Game Development and Interactive Media
The Game Development and Interactive Media program provides you with the necessary skills to develop engaging and effective interactive experiences. You will successfully develop your technical, artistry, managerial and entrepreneurial knowledge and skills in a diverse team environment. Working with programmers, artists and designers will provide you with opportunities to engage in creating innovative products that push the medium to its limits. You will acquire the knowledge and skills required to quickly advance your career in the gaming, interactive media and simulation industries, or become an entrepreneur in charge of developing and managing your own gaming or interactive media studio.
Our innovative game development laboratory is equipped with state-of-the art software and equipment, including:
- 3D displays
- An audiometric (sound) room
- Motion capture facilities
- The latest in interaction devices
As a student, you will be immersed in the game development process from day one. Developing annual video games as part of our Game Development Workshop gives you the opportunity to showcase your game to our university’s community. The best games will participate at the provincial level, where you will have a chance to compete against teams from other institutions.
Further program information can be found in the University's Academic Calendar and/or in the GDIM Handbook.
Indigenous Studies Minor
Successful students develop their technical, managerial and entrepreneurial knowledge and skills in a diverse team environment. Working with programmers, artists and designers, you will create innovative products that push the medium to its limits.
Our university focuses on innovation and market-oriented programming. Program advisory committees and accrediting bodies support this focus, resulting in curriculum changes that ultimately enhance program outcomes. Therefore, from year to year, minor modifications may be made to courses, program maps, and/or program progression requirements.
Further program information can be found in the university's Academic Calendar.
-
Why choose Game Development and Interactive Media?
Students in the Game Development & Interactive Media program will learn how to design, develop, produce, test and market a variety of media, including video games, serious games and other interactive media. Learning will take place in leading-edge classrooms and laboratories lead by award-winning faculty.
Our unique business and information technology approach reflects on course and lab work that prepares you for a multitude of options from starting and running your own studio to a career within the video game, serious game, simulation and multimedia domains. Careers can include programmers, artists, project managers, game user researchers or simulation specialists and more.You can participate in research activities through summer research programs under the supervision of our top researchers in areas including virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, games user research, serious games, gamification, hardware and software design for games.
For those interested in graduate studies, the Faculty offers Master's and PhD programs in Computer Science (Digital Media)
-
Is the Game Development and Interactive Media program cutting edge?
The field of video games comprises many fields involving programming, arts, entrepreneurship, and design. At our university, we strive to have the latest technologies for you to conduct your academic and research work. We additionally hire top tier faculty to offer you the best learning and research experience with the highest standards.
-
How does the Game Development and Interactive Media program prepare me for life after school?
Students in the Game Development and Interactive Media Program participate in several experiential learning opportunities including:
- Capstone: a consulting-based project partnered with industry or faculty in teams during your fourth year.
- Examples: Durham Regional Police, IBM, Lakeridge Health, Lenovo, Region of Durham, Mount Sinai Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children.
- Internship: paid positions open in your second and third year if you hold a minimum overall 3.0 GPA or more.
- Examples: IBM, KPMG, Ministry of Finance, Ubisoft, Cisco.
- Incubator: you projects or companies chosen from 'pitches' with the entrepreneurial support from an assigned faculty member.
- International: intern or study abroad opportunities with key partners across the world.
- Examples: Finland, Hungary, Hong Kong, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Japan, West Indies and more!
- Capstone: a consulting-based project partnered with industry or faculty in teams during your fourth year.
-
What are my options after completing the program?
Graduates of this program have obtained full-time positions at various companies including: Ubisoft, EA Canada, Autodesk, Gameloft, and Compulsion Games amongst others. Many choose to start their own company while others pursue a graduate degree in our Computer Science program.
Please visit the Career Opportunities section. -
Academic Information
Are you a Game Development and Interactive Media student in the Faculty of Business and Information Technology (FBIT), and are you planning for your courses? Take advantage of the support offered to you by your academic advisor. Your advisor will provide you with the help and support required to aid you in making informed decisions about your academic plan.
Your advisor can provide you with program checklists and course schedules to assist you as you progress through your program. Designed to be used together, checklists and course schedules will help you select the courses required to progress towards the completion of your degree.
Checklists and course schedules are distributed to you as a guide for course planning assistance. It is your responsibility to confirm current prerequisite and course requirements for your degree program.
You are always advised to meet with your academic advisor regularly to ensure they are meeting graduation requirements.
For more information, please contact your Academic Advisor.
-
The GDIM Handbook
Game Development Community
Our aim is to facilitate meetings and events which allow networking opportunities, resource pooling, and personnel to improve their knowledge and skills. We include game developers with different mindsets and experiences to broaden our skill set. We also assemble teams to enter game development competitions, such as:
- GAMECON (end of year showcase of student games)
- Game Jams (competing worldwide to make a game over the weekend with a team)
- Information sessions (student-led or keynote speakers) on hot gaming-related topics
- Other external competitions (Level-Up Showcase, Great Canadian Appathon etc.)
The Game Sound club is open and welcomes anyone interested in sound design, music composition, voice work, or anything that's sound-related. The club strives to bring the audio experience of games to life and to inspire others to do the same. In a program very focused on visuals and programming, we offer a great place for the niche of audio developers to grow together, learn from each other, and listen to great things together. We value compassion, teamwork, cooperation, and growth.
The Game Programming Club seeks to provide the opportunity for all students in the Game Development and Entrepreneurship program to become excellent programmers and team players. Our vision is to have everyone in our program find joy in programming, regardless of skill level.
BITSoc (Business & IT Student Society) is the overarching society that oversees and promotes the activities of all FBIT clubs. We help bring awareness to events, aid in funding for clubs, and encourage communication and interaction within FBIT. We also help students prepare for future careers by offering Career Readiness Workshops (LinkedIn, Resume etc.), Guest Speaker events, recruitment events, Social Events (Gala) and much more...
Women in IT's main goal is to empower and connect women currently in, or entering the IT field. WIT values equity, inclusion, and diversity in our personal, academic, and work lives. Our goal is to create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome while ensuring that equality exists in the IT field across all genders.