The Knowledge to Create Experiences. (Capstone / MDE)


EECS 494 is the University of Michigan’s premiere game-development course.
You may see some of our final, six-week projects here and play them yourself at our showcase website here.

Students will learn to…

  • Implement small-to-medium sized video games using the industry-standard Unity3D Game Engine.
  • Design purposeful, engaging user experiences.
  • Practice non-engineering disciplines (art, music, psychology, writing, marketing) at a basic level.
  • Carry out user testing and the analysis of user feedback.
  • Pitch new game concepts / loglines in an concise, efficient way.
  • Work effectively and efficiently in teams of 2-4 using agile production methods.
  • Make non-game software more interactive, engaging, accessible, and aesthetically impressive.
  • Exhibit game projects to large crowds.
  • Explore the rapidly expanding games industry from various perspectives.

Q: Should I take EECS 494?

Yes, if…
  • The skills above strike you as valuable.
  • You’re ready for a formidable, time-consuming, yet immensely rewarding challenge.
  • You enjoy games, visualization, or interactive, engaging software in general.
  • You hope to gain employment in the video game industry.
No, if…
  • You’re taking EECS 482, 381, or otherwise have a high-intensity schedule (Spring 2016 Workload Survey: ~60% extremely heavy, compared to ~63% extremely heavy for 482).
  • You’d like your final semester to be a little lighter.

Q: How might I prepare?

EECS 494 does not require any work before class begins, but students who are interested in the material can give themselves a small head-start with the following tips.

Q: May I attend lecture asyncronously (remotely)?

Yes, attendance is not required and all lectures are recorded. You'll need to attend a handful of playtesting sessions towards the end of the semester, but nothing big.

Q: Is there a book?

There is no required book. If you’re looking for one to accompany the course, Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development by Jeremy Bond is highly recommended.

Q: May I request an override to take the course?

You may! Overrides are typically considered several weeks into the course if there is any remaining room. Please let us know by contacting us.

Q: I’m on the Waitlist. What are my chances?

EECS 494 typically experiences 8-12 drops per semester, allowing 8-12 undergraduate CSE students off the waitlist. If we're close to getting everyone in, the course will typically expand its enrollment cap to get everyone in who wants in (we haven't had to deny anyone in a long time, but this is no guarantee).

If you have any questions regarding the course, feel free to reach us via our Contact page.

Q: I’m a non-CSE graduate student. May I take EECS 494?

EECS 494 is designed for junior and senior undergraduate computer science students, but courageous graduate students are welcome to apply for admission via this CSE Grad Enrollment Form. Students who are not eligible to receive credit for EECS 494 may also consider auditing the course. If we begin to run out of seats, you may be asked to vacate yours for an enrolled student.

Q: How else may I study game development at the University of Michigan?

The University of Michigan has a lean-and-mean game development environment including several impactful classes…

…and several excellent clubs…

Q: Does the State of Michigan have any game studios?

Absolutely!

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