Unit 1, Module 1: Understanding Animation and Game Design (9 lessons)

Pick any lesson to jump in. Each one takes about 5–10 minutes to read.

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Syllabus map: Module 1 objectives 1–22

Every specific objective in CAPE® Animation and Game Design, Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Animation and Game Design, Module 1 – Understanding Animation and Game Design is covered once. Objectives marked * are flagged in the syllabus as particularly suitable for practical exercises.

#	Specific objective (students should be able to…)	Lesson
1	define terms associated with animation and game design;	Lesson 01 – What Is Animation? What Is Game Design?
2	outline the history and present use of animation and game design;	Lesson 02 – History of Animation and Video Games
3	identify the roles and responsibilities of persons in the animation and game design industry;	Lesson 03 – Jobs in Animation and Game Design
4	discuss future trends in animation and game design;	Lesson 02 – History of Animation and Video Games
5	explain the different game goals and game genres;	Lesson 04 – Types of Video Games: Genres, Goals and Platforms
6	discuss the methods of deploying games on various game platforms;	Lesson 04 – Types of Video Games: Genres, Goals and Platforms
7	outline the elements of game play;	Lesson 05 – Elements of Gameplay and Game Theory
8	explain game theory in animation and game design;	Lesson 05 – Elements of Gameplay and Game Theory
9	outline the role and impact of the Animation and Gaming Industry on the Caribbean region;	Lesson 03 – Jobs in Animation and Game Design
10	discuss the skills that support employment and entrepreneurship in animation and game design;	Lesson 03 – Jobs in Animation and Game Design
11	explain the relevance of animation and game designs to entrepreneurship;	Lesson 03 – Jobs in Animation and Game Design
12	*demonstrate the use of e-portfolios and use of pitching;	Lesson 06 – How to Pitch and Fund an Animation or Game Project
13	identify project funding opportunities for animation and game design;	Lesson 06 – How to Pitch and Fund an Animation or Game Project
14	evaluate project funding opportunities available for animation and game design;	Lesson 06 – How to Pitch and Fund an Animation or Game Project
15	present project proposals;	Lesson 06 – How to Pitch and Fund an Animation or Game Project
16	identify concepts and skills required for animation and game design;	Lesson 07 – The 12 Principles of Animation, Tools and Sound Editing
17	*demonstrate basic sound editing techniques;	Lesson 07 – The 12 Principles of Animation, Tools and Sound Editing
18	outline ethical issues associated with animation and game design;	Lesson 08 – Ethics, Copyright and Intellectual Property
19	identify risks associated with animation and game design;	Lesson 08 – Ethics, Copyright and Intellectual Property
20	develop solutions to mitigate the risks associated with animation and game design;	Lesson 08 – Ethics, Copyright and Intellectual Property
21	identify the main stages of game design; and,	Lesson 09 – The Game Design Process: RAD vs Waterfall
22	explain the importance of RAD in game design.	Lesson 09 – The Game Design Process: RAD vs Waterfall

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Unit 1, Module 2: Drawing and Layout

Seven lessons on drawing characters and environments, perspective and colour, level design, folklore and culture, story and scripts, and creating digital artwork.

Syllabus map: Module 2 objectives 1–11

Every specific objective in CAPE® Animation and Game Design, Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Animation and Game Design, Module 2 – Drawing and Layout is covered. Objectives marked * are flagged in the syllabus as particularly suitable for practical exercises.

#	Specific objective (students should be able to…)	Lesson
1	list types of motion drawings;	Lesson 01 – Motion and Figure Drawing
2	*apply drawing and design principles for layout /environment and character development;	Lesson 01 – Motion and Figure Drawing Lesson 03 – Colour Theory, Texture and Composition
3	identify layers of an environment;	Lesson 02 – Environment Layers and Perspective
4	*apply knowledge of design principles for environmental design;	Lesson 02 – Environment Layers and Perspective Lesson 03 – Colour Theory, Texture and Composition
5	define the concept of a level in game design;	Lesson 04 – Levels in Game Design
6	outline the first three levels of a game;	Lesson 04 – Levels in Game Design
7	apply socio-cultural context to the development of local ideas and concepts;	Lesson 05 – Folklore, Culture and Heritage
8	identify the steps used for story development;	Lesson 06 – Story Development and Scriptwriting
9	*apply concepts to design a script for animation and game design;	Lesson 06 – Story Development and Scriptwriting
10	*construct environment for various genres; and,	Lesson 07 – Environment Design and Digital Artwork
11	*utilise digital image processing software to create digital artwork.	Lesson 07 – Environment Design and Digital Artwork

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Unit 1, Module 3: Story and Character Development

Eight lessons on synopses and pitches, story arcs, storyboards and camera angles, character design and turnarounds, environments, concept art and the production bible.

