eventually. The instructors at George Brown are all industry veterans and have a ton of experience. They keep up with the latest game technology. In fact, I'm working with one of my professors at Ubisoft right now."
Read more about Alexandra’s journey here.
Contact Us
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3129
Email: game@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Visit Our Campus
This program is part of our School of Design, located at our Waterfront Campus, at 3 Lower Jarvis St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The School of Design resides in a new 103,000-square-foot facility in the Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts development. This state-of-the-art building supports academic programs and industry projects with features such as:
- Virtual and augmented reality lab
- Usability and testing lab
- Future Ways of Living lab
- Peer tutor lab
- Digital Sandbox
- Incubators
- Prototyping and workshop spaces
- Design and innovation showcase spaces
Come and have your questions answered, learn about the program content and career options, meet your friendly professors and staff, and experience what it is like to be in a George Brown College classroom at one of our information sessions. You can also book a campus tour.
Sign up and learn more about your options, our programs, and life at George Brown.
Game – Art Program (G119)
-
Program Name:
Game – Art
- Code: G119
-
Credential:
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
-
Method of Study:
Full-time
-
Duration:
3 years (6 semesters)
- Centre:
- School:
- Location: Waterfront Campus
- Starting Months: January, September
-
Domestic Tuition:
$9,484.00 *
Compare up to 3 programs
Overview
Program Overview
Video games have become one of the leading forms of artistic expression in the 21st century. Game art requires a combination of talents, hard work and passion. The Game – Art three-year advanced diploma is a rigorous program of study that focuses on the principles and techniques of video game art creation required to break into the industry.
Full Description
Video games have become one of the leading forms of artistic expression in the 21st century. Game development requires a combination of talents, hard work and passion. The Game - Art three-year advanced diploma is a rigorous program of study that focuses on the principles and techniques of video game art creation required to break into the industry.
Students will develop both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional artistic abilities by learning concept art, sprite and pixel art, modelling, texturing, animation and level design. Taught by faculty with industry experience and mentored by local game industry leaders, students will develop games for commercial, educational and other purposes.
Students will have the unique opportunity to develop commercial quality games in a simulated video game studio environment, at times working with industry partners and game programmers. In the second year, students choose whether to specialize in game modelling or game animation.
Prior to graduation, each student will assemble a portfolio/demo of their creative work demonstrating their ability in game development and highlighting their chosen area of specialization. It is anticipated that graduates of the Game Development program will find employment in the game industry at entry-level positions.
Your Field Education Options
Students with approved portfolios are eligible for non-mandatory external field placements in Semester 5 and/or Semester 6.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Analyze the differences in game genres in order to develop games that meet the needs of specific markets.
- Analyze the history of video games to compare various approaches to game development.
- Support the development of games by identifying and relating concepts from a range of industry roles – programming, design, and art.
- Contribute as an individual and a member of a game development team to the effective completion of a game development project.
- Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the games industry.
- Perform all work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, legislation, industry standards and codes of ethics.
