Syllabus

This course is the capstone year of the Game Art & Design pathway. You will work in teams to plan, build, and deliver a polished vertical slice of a game level. Emphasis is on production pipelines, collaborative workflows, optimization, and professional presentation. By the end, you will graduate the pathway with a finished portfolio project and showcase-ready work.

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Canvas, this site, and Jupiter are your three main tools.

Canvas → quizzes, homework/classwork submission, and class discussions.
cte.levelarts.studio → project descriptions, lecture notes, readings, and resources.
Jupiter → grades (synced as assignments are graded in Canvas).

Every student is responsible for maintaining access to all three systems.

Course Information

Course Description
Game Art & Design II is an advanced capstone course. Students work in production teams to design a game concept, create assets, assemble environments, and implement gameplay elements in Unreal Engine. The course emphasizes teamwork, project management, and portfolio readiness. It concludes with a vertical slice delivery and public showcase.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

Plan and document a project using a Game Design Document (GDD) and art style guide.
Work in teams to assign roles, manage scope, and follow production pipelines.
Prototype mechanics, art style, and workflows to test feasibility.
Assemble a playable Alpha build with integrated assets and core gameplay loop.
Apply polish, optimization, and marketing practices to deliver a Beta build.
Present a final vertical slice with a trailer, cover art, press kit, and showcase pitch.

Weekly Journal Assignments
Starting Week 2, you will continue reflective journal work. Prompts connect directly to design thinking, production planning, or analysis of professional games/media. If you cannot complete the exact prompt, propose a substitute (reflection on past work, alternate game/media analysis, or your own design notes).

Weekly Points System

Every week you can earn 10 points. These track participation, effort, and homework, just as in earlier years.

Participation (6 pts/week)

Prepared & Present (2 pts) — on time, ready, stay full period.
On Task & Focused (2 pts) — work on assigned tasks, avoid distractions.
Positive Engagement (2 pts) — collaborate, contribute ideas, use respectful communication.

Homework/Classwork (4 pts/week)

Submitted (1 pt) — all work turned in.
Followed Instructions (1 pt) — matches directions.
Effort Clear (1 pt) — shows genuine attempt.
Meets Expectations (1 pt) — demonstrates readiness for next step.

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Missed participation points can be recovered with weekly Canvas Quizzes. Homework can be submitted late until the end of the unit it was assigned, but late work is penalized: –3 points from that week’s total.

Final Projects

100 points each semester
Semester 1 → Vertical Slice Alpha Build (Units 1–4)
Semester 2 → Final Vertical Slice & Showcase Presentation (Units 5–6)
Each project spans multiple weeks and requires documented planning, iteration, and presentation.
Projects are graded using a detailed rubric aligned to AME standards and pathway expectations.
Final projects = 30% of semester grade. Weekly points (~70%) alone can only earn a C at best.

Final projects are make-or-break. Consistent weekly effort prepares you, but you must deliver a finished, polished build and showcase presentation to pass with a higher grade.

Weighting

Assignment Type	Points	Weight	Due Date
Weekly Points	~150	70%	Weekly
Final Project	100	30%	End of Semester

Grading Scale: A = 90–100, B = 80–89, C = 70–79, D = 60–69, F < 59

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Academic honesty: All work must be original. Cite sources and credit assets. For more info on when and how AI tools may be used, Click Here.

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Support for families, tutors, and students: Modules list all deadlines and materials. Canvas tracks submissions, this site hosts resources, and Jupiter shows grades.

Game Art & Design I