Build Your Game
Design Portfolio
At NYFA, aspiring game designers can explore the exciting world of 2D and 3D games, mastering the fundamentals of the craft and creating their own content. Throughout our hands-on programs, students follow our signature learn-by-doing approach, completing exercises and projects designed to teach them how to create their own games.
In our longer degree and one-year programs, students complete a variety of original content to build a portfolio of their best work. During NYFA’s in-person and online workshops, students create games and game assets that provide the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills and techniques.
The projects listed below are an example of the kind of work that our students complete and not an all-encompassing list. Projects may vary. For more information about our courses, please see the course catalog.
Game Design
Degree Programs
The degree programs at NYFA’s Game Design School aim to prepare students for the media and entertainment industries. Aspiring game designers with ambitious goals can fully immerse themselves in the craft, spending a majority of their time creating games. Through a series of advanced projects that include 2D and 3D games, 3D animations, a personal portfolio, and collaborative thesis, NYFA degree students emerge with a body of creative work and a wealth of experience in game design.
Paper Prototypes Project
Students create playable games on paper to learn how to design systems independent of technology. Students conduct formal playtests of the games with classmates. Students learn the core game design skill of prototyping, playtesting, and iteration hands-on.
2D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 2D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
3D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 3D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Maya, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Interactive Narrative Scripts
Students write scripts for interactive narrative in a game industry format. The scripts are akin to screenplays but in interactive form instead of linear form and include dialog, setting, and plot.
Coding Prototypes
Students create functional prototypes using the C# coding language or other language. Students learn how to integrate their code into a game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine. Students learn the basics of how to express their ideas in code from the ground up.
3D Animations
Students learn to build 3D models in tools such as Maya, ZBrush, and others. Students learn how to texture models, rig them, and animate them in scenes.
Publishing Plans
Students learn the business side of games by creating plans for game titles in industry format. The plans are vetted for feasibility and accuracy.
Art / UI Projects
Students learn how to create mood boards, one-page design diagrams, product boxes, character bibles, and individual assets for games.
Personal Portfolio
In the Personal Portfolio project, students create an online portfolio website showcasing their best work. For this project, students learn strategies to make their work stand out, and how to share photographs that communicate their skills and their personality.
Virtual Reality Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy Virtual Reality game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state-of-the-art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal Engine), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Collaborative Thesis
Students work in teams to build a digital game intended to be a thesis-worthy, premiere portfolio piece over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal Engine), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Game Levels
Students learn to create playable game levels for different types of games (such as platformer, adventure, or genre of their choice) using state of the art digital tools. Tools may including Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, Photoshop, and others. Emphasis is on prototyping, playtesting, and iteration within a specific type of game.
Paper Prototypes
Students create playable games on paper to learn how to design systems independent of technology. Students conduct formal playtests of the games with classmates. Students learn the core game design skill of prototyping, playtesting, and iteration hands-on.
2D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 2D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
3D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 3D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Maya, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Interactive Narrative Scripts
Students write scripts for interactive narrative in a game industry format. The scripts are akin to screenplays but in interactive form instead of linear form and include dialog, setting, and plot.
Coding Prototypes
Students create functional prototypes using the C# coding language or other language. Students learn how to integrate their code into a game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine. Students learn the basics of how to express their ideas in code from the ground up.
3D Animations
Students learn to build 3D models in tools such as Maya, ZBrush, and others. Students learn how to texture models, rig them, and animate them in scenes.
Publishing Plans
Students learn the business side of games by creating plans for game titles in industry format. The plans are vetted for feasibility and accuracy.
Art / UI Projects
Students learn how to create mood boards, one-page design diagrams, product boxes, character bibles, and individual assets for games.
Personal Portfolio
In the Personal Portfolio project, students create an online portfolio website showcasing their best work. For this project, students learn strategies to make their work stand out, and how to share photographs that communicate their skills and their personality.
Virtual Reality Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy Virtual Reality game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state-of-the-art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal Engine), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Collaborative Thesis
Students work in teams to build a digital game intended to be a thesis-worthy, premiere portfolio piece over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal Engine), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Game Levels
Students learn to create playable game levels for different types of games (such as platformer, adventure, or genre of their choice) using state of the art digital tools. Tools may including Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, Photoshop, and others. Emphasis is on prototyping, playtesting, and iteration within a specific type of game.
