Game Design and Interactive Media GDIM

GDIM 25 Game Design Fundamentals

Units

4

(II)

Explore the fundamentals of game design through the design and play of simple analog game systems. Students explore the principles and usage of game design elements through hands-on projects emphasizing iteration and playtesting in a creative game design community.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 27 Intermediate Game Design

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 25

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second consideration for enrollment

More advanced study of game design principles and systems design through the study of complex problems and play experiences. Topics include economies, game balancing, level design, prototyping, stat design, playtesting, and design documentation.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 31 Introduction to Programming for Games

Units

4

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second right of consideration

(Va)

Learn the fundamentals of programming for games through hands-on exercises in programming languages like C#, Processing, Visual Studio, .NET, and the Unity engine. Students build several small game prototypes.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

GDIM 32 Intermediate Programming for Games

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 31

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors will have second consideration

(Va)

Students advance their skills with game programming, building on existing skills developed in Introduction to Programming for Games. Hands-on projects emphasize general procedural and problem-solving skills, as well as furthering knowledge of C# and the Unity3D/Unreal game engines.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 33 Coding In Game Engines

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 31 with a minimum grade of C

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second consideration for enrollment

Introduces students to visual scripting tools in game engines in the context of game design, level, design, and experience design. Students gain fluency in one or more visual scripting languages.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 41 Games and Society

Units

4

Same as I&C SCI 60

(III)

The study and critical analysis of computer games as art objects, cultural artifacts, gateways to virtual worlds, educational aids, and tools for persuasion and social change. Emphasis on understanding games in their historical and cultural context.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

GDIM 49 Special Topics in Games and Society

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second right of consideration

Studies in selected areas of games and their relationship to society. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

GDIM 51 Visual Design Fundamentals

Units

4

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. Informatics majors have second right of consideration. School of ICS majors have third right of consideration

The principles, tools, and techniques of visual design for playable media. How do shape, line, color, composition, typography, and time work together to communicate information, emotion, and meaning in interfaces, game worlds, and stories?

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

GDIM 53 Roleplaying and Improvisational Play

Units

4

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second right of consideration

How do practices of performance, role-playing, and improvisation overlap with contemporary practices of game design? Connecting these forms of play to their contemporary uses within role-playing games, virtual worlds, and playable media more broadly.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 55 Storytelling for Interactive Media

Units

4

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. Informatics majors have second right of consideration. School of ICS majors have third right of consideration

The history, theory, and practice of interactive storytelling for games and other interactive media. Starting with the emergence of electronic literature and hypertext narratives, students encounter and experience a compressed history of this emergent form through play, analysis, and design.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 61 Introduction to Game Development

Units

4

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second right of consideration

Introduction to the design and development of games. Includes core concepts in software development, team management, leadership, and project management.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 127 Professional Studio/Practicum

Units

4

Restrictions: Seniors and Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. Informatics majors have second right of consideration. School of ICS majors have third right of consideration

Professional skills are essential in today’s competitive job market. Covers interview techniques, resume building, professional networking, personal brand development, online portfolios, and presentation.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

GDIM 129 Special Topics: Project in Advanced Game Design

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 25 with a minimum grade of C

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of advanced game design. Topics addressed vary each quarter. Students work alone or in teams to design and implement a unique game or interactive experience.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 131 Data Analytics for Interactive Media

Units

4

Prerequisite

STATS 6 with a minimum grade of C or STATS 7 with a minimum grade of C or STATS 67 with a minimum grade of C

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. Informatics majors have second right of consideration. School of ICS majors have third right of consideration

Survey of analysis methods for understanding player and user data, including playtesting, telemetry data collection and analysis, metrics visualization, and its application in development and business.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 139 Special Topics in Game Programming

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 33

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of game programming. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 149 Special Topics in Interactive Media Design

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of games and interactive media and design. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 161 Multiplayer Game Project

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 27 with a minimum grade of C and GDIM 33 with a minimum grade of C and GDIM 61 with a minimum grade of C

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors have second consideration for enrollment

Design and develop a multiplayer game using Unity or similar engine, with a focus on learning to work in a development team, writing design documents, working with platform features and limitations, developing engaging mechanics, playtesting, and post-mortems.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 163 Solo Game Project

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 27 with a minimum grade of C and GDIM 33 with a minimum grade of C and GDIM 51 and GDIM 61

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors given second consideration

Students work on their own to design, develop, and playtest a small game from scratch, taking into consideration psychology, narrative, platform features and limitations, marketing, computer science capabilities, human-computer interface principles, industry trends, aesthetic judgment, and other factors.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 165 Games Entrepreneurship

Units

4

Restrictions: Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. Informatics majors given second consideration. School of ICS majors given third consideration

As the audiences for games continue to diversify so have the channels for game publishing and monetization. Explore connections between the business and creative side of games in context like esports, education, indie game development, mobile apps, and AAA studios.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

GDIM 167A Capstone Game Project I

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 27 with a minimum grade of C or GDIM 61 with a minimum grade of C

Restrictions: Seniors and Game Design and Interactive Media majors have the first consideration for enrollment. School of ICS majors given second right of consideration

Students work in teams to design and implement a unique game or interactive experience. Emphasis on sound, art, and level design, building a community, production values, full utilization of hardware and software platform, and current industry trends.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

GDIM 167B Capstone Game Project II

Units

4

Prerequisite

GDIM 167A with a minimum grade of C. In Progress grade for GDIM 167A also accepted

Students continue work in teams to design and implement a unique game or interactive experience. Emphasis on sound, art, and level design, building a community, production values, full utilization of hardware and software platform, and current industry trends.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.