This 250+ hour, five-course pack includes a variety of advanced courses that cover high-level game mathematics theory, 3D graphics engine technologies, real-time physics programming, and core AI techniques for games. This is our largest training package and is a solid choice for advanced students who want to expand their horizons beyond their core training and begin branching out into other areas. This is the follow up program to the Video Game Development Foundations program.
Now that you have a good grasp of the basics after finishing Module I in this
series, it is time to tackle more challenging subject matter. In this DirectX9
programming course you will start building a more robust set of 3D graphics
technologies utilizing the features of the DirectX Graphics fixed-function
pipeline as well as proprietary non-platform specific tools.
Along the way you will implement a number of exciting core components for
use in your games (dynamic scene hierarchies, animated game characters,
beautiful trees, a powerful collision detection/response system, and much more)
as well as some helpful tools to aid in the game design process. This is a very
large course and covers these topics with a level of detail you simply will not
find anywhere else. As such it is going to require a real commitment from you to
want to develop the best possible engine you can.
After completing this DirectX9 programming course, you will have created a
powerful set of foundation tools upon which to build. And this is exactly what
you are going to do in a series of targeted workshops that walk you through the
design and construction of your own real-time 3D game engine. Your final engine
will include support for all of the features that are on display in modern
games: global illumination models, vertex and pixel shaders, bump and
environment mapping, real-time shadows, particle systems, and many other very
advanced effects. So Module II is a firm pre-requisite for students who intend
to continue with the engine and tools design workshops.
The topics discussed include:
This Artificial Intelligence Programming for Video Game Developers course
primarily explores two of the most significant areas of game AI: decision making
and environment navigation. Decision-making allows your artificial intelligence
entities to appear to make intelligent choices about how they will interact with
the world around them and how they will react to various events that take place
in that world. This subject will be explored from the perspective of both
individual entities as well as from the perspective of groups or squads of
entities. You will also examine various ways that entities can intelligently
navigate their environment. This allows the decisions they make to translate
into realistic and coordinated movement through the game world.
The topics discussed include:
This course will introduce you to the fundamental mathematics used in the modern game engine development process. Combining key elements from the fields of geometry, trigonometry, and linear algebra, you will learn about the core game mathematics used by all game developers to make realistic computer games.
What will I learn if I take this course?
You will learn how to use mathematics to solve challenging problems in game development. The math for games lessons cover the following topics:
By applying the laws of physics, you can realistically model nearly everything that bounces, flies, rolls, slides, or isn't sitting still. This allows you to create compelling, believable content for your computer games, simulations, and animation. If you want to enrich your games with physics-based realism, this course will provide you with an excellent starting point. The video game physics topics you will learn range from basic Newtonian physics to vehicle modeling to spring-mass systems.
What will I learn if I take this course?
Part one of Physics for Game Developers is a mechanics primer that reviews basic
concepts and addresses aspects of rigid body dynamics, including kinematics,
force, and kinetics. In part two you will apply these concepts to specific
real-world problems, such as projectiles, boats, airplanes, and cars. Part three
introduces real-time simulations and will show you how they apply to modern
computer games.
The lessons cover the following topics:
This primer course reviews the fundamental mathematics necessary to get you started with game development. Essentially it is a quick review of all the key math topics that you studied in you high school level mathematics classes. The purpose here is to quickly prepare you for the more advanced mathematics you will study in the 3D Game Engine Programming series and ultimately in the Game Mathematics course (both of which assume this prior knowledge). This primer combines key elements from the fields of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in a way that makes sure that if you are a little rusty in these areas, you will feel comfortable before moving on with your other studies.