Syllabus map: Module 3 objectives 1–12

Every specific objective in CAPE® Animation and Game Design, Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Animation and Game Design, Module 3 – Story and Character Development is covered. Objectives marked * are flagged in the syllabus as particularly suitable for practical exercises.

#	Specific objective (students should be able to…)	Lesson
1	*create a synopsis for a game or animation;	Lesson 01 – Synopsis and Elevator Pitch
2	*write a narrative for a game and an animation based on story arcs and storytelling principles;	Lesson 02 – Story Arcs: Five-Point, Eight-Point and Three-Act
3	*create a storyboard for a game or animation;	Lesson 03 – Storyboarding with Camera Shots and Angles
4	explain character design as it relates to genre;	Lesson 04 – Character Design for Different Genres
5	*design genre-appropriate characters;	Lesson 04 – Character Design for Different Genres
6	*create character turnarounds;	Lesson 05 – Character Turnarounds and Model Sheets
7	conceptualise an environment;	Lesson 06 – Conceptualising Environments
8	*create environmental layers for backgrounds, midgrounds and foregrounds;	Lesson 06 – Conceptualising Environments
9	*apply design theory to create environments for particular genres;	Lesson 06 – Conceptualising Environments
10	explain concept art;	Lesson 07 – What Is Concept Art?
11	*create concept art for project; and,	Lesson 07 – What Is Concept Art?
12	*create a Production Bible for game design and animation.	Lesson 08 – The Production Bible

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Unit 2: Interactive Design and Game Development

Unit 2 moves from ideas to interactive products: designing interfaces and user experiences, building game mechanics and stories, and animating characters, props and scenes for games. It has 26 lessons in three modules.

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Unit 2, Module 1: Introduction to Interactive Design

Nine lessons on the evolution of games and animation, interaction design and UX, wireframing, visual design, colour theory, story and storyboards, pitching and audiences, and culture, ratings and intellectual property.

Syllabus map: Unit 2, Module 1 objectives 1–18

Every specific objective in CAPE® Animation and Game Design, Unit 2 – Interactive Design and Game Development, Module 1 – Introduction to Interactive Design is covered. Objectives marked * are flagged in the syllabus as particularly suitable for practical exercises.

#	Specific objective (students should be able to…)	Lesson
1	outline the history and present use of animation and game design and development;	Lesson 01 – Evolution of Animation and Games + Genres
2	identify the different genres of game design;	Lesson 01 – Evolution of Animation and Games + Genres
3	define Interactive Design;	Lesson 02 – What Is Interaction Design (IxD)?
4	discuss the concepts that drive Interactive Design;	Lesson 02 – What Is Interaction Design (IxD)?
5	outline the factors that influence user experience;	Lesson 03 – UX Factors and the 5 Principles of IxD
6	identify the five key/main principles of Interactive Design;	Lesson 03 – UX Factors and the 5 Principles of IxD
7	outline some prominent best practices for designing interactions;	Lesson 04 – Wireframing a Game UI
8	*employ design principles and best practices to create a wireframe of the user interface (UI) of a game;	Lesson 04 – Wireframing a Game UI
9	identify the basic elements of visual design;	Lesson 05 – Elements and Principles of Visual Design
10	outline the principles for creating a visual design;	Lesson 05 – Elements and Principles of Visual Design
11	identify the steps involved in creating a story arc;	Lesson 07 – Story Arcs, Game Scripts and Storyboards
12	*employ the knowledge of writing scripts for games;	Lesson 07 – Story Arcs, Game Scripts and Storyboards
13	*create a storyboard;	Lesson 07 – Story Arcs, Game Scripts and Storyboards
14	*present an idea for an interactive game;	Lesson 08 – Pitching a Game and Target Audiences
15	apply critical thinking to solve interactive design problems to meet customers’ needs;	Lesson 08 – Pitching a Game and Target Audiences
16	define Colour Theory;	Lesson 06 – Colour Theory for Games and Animation
17	outline the importance of Colour Theory in animation and game design;	Lesson 06 – Colour Theory for Games and Animation
18	outline the importance of culture in animation and game design.	Lesson 09 – Culture, Ratings and Intellectual Property

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Unit 2, Module 2: Game Design and Development

Nine lessons on game design terms and careers, core dynamics, iterative design, mechanics and goals, types of stories, characters and environments, game UI, camera views, and game design tools and constraints.

