Semester(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 4
Course Call Number: GAMES-GT 324
Prerequisite(s): Game Studio II
The spectrum of Extended Reality (XR) – encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) – brings with it several opportunities for new possibilities for game design, interactive storytelling, and more. While implementations of these technologies and associated theory have existed for a number of years, the recent technical and commercial resurgence means that developing skills in critical thinking and creative aptitude with regards to AR and VR is incredibly timely. To this end, rather than studying only contemporary discourse around XR technologies which frames it as a new development or passing fad, this class will also look at more well-established principles of both AR and VR – such as object presence and other aspects of existing theory. Furthermore, it analyses such technologies through a theoretical and critical lens, placing them within the wider history of the arts. In doing so, students will examine ideas of distance and disinterestedness going back to the 19th century.
At the same time, students will develop skills in the latest technical and design paradigms around AR and VR, and develop skills in building VR and mobile AR applications. Students will learn to use the Unity 3D game engine to create AR games for Android, iOS, and Windows platforms by using Vuforia/ARKit/ARCore, Oculus/OpenVR and the Unity XR API. They will also learn best practices in VR and AR user experience, software design patterns, and 3D graphics.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1) Understand and discuss theoretical perspectives in Augmented and Virtual Reality.
2) Design and build AR and VR applications within the Unity game engine using APIs such as OpenVR, ARKit/ARCore and Vuforia.
3) Assess, discuss, and implement VR and AR technical design patterns.
4) Continue developing their Unity/C# skills.