Paper Prototypes
Students create playable games on paper to learn how to design systems independent of technology. Students conduct formal playtests of the games with classmates. Students learn the core game design skill of prototyping, playtesting, and iteration hands-on.
2D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 2D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
3D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 3D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Maya, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Interactive Narrative Scripts
Students write scripts for interactive narrative in a game industry format. The scripts are akin to screenplays but in interactive form instead of linear form and include dialog, setting, and plot.
Coding Prototypes
Students create functional prototypes using the C# coding language or other language. Students learn how to integrate their code into a game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine. Students learn the basics of how to express their ideas in code from the ground up.
3D Animations
Students learn to build 3D models in tools such as Maya, ZBrush, and others. Students learn how to texture models, rig them, and animate them in scenes.
Publishing Plans
Students learn the business side of games by creating plans for game titles in industry format. The plans are vetted for feasibility and accuracy.
Art / UI Projects
Students learn how to create mood boards, one-page design diagrams, product boxes, character bibles, and individual assets for games.
Personal Portfolio
In the Personal Portfolio project, students create an online portfolio website showcasing their best work. For this project, students learn strategies to make their work stand out, and how to share photographs that communicate their skills and their personality.
Virtual Reality Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy Virtual Reality game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state-of-the-art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal Engine), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Collaborative Thesis
Students work in teams to build a digital game intended to be a thesis-worthy, premiere portfolio piece over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal Engine), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Game Design
Certificate Program
In the 1-Year Game Design Program at NYFA, students focus on the fundamentals of games, completing projects that train them in the best practices of game design. Students complete work that gives them the flexibility to pursue their interest in game design or continue their education, including 2D and 3D games, 3D animations, as well as coding prototypes.
Paper Prototypes
Students create playable games on paper to learn how to design systems independent of technology. Students conduct formal playtests of the games with classmates. Students learn the core game design skill of prototyping, playtesting, and iteration hands-on.
2D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 2D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
3D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 3D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Maya, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Interactive Narrative Scripts
Students write scripts for interactive narrative in a game industry format. The scripts are akin to screenplays but in interactive form instead of linear form and include dialog, setting, and plot.
Coding Prototypes
Students create functional prototypes using the C# coding language or other language. Students learn how to integrate their code into a game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine. Students learn the basics of how to express their ideas in code from the ground up.
3D Animations
Students learn to build 3D models in tools such as Maya, ZBrush, and others. Students learn how to texture models, rig them, and animate them in scenes.
Publishing Plans
Students learn the business side of games by creating plans for game titles in industry format. The plans are vetted for feasibility and accuracy.
Art / UI Projects
Students learn how to create mood boards, one-page design diagrams, product boxes, character bibles, and individual assets for games.
Game Design
Workshops
The full-time and part-time workshops at NYFA’s Game Design School provide students with an introduction to game design. During these workshops, students work on a variety of projects that include 2D and 3D games and 3D animations.
Paper Prototypes
Students create playable games on paper to learn how to design systems independent of technology. Students conduct formal playtests of the games with classmates. Students learn the core game design skill of prototyping, playtesting, and iteration hands-on.
2D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 2D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, interaction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
3D Game
Students work in teams to build a portfolio-worthy 3D game over the course of one semester. Students get hands-on practice with team leadership, ideation, digital prototyping, playtesting, iteraction, and execution using state of the art digital tools such as Unity (or Unreal), GitHub, Maya, Photoshop, ProTools Audio, and others. Students create marketing materials including a gameplay video.
Interactive Narrative Scripts
Students write scripts for interactive narrative in a game industry format. The scripts are akin to screenplays but in interactive form instead of linear form and include dialog, setting, and plot.
Coding Prototypes
Students create functional prototypes using the C# coding language or other language. Students learn how to integrate their code into a game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine. Students learn the basics of how to express their ideas in code from the ground up.
3D Animations
Students learn to build 3D models in tools such as Maya, ZBrush, and others. Students learn how to texture models, rig them, and animate them in scenes.
Publishing Plans
Students learn how to communicate their vision for game play using visuals through storyboards, “emotional prototypes”, and “vertical slices” as well as how to communicate and persuade with visuals.
Art / UI Projects
Students learn how to create mood boards, one-page design diagrams, product boxes, character bibles, and individual assets for games.
Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.