Syllabus map: Unit 2, Module 2 objectives 1–19

Every specific objective in CAPE® Animation and Game Design, Unit 2 – Interactive Design and Game Development, Module 2 – Game Design and Development is covered. Objectives marked * are flagged in the syllabus as particularly suitable for practical exercises.

#	Specific objective (students should be able to…)	Lesson
1	define the common terms associated with game design;	Lesson 01 – Game Design Terms, Careers and Types of Design
2	state the types of careers in game design;	Lesson 01 – Game Design Terms, Careers and Types of Design
3	state the types of design associated with games;	Lesson 01 – Game Design Terms, Careers and Types of Design
4	explain the different types of design;	Lesson 01 – Game Design Terms, Careers and Types of Design
5	distinguish among the different core dynamics of games;	Lesson 02 – The 10 Core Dynamics of Games
6	identify the stages/steps associated with iterative design;	Lesson 03 – Iterative Design: Prototype, Playtest, Revise
7	identify some common mechanics used in games;	Lesson 04 – Game Mechanics, Game State and Goals
8	*formulate the mechanics for a game;	Lesson 04 – Game Mechanics, Game State and Goals
9	distinguish between short term and long term goals for games;	Lesson 04 – Game Mechanics, Game State and Goals
10	identify the primary types of stories in games;	Lesson 05 – Types of Stories in Games
11	differentiate among the types of stories in games;	Lesson 05 – Types of Stories in Games
12	describe the characters in a game;	Lesson 06 – Characters and Environments in Games
13	describe the environment in a game;	Lesson 06 – Characters and Environments in Games
14	state the process of User Interface design for games;	Lesson 07 – Game UI Design: Process and Good vs Bad UI
15	distinguish between good and bad user interface design for games;	Lesson 07 – Game UI Design: Process and Good vs Bad UI
16	*distinguish among the different camera views;	Lesson 08 – Game Camera Views
17	identify prominent game design tools;	Lesson 09 – Game Design Tools and Constraints
18	*use a game design tool to create a game; and,	Lesson 09 – Game Design Tools and Constraints
19	discuss the constraints on game design.	Lesson 09 – Game Design Tools and Constraints

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Unit 2, Module 3: Animation for Games

Eight lessons on one-level interfaces and navigation, character anatomy and expressions, game environments, 3D modelling, texturing and lighting, the bouncing ball, walk cycles and stop-motion.

Syllabus map: Unit 2, Module 3 objectives 1–13

Every specific objective in CAPE® Animation and Game Design, Unit 2 – Interactive Design and Game Development, Module 3 – Animation for Games is covered. Objectives marked * are flagged in the syllabus as particularly suitable for practical exercises.

#	Specific objective (students should be able to…)	Lesson
1	*design a one level interface;	Lesson 01 – Designing a One-Level Interface and Navigation
2	*design navigational tools;	Lesson 01 – Designing a One-Level Interface and Navigation
3	*employ design skills to create characters for different genres of games;	Lesson 02 – Game Characters: Anatomy and Expressions
4	*employ design skills to create environments relevant to the game concept;	Lesson 03 – Creating Game Environments
5	*use 3D software to create props, assets for games;	Lesson 04 – 3D Modelling Game Props (Extrude)
6	*apply texture and colour to 3D Object;	Lesson 05 – 3D Texturing, Colour and Lighting
7	*use basic Lighting for 3D scene;	Lesson 05 – 3D Texturing, Colour and Lighting
8	*create simple 2D animation movements;	Lesson 06 – Persistence of Vision and the Bouncing Ball
9	*create Bouncing Ball applying timing principle;	Lesson 06 – Persistence of Vision and the Bouncing Ball
10	*create basic walk cycles;	Lesson 07 – Animating a Walk Cycle
11	define the persistence of vision;	Lesson 06 – Persistence of Vision and the Bouncing Ball
12	*create simple stop-motion animation movements; and,	Lesson 08 – Stop-Motion: Wire, Armatures and Models
13	*build models for scenes within a stop motion animation.	Lesson 08 – Stop-Motion: Wire, Armatures and Models

Attributions to media used in this page:

Hero animation: “Muybridge race horse animated.gif” – photographs by Eadweard Muybridge (Animal Locomotion, plate 626, 1887), animated 2006. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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