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  • Game – Art

Game – Art

(formerly Game Development)


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Credential
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Location
Oshawa
OCAS Code
GART
Next Intake
September 2023
View all intakes
Faculty
Faculty of Media, Art & Design (MAD)
Length
Six semesters
Delivery
For program delivery information, click here.
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  • Overview
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Program Overview

This program offers a well-balanced education in every aspect of the game development process, with a focus towards training artists for the game industry. There is an enormous difference between playing games and creating them, and this program is designed to teach you how to convert your love of gameplay and artistry into a lucrative career. The experience and knowledge gained in the Game-Art program at Durham College have given graduates the edge in landing careers in industry-leading game studios.

Intakes and Availability

Date Domestic Availability International Availability
September 2023OpenOpenApply now
ProgramHighlights
  • Success Stories
  • Resources
  • Success Stories
  • Resources
Durham College Game Art students “level up” at Ubisoft Toronto NEXT competition
DC Game-Art Grad Mohamad Salame's 'Dementor Summoning' featured in Epic's Spring 2021 Student Showcase.
Ontario post-secondary students shine in the Ubisoft Toronto next challenge
Durham College 2023 Viewbook
Lead the way
2023 Viewbook
Read Now
Other Resources
  • Graduate Employment Report [PDF]
  • Attend a Program Information Webinar
  • Financial Aid Information
Diploma-to-degree
Gameplay Mechanics
Portfolio Development

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
    AND
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)
  • Portfolio of work

Recommended

  • Senior-level visual arts credits

Additional requirements

In addition to the academic requirements, admission to this program requires the submission of a portfolio of artwork. The purpose of the portfolio is to allow students to demonstrate their drawing and creative ability.

For more information on submitting a portfolio, you are welcome to attend one of our Portfolio Information Sessions.

Tuition

  • Year one domestic: $6,821 (CAD)
  • Year one international: $18,285 (CAD)

View full costs

Semester 1 Courses

  • Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
  • Pre-Production 1 (DESG 1100)
  • Traditional Art 1 (FINE 1100)
  • Animating I - Games (GAME 1103)
  • Modelling 1 (GAME 1104)
  • Real Time Engines (GAME 1105)
  • Surfacing 1 (GAME 1106)

View all courses

Diploma-to-degree
Diploma-to-degree
Gameplay Mechanics
Gameplay Mechanics
Portfolio Development
Portfolio Development

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Environment artist
  • Surfacing artist
  • Technical artist
  • Animator for games
  • Motion capture clean-up artist
  • Lighting artist
  • 3D Modeller
  • Pre-production Artist
  • Level designer
  • Game developer
  • Concept artist
  • Production manager
  • Project manager
  • Quality assurance technician 

View all career options

Connect with us

Program related questions?

Email
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Application related questions?

Email
Live Chat

International Students

Email
Live Chat
905.721.2000 ext. 7697

Domestic students

905.721.3000

Connect with us

Program related questions?

Email
Live Chat

Application related questions?

Email
Live Chat

International Students

Email
Live Chat
905.721.2000 ext. 7697

Domestic students

905.721.3000

Program Details

This program was developed with input from veterans in the digital entertainment industry and continues to garner enthusiastic support from studios and professional artists across the country. Our industry trained professors are ready to share their knowledge and experience with you. The focus of this hands-on program is to develop and hone your skills as a digital artist through project-based learning and instruction.

You will explore environment and level design, employing modelling, surfacing, lighting techniques and special effects in industry leading real-time engines. All of your work will be supported by a strong foundation in animation for games, technical art, and concept art.

You will gain a solid base in the skills needed to explore new technology and software with confidence including courses in:

  • Preproduction design
  • Traditional drawing and digital illustration
  • Game asset creation employing industry current techniques
  • Demo reel production and online portfolio development

Industry context is also strongly emphasized though the use of production pipelines and studio simulation. As a graduate, you will enter the industry with strong technical and creative ability, a realistic understanding of the world of game production and a keen sense of professionalism.

