Colorado State University

Description

This introductory course provides a hands-on foundation in the design, development, and scripting of immersive 3D virtual environments. Using industry-standard software, students learn essential workflows to build, animate, and deploy interactive real-time worlds.

Key Topics Covered

• 3D Modeling & Asset Creation: Core geometry generation, object properties, and asset optimization.
• World Building & Composition: Spatial layout, environmental design, and scene staging.
• Lighting & Shading: Direct/indirect illumination, materials, and real-time rendering pipelines.
• Animation Systems: Keyframing, object locomotion, and character rigging basics.
• Interactivity & Scripting: Event triggers, behavioral logic, and user input integration.

Learning Outcomes By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Assemble cohesive, real-time 3D environments applying core visual composition and spatial layout techniques.
• Configure lighting, shaders, and rendering pipelines to achieve targeted aesthetic and performance standards.
• Rig, animate, and control dynamic objects and character assets within a virtual space.
• Program interactive gameplay mechanics and reactive environments using industry-standard scripting tools.
• Analyze, optimize, and iterate on existing 3D environments to satisfy specific functional and artistic criteria.

Fall 2026 Details

Lectures