Free Game Development Classes
Game development classes are offered from these schools and websites listed below. Course subjects include programming, game development, and instructional games.
GameDev.net
GameDev.net offers free online tutorials for those interested in programming and making video games. Topics covered include Tetris, Pac-man, Super Mario Brothers 2, programming languages, and software platforms.
Tufts University
Tufts offers an intro to game development course. Students can follow along on projects, labs, and a video lecture on mobile games. Topics covered include game design principles, game development methodologies, and JavaScript.
Utah State University
The instructional games course at Utah State will help students learn about the history and application of instructional games. Students will read about topics such as computer games, learning through video games, and how video games effect children.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT offers an extensive theory and analysis course on video game theory. Students will read from textbooks like The Game Design Reader and Why Video Games Are Good For Your Soul. Lecture notes will cover in-class analysis and exercises.
AlanEmrich.com
This course was taught at Stanford, the Art Institute of California, the University of California, Irvine, by professor Alam Emrich. The required text for the course is Game Development Essentials: An Introduction. Course topics include advanced game design philosophy, conflict resolution, and character, story and plot in game design.
- Principles of Game Design - Professor Alan Emrich's game design course focuses on the strategies associated with game design.
Free Online Game Development Classes At a Glance
Course & School | Program Level | Format | Assignments | Quizzes & Exams | Downloadable |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
How Do I Make Video Games tutorial from GameDev.net | Unspecified | Online tutorial | No | No | No |
Beginners Guide to Programming tutorial from GaveDev.net | Unspecified | Online tutorial/video external reading resources | No | No | No |
Introduction to Game Development course from Tufts University | Unspecified | Texts/projects/labs/external reading resources/video lecture | Yes | No | Yes |
Instructional Games course from Utah State University | Unspecified | Texts | Yes | No | Yes |
Video Game Theory and Analysis course from MIT | Undergraduate/graduate | Textbooks/lecture notes/labs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Principles of Game Design course from AlanEmrich.com | Unspecified | Text/lectures/course project | Yes | Yes | Yes |