Game - Art

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Courses - September 2025

Level 1

Course details

Creating the Story
ARTS1860

Description:

A strong story enriches the narrative in any experience, keeps the audience engaged, emotionally invested in the characters, and provides a foundation for the project. The methods used to visualize the story are unique to the medium and require a special approach. Students will draw on the visual language of film as well as developing characters and their environments. Capturing the essence of a character's movement and emotion within quick sketches is essential to the exploration and evolution of story ideas.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Digital Art I
ARTS1880

Description:

Explore modern digital painting techniques and unique art styles used in popular videogames with this introduction to digital painting. This course will build on traditional art skills using digital techniques and processes with industry standard software and hardware. Students will learn the fundamentals of 2D asset creation, including custom brushes and toolsets, to achieve their full creative potential.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

3D Foundations
ARTS1890

Description:

A strong knowledge in 3D concepts and principles will prepare students to develop their skills as computer-graphic artists. This course introduces the game art production pipeline currently used in game studios. Students will gain a basic understanding of 3D asset creation, texturing, and implementing inside of a game engine.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Life Drawing
ARTS1910

Description:

Creating believable characters relies on understanding anatomy and physiology, and how they contribute to natural movement. This course is designed to give students an introduction to life drawing and how it relates directly to the development of animated characters, with a focus on gesture, structure, and form.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

College Reading & Writing Skills
COMM1085

Description: This course introduces students to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills needed for academic and workplace success. Students will analyse a variety of texts and apply the steps of planning, writing, and revising to produce writing that meets the expectations of selected audiences and purposes. The course prepares students for college-level writing tasks, research, and documentation by asking them to produce clear, informed, and purposeful documents relevant to both academic and professional contexts.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Game Design
DMED1480

Description: From the earliest game of Pong to the latest Triple A release, you will study the influence of games from a historical perspective, their impact on the industry, and look toward future trends. Game structure and the mechanics of play will be explored by constructing basic games. Principles of design and strategy will be applied to your work.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Digital Art II
ARTS1920

Description:

Continuing to explore digital art foundations, this course focuses on advanced techniques to create high-resolution illustrations and thumbnails for game concepts. Students will further expand upon digital art foundations with a focus on creating refined, production-ready 2D characters and game assets.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS1880
  • CoRequisites:

Texture Creation
ARTS1930

Description:

Achieving player immersion in games relies heavily on recreating the world around us. This course teaches students how to create materials and textures for videogame assets and environments. Students will learn how we use textures and material maps to create realism. High-level techniques will be covered such as hand-painted textures, photo-realism, and creating seamless textures to bring envisioned characters and environments to life.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Game Art and Architecture I
ARTS1940

Description:

Incorporating realistic 3D assets into games can make the player experience feel more immersive. This course will cover hard surface modelling of props and special structures that are visually appealing to players and contribute to the game narrative. Consideration will be given to how real-world spaces are designed, from the ancient Romans to modern day architecture.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS1890
  • CoRequisites:

3D Sculpting I
ARTS1950

Description:

Creating believable 3D assets and characters benefits from a solid foundation in sculpting. Students will develop traditional art foundations of figure studies and gain a solid foundation in digital sculpting. This course will cover realistic and stylized detailing used in organic sculpting, and the latest techniques for adding realism to hard-surface game assets.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS1910
  • CoRequisites:

Concept Art for Games
ARTS1960

Description:

Visualization and fast iteration of game characters and environments is a fundamental process for designing modern games. Students will build upon traditional and digital art foundations to create concepts for games using composition, iteration design, and prototyping. This course encourages students to advance their art skills and challenge their creative thinking.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Media Studies for Game Design
MDIA1080

Description: An important element of designing games is an understanding of how past media was created to invoke specific feelings in their audiences. In looking back on former media efforts using both technical and artistic lenses, students will acquire tools to look at their own work critically, reflecting on style, technique, themes, emotions, and message.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 3

Course details

Level Assembly and Lighting I
ARTS2160

Description:

