Courses

I love teaching people how to create games.

With 7+ years of teaching experience, I have designed and taught beginner and advanced courses in online, in-person, and hybrid modalities.

Game Lab - A team of 40+ students working together to create a game! Link to all the games we’ve made here:
Full Game List

Courses and Curriculum

These are brief summaries some courses I have created. I believe that the best developers combine knowledge of tools, understanding of theory, and purposeful practice.

  • Learn the fundamentals of programming mechanics for digital games. Course can be taught using either Unity C# or Unreal Blueprints.

    Topics include:
    - Movement
    - Feedback Systems
    - Data Management
    - Game State
    - Event Systems
    - Game AI
    - Version Control
    - Tools Development
    - Game Architecture

    Lecture Example: Game State
    Assignment Example: Game State

  • Focuses on creating complex game types while utilizing SOLID principles and design patterns. Students will learn to build modular game mechanics that can be easily reused in future projects. Course can be taught using Unity C#.

    Topics include:
    - Inheritance
    - Game Engine Patterns
    - Composition
    - Observer Pattern
    - SOLID Principles
    - State Machines
    - Command Pattern
    - Singleton Pattern
    - Optimization, Object Pools
    - Portfolio Building

    Lecture Example: Strategy Pattern
    Assignment Example: Boss Assignment

  • Focuses on design theory and practice building level in game engines (Unity and Unreal) to build playable levels. Students will learn the full level-building workflow, including sandboxing, paper-mapping, white-boxing, playtesting and iterative polish. Course can be taught using a combination of Unity and Unreal game engines.

    Topics Include:
    - Pathing and Flow
    - Challenge Sequencing
    - PrePro and Papermaps
    - Narrative and Theming
    - Puzzle Design
    - Guiding Techniques
    - Sandboxing, Whiteboxing
    - Playtesting and Iteration

    Lecture Example: Guiding Techniques
    Assignment Example: Level PreProduction

  • Exploration of level creation and event scripting in more complex game types. Students will learn to further enhance level narrative and immersion through scripted storytelling, visuals and sound. Course is taught using Unreal game engine.

    Topics include:
    - Combat Design
    - Level Architecture
    - Environmental Storytelling
    - Tension Building
    - Affordance and Teaching
    - Audio Immersion
    - Asset Decoration
    - Portfolio Building

    Lecture Example: Audio Immersion
    Assignment Example: Horror Whitebox

  • Focuses on creating digital games using touch input and non-traditional controllers. Students will use Unity and C# to create mobile games while exploring the complexities of non-traditional input and how it affects gameplay.

    Topics include:
    - Unity Fundamentals
    - Mobile Design
    - AR Considerations
    - Modular Animations
    - Design Patterns
    - Building for External Devices

    Lecture Example: Mobile Design
    Assignment Example: Game Architecture

  • Focuses on planning, developing and delivering a polished digital game created by a large team of students. Students will learn collaborative pipeline processes and appropriate communication techniques while iterating on a single game concept.

    Topics include:
    - Onboarding, Version Control
    - Communication Techniques
    - PreProduction
    - Pipeline Practices
    - First Playable, Alpha
    - Beta, Polish
    - Playtesting
    - Content Lock
    - Release Build

    Lecture Example: Welcome to the Company
    Student Work Examples: Game Lab Releases

  • Focuses on fundamental principles of game design through the planning and development of analog games. Students will learn both individual and collaborative approaches to planning and iterating upon playable game prototypes.

    Topics include:
    - Game Design Fundamentals
    - Perfect Information
    - Technical Writing, Rulesheets
    - Theme and Mechanic
    - Assets
    - Visual Communication
    - State Machine, AI
    - Game Design Toolkit
    - Playtesting, Iteration

    Lecture Example: Randomness
    Assignment Example: Perfect Information Game

Course Evaluations

I never would have imagined taking this class because I have struggled to grasp programming for many, many years. That being said: I now consider myself a near-intermediate Unity C# scripter. Adam Chandler is the greatest teacher I think I have ever had.

Chandler knows that every student has a unique perspective, and he approaches his content from seemingly EVERY angle just to make sure no one who cares is left behind. His consideration radiates in his material.

This course was organized and delivered incredibly effectively. Students were given broad judgement in project execution as well as being provided frequent benchmarks to check progress and receive feedback on work.

This course was a great learning experience, and in my opinion, a necessity for any student who has a focus in games.

Best professor. Change nothing.