Virtual Realities and Games Software Design
UndergraduateMUR-ICT2882025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 23 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $0
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP available
Virtual Realities and Games Software Design
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the formal definition of virtual realities and game
- Demonstrate an understanding of the essential elements of virtual realities and game
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of challenges and actions, as well as the formal definition of gameplay
- Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of symmetry and asymmetry, fairness, and competition and cooperation
- Learn the various benefits that computers bring to virtual realities and games
- Become familiar with the ways in which virtual realities, computer and video games entertain people
- Demonstrate an understanding of the player-centric approach to games design
- Demonstrate an understanding of the core mechanics and the user interface work together to create gameplay
- Design and explain how gameplay modes and shell menus make up the structure of a game
- Recognise the three stages of game design and describe the design work in each stage
- Demonstrate an understanding of the types of jobs/tasks required/needed in a design team
- Demonstrate an understanding of the types of documents that a game designer is likely to need and what they are for
- Demonstrate an understanding of the qualities required of a good game designer
- Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of software, virtual realities and games
- Practise collaborative work. Where possible, acquired a basic appreciation of what is involved in group work. This is especially important for students who will be graduating and work in the software and games industry. More importantly, collaborative work is a fundamental requirement when it comes to getting a job at the end of your degree
- Introduction to Games and Game Software Design
- Game Concepts and Game Worlds
- Character Development
- Storytelling and Narrative
- User Experience
- Gameplay
- Core Mechanics
- Game Balancing
- Software Engineering and Game Development
- Virtual Realities
This unit aims to give students a general background of virtual realities (augmented, mixed and virtual) and game software design to create something fun and entertaining. It addresses elements and issues of design concepts, creation and plays in computer, video and VR games. Topics include character design, creative play, core mechanics, design documentation, design process environment, game-balancing, player motivation, user interfaces, and virtual realities. This unit does not treat virtual realities and game software design as purely art or engineering.
Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.
The assignments require you to produce a prototype 1-level game with suitable game assets, gameplay, and game mechanics; a game design document; a game development document; a complete 3-level game with suitable game assets, game mechanics, storyline, gameplay, UI, scoring mechanism; and a short game promotional video.
- Major Assignment - Part 1 (20%)
- Major Assignment - Part 2 (30%)
- Lab Assignment (5%)
- Open book timed online exam (45%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 27
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 26
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
MUR-ICT101-Introduction to 3D Graphics and Animation (no longer available)
MUR-ICT159-Foundations of Programming (no longer available)
Others
This subject is CSP only and cannot be taken as open access. The correct CSP fee will be displayed once you begin the enrolment process.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.