Program Overview

This post-graduate program will bring your dream career of becoming a game developer to life. The Game Development - Advanced Programming graduate certificate will train you to do what game programmers on project technical teams do, including graphics effects, animation systems, artificial intelligence (AI), physical modeling, sound, and scripting systems. You’ll have access to cutting-edge development tools that will allow you to create your own custom game engines and game components. Learn the skills to bring your game idea from design to development.

Program Details

Program Code
GDP1
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability

Full Time Offerings

2024 September
London
Open
2023 September
London - Downtown
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability

Full Time Offerings

2024 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Open
2023 September
London - Downtown
Closed
2023 September
London
Closed

Your Learning Experience

Computer programmers require specialized, industry-standard skills in order to succeed in the fast-paced, rapidly growing industries of entertainment or educational game development as well as the emerging industry of training and simulation gaming software, and this program will deliver.

 

This game development program will teach you how to create, configure and integrate a custom game engine and game components on various platforms including Windows, Linux and PlayStation. Other aspects of gaming like game models, simulation, performance and configuration of both single-player and multi-player games will also be explored and implemented.

 

Upon graduation, you will have assembled a portfolio of game fragments and demonstrations to showcase your capabilities to potential employers and game studios. You’ll graduate qualified to obtain positions such as Game Programmer, Senior Programmer, C++ Programmer, and Game Developer.

 

Are you game? If so, this game development program will kickstart your career in the fast-paced, rapid-growing game programming industry.

 

Career Information

Fanshawe’s Game Development – Advanced Programming program will provide graduates with highly marketable and transferable skills. In addition to being strong game developers, graduates will possess exceptional programming skills that are a valuable commodity in all areas of the software industry. Career opportunities include:

  • senior programmer
  • game programmer
  • C++ programmer
  • software developer
  • project management
  • game level designer 
  • digital graphics
  • web game developer
  • video game developer
  • 3D designer
  • publisher
  • hardware developer
  • content/IP owner
  • game portal developer and maintenance
  • texture artist
  • game animator
  • game tester
  • character modeller
  • environment modeller 

 

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduate employment rates among large colleges in Ontario? 

Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Game Development – Advanced Programming program:

Game Programming Instructor 

Share your programming expertise with future programmers. 

Senior Programmer

Develop and maintain a fast 3D game engine that involves working on graphics and programming.
Computer Programmer

Design, develop and maintain client-facing web-based assessment platforms and associated databases.

 

Image
reviewing computer code on a tv
Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to

1. Design, develop, and present a working game design document for a marketable game or game component.

2. Creating games and game fragments through the development and use of various software components, along with the use and integration of existing commercial tools and components.

3. Evaluate different types of games and game platforms and select the appropriate ones for a particular game strategy.

4. Using innovative techniques - including digital, verbal and written - present the game design documentation and prototype(s).

5. Manage the design, production, deployment, and maintenance of game prototypes, fragments, and components.

6. Use applicable programming and mathematical skills to appropriately and correctly implement the various mathematical, simulation, artificial intelligence, graphics, sound design, and other aspects of a game or game component.

7. Identify, choose, and implement appropriate design and programmatic techniques (algorithmic, threading models, rendering, etc.).

 

Program Coordinator:

Michael Feeney Jr.

Open House Graphic

Specially-trained Fanshawe staff and students will tour you around the campus viewing key student spaces to provide you with a better understanding of the full student experience.

Register for Open House

Admission Requirements

Computer Programmer Ontario College Diploma
OR
Computer Programming and Analysis Ontario College Advanced Diploma
OR
A Degree in Computer Science 
OR
An equivalent qualification from another institution as judged by the College
OR
A combination of relevant education and work experience in a related field as judged by the College to be equivalent to the above
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements

English Language Requirements

Test Score
TOEFL iBT 88
IELTS Academic Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands
CAEL Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands
PTE Academic 59
Cambridge English Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169
ESL4/GAP5 Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10
Duolingo Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105

 

Learn More about English Language Requirements

Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing

Students who have completed the first five terms of the Computer Programmer Analyst program are able to accelerate directly into the first level of this program. Upon successful completion of Game Development - Advanced Programming, students will be awarded both credentials.  
Applicant Selection Criteria

Applicant Selection Criteria

Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
  1. Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
  2. Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
  3. Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements

Post-Admission Requirements

See Post-Admission Requirements

Courses

Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
INFO-6028Graphics 14
This course will examine computer graphics technology fundamentals and its implementation in games and simulations. Topics studied will include GPU pipeline architectures, meshes, coordinate systems, occlusion, camera movement, and basic shader technologies. Various lighting, texturing, and material techniques such as bump mapping, fogging, and basic shadowing will also be explored. Hands-on, practical experience will also be provided in selected topic areas.
INFO-6044Game Engine Frameworks & Patterns3
Students explore current design and implementation of 3D game engines buy building their own game engine framework, which is used throughout the program. Topics include: C++memory management; object oriented fundamentals; software design patterns; basic animation; discrete timing in motion control/capture; scene graphs; scripting implementation; and basic data persistence.
INFO-6016Network Programming3
This course will examine networking as used by games. This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of networking; from fundamentals to advanced applications, using a top-down approach to networking and emphasizes the concepts and skills required for computer and video games. Students will get hands-on experience on how to program various networks. Topics studied will include peer-to-peer and client/server architectures; real-time and turn-based multi-player games, and the theory behind massive multiplayer online games (MMOG). Other topics include security, validation, encryption, progression persistence, and prediction.
INFO-6025Configuration & Deployment3
This course will examine game setup, testing, customization, patching and getting the game to the publisher/player. Topics will include software delivery, patches and updates, scripting, user configuration, persistence (saving and loading), debugging interfaces and integration with existing deployment and publishing technologies and methods. Hands-on, practical experience will also be provided in selected topic areas.
INFO-6046Media Fundamentals2
This course will examine a range of technologies related to multimedia assets used in games, from the perspective of a game programmer/developer. Topics include: audio APIs (simple, streamed, spatial, surround sounds; DSP effects; voice recognition); audio assets; the basic use of 3D modeling and game engine software.
INFO-6019Physics & Simulation 14
This course will examine the mathematical theory and various implementations physics in simulating the real-world in both games and simulations. Topics studied will include kinematics and dynamics; collisions and collision responses; particle systems, rigid body simulation, simulation of cloth, and the simulation of physical surface properties such as friction and sounds. Hands-on, practical experience will also be provided in selected topic areas.
View all courses

Tuition Summary

London

Canadian Costs
$4,965.58
Total Cost of Program
International Costs
$16,535.60
Total Cost of Program

*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.

 

Contact/Questions