MCCCD Program Description

Major: 3890 Catalog Year: 2025-2026 Effective Term: 2025 Fall Last Admit Term: 9999 Award: AAS Total Credits: 62-79 CIP Code: 50.0411	Primary College: Mesa Community College Initiating College: Paradise Valley Community College Program Availability: Not Found Program Availability: Shared Program Availability: GC, MC, PV Field of Interest: Computer and Information Technology Instructional Council: Video Game Production GPA: 2.00
SOC Code: Upon completion of this degree, students may pursue a career as: 15-1255.01 Video Game Designers 27-1014.00 Multimedia Artists and Animators 27-4014.00 Sound Engineering Technicians

Description: The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Video Game Production provides students with the essential skill sets needed to plan, design, and produce video games. The program features interdisciplinary coursework and related studies to build a strong foundation bridging the art and science of video game production. The Associate in Applied Science in Video Game Production`s curriculum brings together business concepts, game technology, game narrative, music, sound design, and animation to prepare students for entry-level careers as a Level Designer, Environment Artist, Production Artist, Character Modeler, Character Animator, Game Designer, Game Developer, Mobile Game Developer, Commercial Artist, Game Writer, Composer and/or Sound Designer. Embedded Certificates of Completion (CCL) are available in Video Game Production: Game Art, Video Game Production: Audio and Sound and Video Game Production: Narrative and Video Game Production: Scripting and Coding.

Learning Outcomes
1. Analyze the electronic game industry, including history, markets, distribution, publishing channels, business models, team roles, and career landscape. (CIS107, GST202, CRW176, AVC200, AVC240, CIS230DB, VGP298AB) 2. Analyze commonly used game components and mechanics. (CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, GST202, CRW176, AVC200, AVC240, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS150AB, CIS156, CIS163AA, CIS230DB, CRW190, MUC222, VGP298AB) 3. Manage game development project resources, budgets, goals, and tasks. (CIS105, CIS107, CIS151, CIS251, CRW176, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS230DB, VGP298AB, [MA]) 4. Evaluate software and hardware used for game design, development, and production. (AVC177, AVC100, AVC/MMT185, CIS105, CIS107, CIS151, CIS251, GST202, MUC122, AVC/MMT184, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, MUC111, MUC191, MUC195, MUC222, VGP298AB) 5. Apply advanced scripting and programming concepts in the creation and manipulation of interactive applications. (AVC/MMT185, CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, MUC122, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS150AB, CIS156, CIS163AA, CIS230DB, MUC222, VGP298AB, [MA]) 6. Create planning materials such as sketches, character sheets, storyboards, prototypes, narrative scripts, audio, and design documents. (AVC177, AVC100, AVC/MMT185, CIS107, CIS120DF, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, CRW176, GST202, MUC122, AVC/MMT184, ART116, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, CRW160, CRW170, CRW190, CRW270, MUC111, MUC191, MUC192, MUC195, MUC222, VGP298AB) 7. Create a variety of media resources such as images, narratives, 3D models, animations, and audio. (AVC177, AVC100, AVC/MMT185, CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, CRW176, GST202, MUC122, AVC/MMT184, ART116, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, CRW160, CRW170, CRW190, CRW270, MUC111, MUC191, MUC192, MUC195, MUC222, VGP298AB, [MA], [SG], [SQ]) 8. Construct a cohesive game experience using planning materials and media resources. (CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, VGP298AB) 9. Demonstrate effective written, oral, visual, and interpersonal communication skills. (AVC177, AVC100, AVC/MMT185, CIS105, CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, CRW176, GST202, MUC122, AVC/MMT184, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, CRW160, CRW170, CRW190, CRW270, MUC111, MUC191, MUC195, MUC222, VGP298AB, (COM), (CRE), [FYC], [SB], [SG], [SQ]) 10. Collaborate in a culturally responsive manner in a team environment. (AVC177, AVC100, AVC/MMT185, CIS105, CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, CRW176, AVC150, GST202, MUC122, AVC/MMT184, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, CRW160, CRW170, CRW190, CRW270, MUC111, MUC191, MUC195, MUC222, VGP298AB, (COM), (CRE), [FYC], [SB], [SG], [SQ]) 11. Engage in ethical personal and professional creative practices, in accordance with copyright laws, intellectual property, civic responsibility, and standards of the field. (AVC177, AVC100, AVC/MMT185, CIS105, CIS107, CIS130DA, CIS151, CIS251, CRW176, GST202, MUC122, AVC/MMT184, AVC150, AVC200, AVC240, AVC/MMT285, AVC287, CIS120DC, CIS130DB, CIS230DB, CRW160, CRW170, CRW190, CRW270, MUC111, MUC191, MUC192, MUC195, MUC196, MUC222, VGP298AB, (COM), [FYC], [SB], [SG], [SQ], [MA]) 12. Examine the implications of cultural values, individual beliefs, and biases as applied to game design, development, and production. (CIS107, CRW176, GST202, AVC150, VGP298AB, (COM), [SB]) 13. Create a portfolio of work. (VGP298AB)

