Interactive Media
cinema.usc.edu/interactiveusc_interactive@cinema.usc.edu
213.821.4472
George Lucas Instructional Building (LUC) 310
Introduction to Interactive Entertainment
Offers students the historical perspective, critical
vocabulary and design skills by which they can analyze
and understand their own experiences with interactive
entertainment, as well as imagine and articulate their
own ideas for interactive experiences.
CTIN 309 / 4 units / William Huber / 18350R / 10-12:50 pm / Th
Advanced Visual Design for Games
Students explore a wide scope of visual game design,
including the role of lighting and creating mood, feel
and emotion, architecture as a game design element,
indoor spaces, outdoor spaces and environmental effects
and sounds. Topics include character and environment
scale, relative navigable distance, camera perspective,
ambient and narrative atmospheric design and diegetic
and non-diegetic storytelling.
CTIN 403L / 2 units / TBA / 18370D / 6-8:50 pm / T
Prerequisite: CTIN 401L
Critical Theory and Analysis of Games
Formal, aesthetic and cultural aspects of digital games,
critical discourse around gameplay, and the relationship
of digital games to other media.
CTIN 462 / 4 units / Tracy Fullerton / 18375R / 4-6:50 pm / Th
Design and Technology for
Mobile Experiences
Students will develop a strong sense of the design challenges
and opportunities presented by mobile technologies.
Through readings and discussions, students will develop
critical and pragmatic insights into designing mobile
experiences and technology. Students will form design
groups to develop a mobile project design using the
principles from readings and class discussions.
CTIN 405L / 2 units / Julian Bleecker / 18351R / 10-11:50 am / W
Sound Design for Games
This course covers the technical, logistical, organizational
and creative elements of the major production areas for
games: dialog, sound effects, ambience and music.
CTIN 406L / 2 units / Vincent Diamante / 18365R / 2-4:50 pm / F
Anatomy of a Game
This is a seminar class that introduces students to each
of the professional disciplines involved in making digital
games. The class will cover two different game products
from concept to delivery. Each week professionals who
worked on the production will present pre-production
materials, insights and best practices for how they
produced the project.
CTIN 463 / 4 units / John Hight / 18356R / 6:30-9:20 pm / M
Programming for Interactive Media
(CTIN)*
This introductory production class is focused on
creating 2D games. We will develop a number of
prototypes while learning the technical capabilities and
challenges of the game engine Torque 2D. In doing so,
we will prepare ourselves for making a class
project—a complete game.
CTIN 483 / 4 units / Peter Brinson / 18354R & 18355R / 10-11:50 am / M
Note: Students must also register for a lecture session.
Intermediate Game Development
(CTIN)*
This class is a follow-up to CTIN 483 and CTIN 488.
It introduces students to more advanced concepts in
game design and development such as ideation, digital
prototyping, interface design, usability testing, level
design, quality assurance, team work, project planning
and management.
CTIN 484L / 2 units / Peter Brinson / 18357D / 4-5:50 pm / M
Prerequisite: CTIN 483, CTIN 488;
concurrent enrollment: CTIN 489
Game Design Workshop
(CTIN)*
The purpose of this workshop is to examine models and
strategies for creating electronic games that are based
in solid play mechanics. Students will experience the
fundamentals of game design through the study of
classic games, as well as design their own games and
playtest/critique the games of others.
CTIN 488 / 4 units / Chris Swain / 18358R / 7-8:50 pm / T
Recommended preparation: CTIN 309, CTIN 483
Note: Students must also register for a lab section.
Intermediate Game Design Workshop
(CTIN)*
This class is a follow-up to CTIN 483 and CTIN 488.
It introduces students to more advanced concepts in
game design and development such as ideation, digital
prototyping, interface design, usability testing, level
design, quality assurance, team work, project planning
and management.
CTIN 489 / 2 units / Tracy Fullerton / 18363D / 4-5:50 pm / W
Prerequisite: CTIN 483, CTIN 488;
concurrent enrollment: CTIN 484
Advanced Game Project
This two-semester advanced project class challenges
students to design and execute a large-scale, innovative
game project. The class introduces professional-level
concepts in game design and development from visual
design and technical implementation to project
distribution.
CTIN 491b / 2 units / Chris Swain / 18373D / 6:30-8:20 pm / M
Recommended preparation:
CTIN 483, CTIN 484, CTIN 488, CTIN 489
Experimental Game Topics
This class will focus on developing a game around a
custom-made physical interface. Various technologies
and techniques involved in software/hardware integration
and peripheral design will be introduced such as serial I/O,
keyboard emulation, the Basic Stamp microcontroller,
sensors and actuators and fabrication techniques.
CTIN 492L / 4 units / Julian Bleecker / 18369R / 2-3:50 pm / M,W
