CAMPAIGN MODE UNLOCKED:

20 YEARS OF CHANGING THE GAME

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Alumni Success

PIONEERING GAME DEV EDUCATION

Recognized as one of the first and best grad schools for game design, SMU Guildhall has been at the forefront of a dynamic, evolving industry for over 20 years. With specializations in all four cornerstones of game development, our faculty of industry veterans and multi-disciplinary curriculum yields award-winning games and world-changing research.

Specializations

Art
Key Focus Areas:
- Character modeling
- Virtual sculpting
- Anatomy
- Rigging and weighting
- Animation
- Environmental modeling
- Modularity
- Game engine pipelines
- Lighting and post-processing
- Concept art
Learn More About Art
Design
Key Focus Areas:
- Using a variety of game editors
- Working with other disciplines
- Player psychology
- Player immersion
- Level layout & player flow
- Multi-player & single-player design
- Game aesthetics & architecture
- Encounter & puzzle design
- Storytelling & character development
- Interface design and systems design
Learn More About Design
Production
Key Focus Areas:
- Game development planning
- Pitching game concepts
- Digital game publishing and marketing
- Executive leadership
- Economics of the digital gaming industry
- User research
- Organizational behavior
- Product lifecycles
- Project management
- Business communication
Learn More About Production
Programming
Key Focus Areas:
- Game engine design & architecture
- Data-driven gameplay systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Networked multiplayer systems
- User input, controls & interfaces
- Procedural content generation
- 2D & 3D graphics and shaders
- Game physics techniques
- Audio techniques
- Memory management
Learn More About Programming

Key Focus Areas:

Character modeling
Virtual sculpting
Anatomy
Rigging and weighting
Animation
Environmental modeling
Modularity
Game engine pipelines
Lighting and post-processing
Concept art

Learn More About Art

Key Focus Areas:

Using a variety of game editors
Working with other disciplines
Player psychology
Player immersion
Level layout & player flow
Multi-player & single-player design
Game aesthetics & architecture
Encounter & puzzle design
Storytelling & character development
Interface design and systems design

Learn More About Design

Key Focus Areas:

Game development planning
Pitching game concepts
Digital game publishing and marketing
Executive leadership
Economics of the digital gaming industry
User research
Organizational behavior
Product lifecycles
Project management
Business communication

Learn More About Production

Key Focus Areas:

Game engine design & architecture
Data-driven gameplay systems
Artificial Intelligence
Networked multiplayer systems
User input, controls & interfaces
Procedural content generation
2D & 3D graphics and shaders
Game physics techniques
Audio techniques
Memory management

Learn More About Programming

Careers: Level Up

Reach The Next Level

We can help you achieve a rewarding career in the video game industry. SMU Guildhall provides a top-ranked education, and our students and alumni are highly sought for art, design, production, and programming positions at game studios and technology companies worldwide.

Guildhall Career Services Guildhall Industry Partners