7 essential online courses for game design and development…
Keeping up with the rapid pace of technology and innovation in game development can feel overwhelming. With so many new platforms, tools, and ideas being introduced every day, it’s easy to get left behind. And while staying current on the latest trends is important for those looking to launch a career in game development, there just isn’t enough time in the day to meet all of your educational needs.
Fortunately, Online Courses For Game Design and Development are an accessible way to gather new knowledge at your own pace without sacrificing convenience or effectiveness. From personal interests to professional needs, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to take a course on game design and development.
What follows is our list of the top 10 essential online courses for game design and development that will help you advance your skills as a budding developer — wherever you may be in your career path.
Introduction to Online Courses For Game Design and Development
This Online Courses For Game Design and Development will introduce you to the fundamentals of game design and development, preparing you to apply what you’ll learn in future courses. You’ll start by learning how to develop a game concept, and then you’ll learn how to design your game based on your concept. The course also covers how to evaluate your design and how to improve it based on your evaluation.
You’ll also learn how to create a prototype of your game, and you’ll understand how to test and iterate on your prototype to make it more playable and enjoyable. In addition to learning about Online Courses For Game Design and Development, you’ll also learn about basic game development tools, such as game engines and scripting languages.
You’ll also learn about prototyping tools, such as pencil and paper, storyboarding, and sticky notes. This course is taught by Cynthia Barcomi, a game designer, writer, and producer.
1. Programming for Games: Unity Game Development – Fundamentals
This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of programming for games using the Unity engine. You’ll start by learning about computer programming, including programming constructs, real-world applications of programming, and the importance of programming. You’ll then learn about game engines and create your first game using Unity.
This course also covers a variety of topics related to game development, including game development tools, game design, and testing and debugging. This course is taught by Chris Smith, an author, educator, and game designer.
2. Unity Game Development Advance Course
This course builds upon the fundamentals of programming for games covered in the previous course. You’ll start by learning about advanced concepts in game design, such as player types, flow, and engagement. You’ll then learn about game mechanics, including what they are, how they are used, and how they are applied in games.
You’ll also cover how to apply these concepts to create your own game. This course also covers topics related to game development, including debugging and performance, tools, asset creation, and team collaboration. This course is taught by Chris Smith, an author, educator, and game designer.
3. 14-week Full-Stack Web Development Course
This course is perfect for aspiring web developers who want to learn to code full stack web applications in a self-directed (yet guided) manner. This course is designed to teach the basics of computer programming in a way that is easy to understand. The course is divided into 10 sections and has 28 hours worth of video lectures accompanied by downloadable PDFs and exercises to help you practice and reinforce the material.
The course covers all of the basics of computer programming including variables, data types, conditional statements, functions, and arrays. The course concludes with a section on how to build full stack web applications.
The course culminates in the creation of a simple yet functional web application. The course is taught by Jrit Samo, a computer programmer, entrepreneur, and web developer.
4. 21-day Mega Course: Python for Gaming and Software Development
This course is a comprehensive introduction to Python programming for gaming and software development. You’ll start by learning about basic Python programming concepts, such as variables, data types, and conditional statements.
As you move through the course, you’ll transition from basic Python programming to more advanced topics, such as 3D modelling, machine learning, and natural language processing. This course is taught by Jeffrey Smith, a computer programmer, author, and educator.
5. Computer Science for Games: A game engineering course by UC Berkeley
This course prepares you to become an engineer in the game industry by covering the fundamentals of computer science and game development. You’ll start by learning about computer science concepts, such as algorithm analysis and data structures. You’ll then transition to game engineering concepts, such as game design and Unity game development.
Throughout the course, you’ll be developing a portfolio that shows off your skills and helps you prepare for the job search. This course is taught by Shawn Harms, a computer scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur.
6. Game Architecture and Design: Learn the fundamentals of game design and development!
This course will teach you the fundamentals of game architecture and design, preparing you to apply what you’ll learn in future courses. You’ll start by learning how to choose a game concept, and then you’ll learn how to design your game based on your concept. The course also covers how to evaluate your design and how to improve it based on your evaluation.
You’ll also learn how to create a game design document and use it to document your design. In addition to learning about game architecture and design, you’ll also learn about prototyping tools, such as paper prototyping and storyboarding. This course is taught by Michael Heferlin, a computer scientist, engineer, and educator.
7. Pro Video Game Writing and Production Course
This course will prepare you to become a video game writer and production coordinator. You’ll start by learning about the video game industry and the skills needed for each position. You’ll then learn about the role of a video game writer and the skills needed for the job. The course also covers how to become a video game writer by providing you with a comprehensive plan for building your resume and applying for jobs. This course is taught by Michael Heferlin, a computer scientist, engineer, and educator.
While the above list is full of amazing courses, it’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to online education. What works for one person may not work for another, and that is okay. Being honest with yourself about what you want to get out of a course can help you narrow down and target your search — and who knows, you may find that perfect course right under your nose!