Courses
Required Courses
YEAR 1
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN1037 | Drawing I |
| DESN1084 | 2D Digital Art I |
| DESN1118 | Introduction to Modelling |
| DESN1130 | Interactive Prototyping I |
| DESN1083 | Studio Lab 1 |
| COMM1007 | College English |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN1038 | Drawing II |
| DESN2015 | 2D Digital Art II |
| DESN1119 | Introduction to Animation |
| DESN1131 | Interactive Prototyping II |
| DESN1086 | Studio Lab 2 |
| GHUM1029 | Design Culture |
GAME MODELLING SPECIALIZATION
YEAR 2
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2012 | Environment Modelling I |
| DESN1132 | Game Art and Architecture I |
| DESN2014 | Level Design I |
| DESN2010 | Texturing and Shading I |
| DESN2013 | Studio Lab 3 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
SEMESTER 4
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2018 | Environment Modelling II |
| DESN1133 | Game Art and Architecture II |
| DESN2016 | Level Design II |
| DESN2011 | Texturing and Shading II |
| DESN2017 | Studio Lab 4 |
| GHUM1089 | Sequential Arts |
YEAR 3
SEMESTER 5
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3014 | 3D Sculpting I |
| DESN3016 | Organic Modelling I |
| DESN3018 | Technical Art for Game Engines 1 |
| DESN3020 | Cinematics I |
| DESN3010 | Studio Lab 5 |
| DESN3022 | Game Portfolio Design |
SEMESTER 6
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3015 | 3D Sculpting II |
| DESN3017 | Organic Modelling II |
| DESN3024 | Technical Art for Game Engines 2 |
| DESN3021 | Cinematics II |
| DESN3012 | Studio Lab 6 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
GAME ANIMATION SPECIALIZATION
YEAR 2
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2019 | Body Mechanics 1 |
| DESN2020 | Rigging I |
| DESN2014 | Level Design I |
| DESN1136 | Motion Capture 1 |
| DESN2013 | Studio Lab 3 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
SEMESTER 4
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN2022 | Body Mechanics 2 |
| DESN2021 | Rigging II |
| DESN2016 | Level Design II |
| DESN1137 | Motion Capture 2 |
| DESN2017 | Studio Lab 4 |
| GHUM1089 | Sequential Arts |
YEAR 3
SEMESTER 5
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3018 | Technical Art for Game Engines 1 |
| DESN3029 | Character Animation 1 |
| DESN3027 | Character Acting I |
| DESN3020 | Cinematics I |
| DESN3010 | Studio Lab 5 |
| DESN3022 | Game Portfolio Design |
SEMESTER 6
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| DESN3024 | Technical Art for Game Engines 2 |
| DESN3030 | Character Animation 2 |
| DESN3028 | Character Acting II |
| DESN3021 | Cinematics II |
| DESN3012 | Studio Lab 6 |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Your Career
Graduates of this program will have acquired the necessary skills to be employed in various game and digital media studios, with careers in:
- character art
- 2D environment art
- 3D environment art
- 3D modelling
- 3D animation
- character modelling
- level design
- cinematic animation
- special effects
- texture design
- user interface design
- quality assurance
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials (non-refundable), student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2018. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2019 and at later dates.
International students: Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
How to Qualify and Apply
Admission Requirements
Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic achievement, including the required courses, and any other selection criteria outlined below.
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent**
- Grade 12 English (C or U)
- Application Questionnaire *
- Portfolio *
* Qualified applicants will be invited to complete the application questionnaire and submit a portfolio electronically. Details on the application questionnaire and portfolio requirements will be communicated at a later date to qualified applicants, as part of the review process.
** Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and no OSSD)
Please note that George Brown is committed to ensuring that applicants will succeed in their program of choice and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants may be required to have grades higher than the minimum requirements stated.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit georgebrown.ca/transferguide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information.
How to Apply
Apply To
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges
Student Success
“At George Brown my professors were all people who worked, or are still working, in the industry allowing me to learn about it in its current form. Even now, working in the industry myself, some of the professors I had are now my coworkers. They taught me all the aspects of the development pipeline on top of my specialization helping me work comfortably between departments in the studio. Most importantly, I not only learned the software I need but learned how to learn, enabling me to quickly adapt to all sorts of complex and proprietary software and engines.”
“I grew up gaming. It's always been a huge part of my life, and I knew this was where I would end up eventually. The instructors at George Brown are all industry veterans and have a ton of experience. They keep up with the latest game technology. In fact, I'm working with one of my professors at Ubisoft right now."
Read more about Alexandra’s journey here.
Contact Us
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3129
Email: game@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Visit Our Campus
This program is part of our School of Design, located at our Waterfront Campus at 3 Lower Jarvis St.
Come and have your questions answered. Learn about the program content and career options, meet your friendly professors and staff, and experience what it is like to be in a George Brown College classroom at one of our information sessions. You can also book a tour of the campus or explore our virtual tour.
The new home of the School of Design
In 2019 the School of Design moved to the Daniels Waterfront—City of the Arts complex at our Waterfront Campus. This 103,000-square-foot facility houses our design programs and serves as a research hub. It also includes the following features:
- Virtual and augmented reality lab
- Usability and testing lab
- Future Ways of Living lab
- Peer Tutor lab
- Digital Sandbox
- Incubators
- Prototyping and workshop spaces