General provisions

The course is part of the minor field of study Expression in Convergent Media.

The course is part of the Bachelor program Game Design and Graphics, 180 Credits.

Entry requirements

Expression, 3D Modelling and Texturing for Games, 7.5 credits

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on character sets for 3D-graphics for games. This covers both more advanced character modeling and texturing as well as introducing students to rigging, skinning and animation for games.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Discuss how characters and character animations contribute to gameplay and the design of the game world, and ethical aspects in the representation of others,
• Create 3D-grapic game characters for high-end game platforms that have a well-rounded character personality and backgrounds that express the uniqueness of their character via the model, textures and animations,
• Rig and skin 3D-grapic game characters which are both artistically and technically sound, as well as optimised for real-time rendering,
• Animate characters taking into consideration the technical demands of real-time rendering such as animation trees, pose-matching, loops, cycles, and blends, and
• Work in groups while following a production pipeline for creating advanced 3D-graphic game characters, from the pre-production process to exporting to game engines and being able to receive and implement feedback on their artwork in a professional manner.

Content

This is an intermediate course which focuses on creating character sets for games with a holistic approach in relation to design and gameplay. The main evaluation takes the form of a group project which runs throughout the course with several formative feedback components focusing on theoretical, technical and artistic content and the application of both practical and theoretical skillsets and knowledge.

Content includes:

• More advanced characters with a greater demand of knowledge of anatomy for artists
• Textures that conform to PBR standards and contribute to telling a story about the character
• Creating pre-production packages for a team, with clear artistic focus, planning of tasks and division of work
• Rigging and skinning humanoids for games
• Expressing character background through strong poses
• Principles of animation
• Animation for realtime
• Ethical aspects in relation to the representation of others.

Instruction

This course combines classroom activities and a group project that is developed both inside and outside of the classroom. Classroom activities focus on the theoretical, artistic and technical aspects of the course in the form or seminars and workshops. A set of seminars are reserved for formative feedback on projects as they develop throughout the course. This is to provide an opportunity for students to learn from the parallel processes and experiences of each other.

Assessment

Examination is in the form of graded seminars and practical assignments documented by written component leading towards a central project that is group-based. Grading is based on the degree to which the submissions demonstrate an understanding and application of the theoretical, technical and artistic content of the course as specified in the course goals and requirements for each assignment.

To achieve the overall grade of Pass with distinction, a Pass with distinction grade is required for the majority of the submissions as well the final assignment.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Uppsala University has a strict attitude towards cheating and plagiarism and disciplinary measures will be taken against students who are suspected of involvement in any kind of cheating/plagiarism. The disciplinary measures take the form of a warning and suspension for a limited period.

NB: Only a completed course may be counted towards a degree

Other directives

The Course replace/overlap, 3D Computer Graphics: Theory and Application III (5SD043)