Computing students at The Australian National University (ANU) are learning how to design fun video games in a course that puts their skills to the test through play.
The Game Development course (COMP3540/COMP6540) provides students with a holistic grounding for game development, including elements of design, development, and production. Available to third-year undergraduate or Masters students, the course allows ANU computing students a unique opportunity to blend learning with play.
“Video games are definitely a gateway to programming and it’s a fun way to learn technical skills,” says course convener Professor Penny Kyburz.
Over the course of a semester, students work in teams to bring their ideas to life and design games that they can proudly share with their friends and family.
“It’s amazing to see how much the students learn and how much pride they take in their work in producing technical-creative products to share with their community.”
Unleashing creativity through play
The course covers theories of game design and architecture as well as the technical skills involved in game development.
Students are taught to consider the end user’s feelings and consider how different game elements can influence player experiences. The challenge is then to get creative, through brainstorming activities and prototyping workshops.
“This year, the students had to create their early prototypes without any art or sound assets. They started with physical prototypes in the workshops and then moved to blocky prototypes in Unity, focusing on getting their core gameplay right,” says Professor Kyburz.
“This process enabled them to be very creative and original in the games that they produced.”
Game showcase
Our latest cohort of Semester 2 2024 Game Development students showcased a fantastic variety of games; ranging from arcade-inspired creations, adventure games to level-based puzzles.
“The overall quality of all the games was very high this year. The Outstanding Game award winners all received very high scores from their peers, and each game is unique and enjoyable to play,” said Professor Kyburz.
Here’s some highlights from their games:
Well done to all our game development course graduates. We can’t wait to see what you create next.
Ready to play?
Outstanding Game Award winner 2024
Ascent Z
By: Can Cevik, Lochlan Graf, Samuel Brookes, and Sean Barnes.
Get to the top, grunt! Your recon team has detected an anomaly at the top of the building that you need to investigate. You’ll have to fight your way with minimal support through an area swarming with the dead.
Outstanding Game – Honourable Mention Awards this year
Echoes of the Void
By: Brinda Murlikrishna, Pratham Roy, Ryan To, and Ermina Aleem.
A horror puzzle game set in a space station. You’re an astronaut trying to escape a maze, with only a flashlight to guide you and to find any obstacles – including extra-terrestrial creatures – in your way.
Rust and Dust
By: Spike Risley, Ke Lin, Sam Mason-Cox, and Huy Hoang Hoang.
Conquer waves of enemies in this desert wasteland. Augment your weapons and abilities with new parts, in this roguelike twin-stick shooter.
Mansion Escape: The Detective’s Route
By: Yifeng Wei, Zhuolan Lin, Sijie Jack Fan, and Jialong Ma.
An exciting adventure game where you step into the shoes of a private detective. Solve riddles and tasks to complete your mission.
Mini Golf Mania
By: Samman Palihapitiya Gamage, Ke Xu, Luke Noor, Jaylee Yuan, and Murph Shaw.
Get ready to tee off! Aim, then charge up your shots in this arcade spin on traditional mini golf. Play using multiple cameras, from a player to aerial view.
Nibbles Nutty Adventure
By: Andrew Carse, Lo-HsuanLin, Jack Hackshaw, and Borui Wang.
Nibbles is a young squirrel on a mission to collect enough resources (nuts) before winter hits. Help Nibbles navigate through mazes and obstacles before the cool weather arrives.
The Wizard
By: AYlkun Guo, Hongjun Xu, Baizhen Lin, and Xing Chen.
There was once an ancient gem of great power; until it was shattered into four. Help the little fox wizard on a journey to find the scattered crystals from across the realm and restore its magic.
Related: What do playdough and video games have in common? Ask Dr Penny Kyburz!