Simulation and game programmers are software developers who design, plan, and write video game or interactive simulation software. The specific job of the programmers is to turn ideas, art, sound, animation, and music into a game/simulation that actually works.

The simulation and gaming engineering technology program is designed for the student who wishes to work as a programmer/developer/analyst with expertise in real-time 3D graphics, simulation, multimedia, and visualization. The program is structured as a broad-based degree, giving students a primary mixture of computer science, computer programming, and 2D/3D graphics programming with additional classes in arts, design, math, physics, and other support classes.

Graduates of this degree program are able to work as game/simulation programmers, designers, and architects. The breadth of the graduates’ education allows them to also understand, appreciate, and participate in the entire game/simulation production process, but from a programmer’s perspective. Additionally, the strong computer science, computer engineering, and programming component of the degree allows graduates to obtain careers in many non-game related fields of computing.

Modern video games and simulations require that a broad range of skills and subjects come together in a coherent fashion. Skilled programmers, artists, and designers must work together, each understanding the other, to bring a project from concept to fruition. To create an educational experience that closely matches this real-world development environment, the students in the simulation and gaming engineering technology degree work closely with students in the simulation and gaming development arts program. The team-based open-ended project environment of the intertwined degrees allows graduates to become comfortable in a work setting with a diverse work force of other programmers, designers, and game artists.

Math Placement

	Fall Term	Spring Term
	ETGG 1801  Game Programming Foundations 1	ETGG 1802  Game Programming Foundations 2
	MATH 1200  College Algebra	ETGG 1803  Concepts in 3D Graphics
	ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1102  Discourse and Composition	ETGG 1101  Structured Programming
	ARTS1101  2-Dimensional Foundations	ARTS 1105  Digital Foundations
	GEP Fine Arts	MATH 1250  Trigonometry

Students placing below MATH 1200 based on either their ACT or SAT Math Sub-score or Compass Placement tests do not meet the co-requisite to enroll in ETGG1801.  Should this be your situation, below is a schedule of courses that can apply to the BS in Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology as fulfilling general education program (GEP) academic requirements or technical elective requirements and bring you to the MATH 1300 level.  This schedule prepares you to begin the BS in Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology program the fall term of your second year at SSU.

	Fall Term	Spring Term
	ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1102  Discourse and Composition	ENGL 1105  Composition and Argumentation
	MATH 1020  Intermediate Algebra	MATH 1200  College Algrebra
	GEP Fine Arts	GEP Social Science
	ETCO 1120  Intro to STEM Programming	ETCO 1101  Structured Programming
	or ETCO 1115  Computer Programming	or ETCO 1115  Computer Programming

If an entering student’s math placements is below MATH 1300, remediation to get to this level is below the content of this program, and does not count as academic credit toward earning the degree.

 

Computer Requirement

All students in the B.S. in Computer Engineering Technology, B.S. in Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology, and A.A.S. in Electromechanical Engineering Technology degree programs are required to purchase a laptop computer for use in class.

Many vendors offer academic discounts to university students.  See the respective vendors’ websites for more information on how to take advantage of these discounts.

Windows/Linux

• CPU:  Almost any relatively recent CPU will be adequate (where “recent” means “no more than two years old).
• Recommended: Intel Core i3, i5, i7 families, or any currently shipping AMD CPU with the exception of AMD Sempron or AMD Turion K8-E.
• Memory (RAM):  Minimum of 2GB.  Recommended: 4GB.
• Hard Drive:  At least 250GB recommended.
• Video:  For CET students, either integrated (Intel) or discrete (nVidia or AMD/ATI) will suffice.  For Digital Simulation and Gaming students, some classes will require discrete video.  A DirectX 11/OpenGL 4 class GPU is recommended.
• Networking:  The Advanced Technology Center provides 802.11b/g wireless networking.  For maximum flexibility, the availability of wired (Ethernet) networking is recommended.

 Apple

• For Computer Engineering Technology students, any currently shipping or recent Macbook Air or Macbook Pro will suffice.

Careers available to graduates of the simulation and gaming engineering technology program include:

• Game/simulation programmer
• Game/simulation technical lead/technical director
• Game/simulation engine developer
• Graphics programmer
• Medical/scientific/military simulation programmer
• Multimedia developer
• Applications programmer/analyst
• Software engineer
• Simulation research and development engineer