IN THE NEWS

  • DC Game Art Grad Mohamad Salame's 'Dementor Summoning' featured in Epic's Spring 2021 Student Showcase
  • Ontario post-secondary students shine in the Ubisoft Toronto next challenge​
  • DC Game Art Students Among This Year's Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2020 Finalists
  • Durham College receives more than $1 million in applied research funding for three unique projects
  • DC grad places first at Ubisoft Toronto NEXT competition in Modelling
  • Students participate in 25-hour gaming marathon
  • Student demo reel compilation
  • MAD students come together for industry screening

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze the differences in game genres in order to develop games that meet the needs of specific markets
  2. Analyze the history of video games to compare various approaches to game development
  3. Support the development of games by identifying and relating concepts from a range of industry roles—programming, design, and art
  4. Contribute as an individual and a member of a game development team to the effective completion of a game development project
  5. Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the games industry
  6. Perform all work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, legislation, industry standards and codes of ethics
  7. Develop pre-production and conceptual art for games and gaming through the selection and application of relevant design tools and drawing techniques
  8. Create original game assets to meet requirements outlined in game design documents and/or creative briefs
  9. Engage in original world building and level design within a range of game engines to meet industry and marketplace requirements
  10. Generate user interface design in alignment with Game Design Documents to optimize both the aesthetics and function of gameplay

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
    AND
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)
  • Portfolio of work

Recommended

  • Senior-level visual arts credits

Additional requirements

In addition to the academic requirements, admission to this program requires the submission of a portfolio of artwork. The purpose of the portfolio is to allow students to demonstrate their drawing and creative ability.

For more information on submitting a portfolio, you are welcome to attend one of our Portfolio Information Sessions.

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.

Semester 1

  • Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
  • Pre-Production 1 (DESG 1100)
  • Traditional Art 1 (FINE 1100)
  • Animating I - Games (GAME 1103)
  • Modelling 1 (GAME 1104)
  • Real Time Engines (GAME 1105)
  • Surfacing 1 (GAME 1106)

Semester 2

  • Pre-Production 2 (DESG 1200)
  • Traditional Art 2 (FINE 1200)
  • FNMI Elective (FNMI 0000)
  • Animating 2 (GAME 1204)
  • Real Time Engines 2 (GAME 1205)
  • Modelling 2 (GAME 1206)
  • Surfacing 2 (GAME 1207)

Semester 3

  • Pre-Production 3 (DESG 2100)
  • Animating 3 (GAME 2100)
  • Environment Art 1 (GAME 2101)
  • Modelling 3 (GAME 2102)
  • Surfacing 3 (GAME 2103)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Asset Production Workshop 1 (PJMT 2100)

Semester 4

  • Pre-Production 4 (DESG 2200)
  • Animating 4 (GAME 2200)
  • Environment Art 2 (GAME 2201)
  • Modelling 4 (GAME 2202)
  • Surfacing 4 (GAME 2203)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Asset Production Workshop 2 (PJMT 2201)

Semester 5

  • Animating 5 (GAME 3100)
  • Environment Art 3 (GAME 3101)
  • Modelling 5 (GAME 3102)
  • Surfacing 5 (GAME 3103)
  • Technical Artistry (GAME 3104)
  • Game Proposals (GART 3100)
  • Asset Production Workshop 3 (PJMT 3100)

Semester 6

  • Portfolio Development (GAME 3200)
  • Post-Production Studio (GAME 3201)
  • Game Design Studio (GART 3200)
  • Applied Projects and Research (GART 3201)
  • Asset Production Studio (PJMT 3200)

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2023-2024 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Environment artist
  • Surfacing artist
  • Technical artist
  • Animator for games
  • Motion capture clean-up artist
  • Lighting artist
  • 3D Modeller
  • Pre-production Artist
  • Level designer
  • Game developer
  • Concept artist
  • Production manager
  • Project manager
  • Quality assurance technician 

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

  • Game studios
  • Animation studios
  • Digital / virtual production for broadcast
  • Architectural visualization
  • Training and simulation employing real-time engines

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Educational Studies and Digital Technology – Ontario Tech
  • Bachelor of Science - Technology Project Management - Davenport University
  • Bachelor of Games Design - Art Direction - Griffith University

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.

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2000 Simcoe St. N.
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