Program Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program. Students interested in transferring should meet with an Academic, Faculty, or Program Director. GST201 Game Studies is recommended for students who intend to transfer to Arizona State University. Courses within any of the following prefixes must be taken within five (5) years prior to completion of the program to be applied toward this award: AIM, BPC, CIS, CLD, CNT, CSC, ITS, and MST.

Required Courses

AVC100 Introduction to Digital Arts 1

+ AVC177 Digital Photographic Imaging I (3) OR
CIS120DF Introduction to Adobe Photoshop (3) 3

AVC/MMT185 3D Modeling for Animation I (3) OR
CIS130DA 3D Studio Max: Modeling (3) 3
Note: AVC/MMT185 is recommended for students interested in the Game Art Emphasis and CIS130DA is recommended for students interested in the Coding and Scripting Emphasis

CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems 3
+ CIS107 The Electronic Game Industry 3
+ CIS151 Computer Game Development -Level I 3
+ CIS251 Computer Game Development -Level II 3
CRW176 Writing Narrative for Video Games 3

FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR
FYE103 Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) 1-3

+ GST202 Games, Culture and Aesthetics 3
MUC122 Sound Design I 3
VGP298AB Special Projects 2

Credits: 31-33

Restricted Electives
Students must select 1 of the following 4 specializations. Specialization I Game Art Credits: 21 ART116 Life Drawing I 3 AVC150 Multimedia Storytelling 3 + AVC/MMT184 Digital Animation I 3 + AVC200 Animation and Interactivity 3 + AVC240 Cinematography and Directing for 2D/3D Animation (3) OR + CIS230DB 3D Studio Max: Lighting and Rendering (3) 3 + AVC/MMT285 3D Modeling and Animation II (3) OR + CIS130DB 3D Studio Max: Animation (3) 3 AVC247 High Resolution Digital Model Making through 3D Laser Scanning and Photogrammetry (3) OR + AVC287 3D Character Animation (3) 3 Specialization II Game Narrative Credits: 15 AVC150 Multimedia Storytelling 3 CRW160 Introduction to Writing Poetry 3 CRW170 Introduction to Writing Fiction 3 CRW190 Introduction to Screenwriting 3 + CRW270 Intermediate Fiction Writing 3 Specialization III Coding and Scripting Emphasis Credits: 12 CIS120DC Introduction to Adobe Animate 3 + CIS150AB Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals 3 + CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3 + CIS163AA Java Programming: Level I 3 Specialization IV Audio and Music Credits: 15 + MUC111 Digital Audio Workstation I (DAW I) (3) OR + MUC192 Electronic Music II (3) 3 MUC191 Electronic Music I 3 MUC195 Studio Music Recording I 3 + MUC222 Sound Design II 3 + MUC292 Sound Design III 3	Credits: 12-21

General Electives
	Credits:

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirement	Credits: 19-25

General Education Core	Credits: 12-18

First-Year Composition	Credits: 6
+ ENG101 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) AND + ENG102 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) 6

Oral Communication	Credits: 3
COM100 Introduction to Human Communication (3) OR COM110 Interpersonal Communication (3) OR + COM225 Public Speaking (3) OR COM230 Small Group Communication (3) 3

Critical Reading	Credits: 0-3
+ CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment (0) 0-3

Mathematics	Credits: 3-6
+ MAT120 Intermediate Algebra (5) OR + MAT121 Intermediate Algebra (4) OR + MAT122 Intermediate Algebra (3) OR MAT126 Intermediate Algebra with Review (6) OR satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course 3-6 MAT14+ recommended for students who intend to transfer to Arizona State University in the Game Arts, Narrative for Games, or Audio and Music emphases. MAT15+ recommended for students who intend to transfer to Arizona State University in the Scripting and Coding emphasis.

General Education Distribution	Credits: 7

Humanities, Arts and Design	Credits: 0
Met by GST202 in Required Courses

Social-Behavioral Sciences	Credits: 3
Any approved Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Natural Sciences	Credits: 4
Any approved general education course from the Natural Sciences Area.

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 25, 2025

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.