The layout and composition of levels for gameplay comes with special consideration of how players move through game spaces. Students will build and assemble assets that demonstrate an understanding of spatial orientations of levels, reusability of assets, and environmental narrative detailing.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Game Characters
ARTS2170

Description:

Designing unique characters for games requires proper anatomy, proportion, and fine details. Students will use 3D modelling and advanced character sculpting techniques to create realistic surface quality of character models. This course will also focus on maintaining asset optimization with retopology, texturing, and the use of generated maps.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

3D Sculpting II
ARTS2180

Description:

Building upon previous sculpting techniques, this course will focus on creating high-resolution organic sculptures. Students will learn how to create a stylized character with traditional sculpting techniques and explore additional tools and techniques within the software. This course expands on secondary forms and detail to advance the medium. In addition, virtual sculpting will be covered.

  • Hours: 70
  • Credits: 5
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS1950
  • CoRequisites:

Game Art and Architecture II
ARTS2190

Description:

Building game assets with appealing context gives powerful associations between a player and their surroundings. This course will investigate how to create rewarding game spaces with hard-surface assets and architecture. Special attention will be given to clean and optimized models for use in games.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS1940
  • CoRequisites:

Studio I
ARTS2220

Description:

In this course, students will expand upon their concurrent game art courses to further apply their knowledge and skills. Dedicated lab time provides an opportunity to demonstrate comprehension of the art pipeline in game creation. Students will work independently and/or in teams to create projects with faculty mentoring and support.

  • Hours: 70
  • Credits: 5
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Description: This course focuses on developing awareness and skills for the student to safely manage and conduct him or herself within a variety of employment settings. Through the units of the course, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of general Health and Safety guidelines, including WHMIS, Fire Safety and Workplace Violence. The unit on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will instruct the student on the requirements for Accessible Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulations. General information on Safe Driving, Privacy of Information and Hand Washing will be addressed as well. The course also provides participants with critical information regarding their insurance coverage (WSIB or other) while employed. As well as guidelines to follow in the event of an injury. Participants will receive a printable Record of Completion upon successful conclusion of this course, in order to demonstrate awareness of safe working practices to their employers.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 4

Course details

Advanced Game Characters
ARTS2230

Description:

Compelling characters need features and accessories to make them unique. This course will continue building on previous character creation fundamentals and focus on realism while adhering to game engine constraints. Students will create complete production-ready characters that include cloth, gear, and other unique elements.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS2170
  • CoRequisites:

Level Assembly and Lighting II
ARTS2240

Description:

Developing a deeper understanding for modular level design and construction, this course focuses on creating levels with game mechanics and constraints in mind. Students will create custom lighting, particle effects, materials, and shaders inside a game-engine to further add atmosphere and entice players to explore game spaces.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS2160
  • CoRequisites:

Portfolio Development and Presentation
ARTS2250

Description:

This course focuses on the preparation of a professional portfolio that demonstrates your skills and capabilities. After a review of career goals, you will learn how to identify and select examples of work that emphasize your personal strengths. You will be taught how to customize a portfolio specifically aimed at the game industry and to practice your presentation skills. You will have the opportunity to participate in classroom presentations prior to making the final evaluated capstone presentation of your personal portfolio of work.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Studio II Capstone
ARTS2260

Description:

This studio is designed to provide students with the opportunity to create projects that demonstrate the integration of skills and knowledge acquired from the program and emulate the game art production pipeline. Students will develop skills in time management, production workflow, and portfolio presentation while under the guidance and mentorship of industry professionals.

  • Hours: 112
  • Credits: 8
  • Pre-Requisites: ARTS2220
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Program outcomes

  1. Identify the differences in game genres in order to develop games that meet the needs of specific markets
  2. Situate emerging trends within a historical context of games and interactive media to adapt relevant concepts, vocabulary and frames of reference
  3. Identify and relate concepts from a range of industry roles, including programming, design and art to support the development of games
  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. Support the development of 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. Contribute to world building and level design in a game engine to meet industry and marketplace requirements
  10. Assess and iterate user interface design in alignment with Game Design Documents to optimize both the aesthetics and function of gameplay