Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media

Program Introduction

  • Duration of Study

    The normal duration of this program is 2 years,and the maximum duration is 3 years.

  • Teaching Approach

    Face-to-face Teaching

  • Teaching Language

    Chinese/English

  • Academic Field

    Fine Arts

  • Course Introduction
    Major:
    1.GAME DESIGN
    2.GAME MANAGEMENT

Study Plan

Table 1: Core Courses (6 credits)

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

MAIZ01

Introduction to Interactive Design

3

MAIZ02

Game Design

3

 

 

Table 2: Major Courses (9 credits)

Major:   Game Design

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

MAIZ06

Game Engine Design

3

MAIZ07

Game Interface and Digital Sound Effect

3

MAIZ08

Game Technology Research

3

Major: Game   Management

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

MAIZ09

Game Project Management

3

MAIZ10

Games and Players

3

MAIZ11

Study of Human-Computer Interaction

3

The University has the ultimate right to decide which course or whether the course will be opened for all Major subjects.

 

 

Table 3: Elective Courses (6 credits)

Select two elective courses from the following five courses

Major: Game Design

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

MAIE01

Artificial Intelligence

3

MAIE02

Mobile Game Development

3

MAIE03

Computer Graphics and Visualization in Technology

3

MAIE04

Digital Image Processing

3

MAIE05

Character Animation

3

Major: Game   Management

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

MAIE06

Business of Interactive Media

3

MAIE07

Legal Issues in Business Administration

3

MAIE08

Statistics

3

MAIE09

Consumer Insights

3

MAIE10

Art of Design

3

 

 

Table 4: Other Core Courses and Thesis (22 credits)

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

MAIZ03

Game Industry Workshop

3

MAIZ04

Academic Activities

1

MAIZ05

Internship

6

MAIZ12

Thesis

12

 


Course Description

Core Course

MAIZ01  Introduction to Interactive Design(3 Credits)

The course mainly introduces the principles of interaction design between humans and interactive systems, helps students to understand users, procedures of designing and developing, and methods of evaluating, and guides them to understand the critical points of interaction design. Through case study and practical design, it also enhances their critical thinking of the interactive design in our work or life and creates the experiences of different users. 

MAIZ02  Game Design(3 Credits)

The course offers a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the field of game planning and lays a solid foundation for students’ entry into game design. It helps students understand game positioning and content creation, trains them in developing and operating methods, and assists them in project processes and team building. 

MAIZ03  Game Industry Workshop(3 Credits)

The course aims to improve students’ ability to plan games creatively, learn how to design games starting from creative inspiration, conception, prototype design, game narrative to game completion, and write development documents. Through the interactive workshops conducted by well-known professionals at home and abroad, this course strengthens the effects of game design and game teaching.

MAIZ06  Game Engine Design(3 Credits)

This course introduces the concepts and basics of game engine programming. It helps students understand the basic graphics engine, 3D game engine design, and related object management, and finally explores the scope of using different game engine technologies, including the general bottleneck in design and its optimization strategies.

MAIZ07  Game Interface and Digital Sound Effect(3 Credits)

The course introduces students to the game interface and digital sound effects in practice and theory. The design of the game UI interface is the most basic elements of digital games. A good interface not only lies in techniques and creativity, but are concerned with “cognition”, “perceived psychology”, “analytic thinking”, and “systematic thinking”. The other focus is to understand sound effects and soundtracks by learning the basic flow, software operation, theory, and techniques. 

MAIZ08  Game Technology Research(3 Credits)

This course introduces students to the process of digital game production, and the concepts and principles of related computer software and hardware skills. It covers the product characteristics of digital games, production process and technology, art style and design, and computer software and hardware applications.

MAIZ09  Game Project Management(3 Credits)

The course guides students to discuss the issues of digital game marketing and project management, and aims to put digital game projects planned by students into practice. In addition to practical production experience, it also enhances their professional skills in game product marketing and management. 

MAIZ10  Games and Players(3 Credits)

The course provides students with an in-depth analysis and understanding of games on the market, and discusses the successful models from game architecture, content design, interface style, and marketing. A variety of games and game operation methods are currently on the market, as the interactions offered to the players. Also, it discusses the arrangement and presentation of interfaces or interactions in response to human behaviors, cognition, and habits of thinking since a good game interaction design must be human-centered. 

MAIZ11  Study of Human-Computer Interaction(3 Credits)

The course discusses the human-machine interface from the perspective of users, in particular, the new technology human-machine interface interaction design and application. It helps students explore the principles of human-machine interface design, design procedures, and related applications in terms of multimedia products. The broad application areas of interaction design cover the usability of human-computer interaction, human factors (sensory, behavior, cognition, and emotion), design principles, interaction patterns, screen design, human-machine interface development, new media art human-machine interface, augmented reality, and related academic research.

Elective Course

MAIE01  Artificial Intelligence(3 Credits)

The course introduces students to the core concepts and related underlying technologies of artificial intelligence, the latest development directions in the field of artificial intelligence, the expert systems, artificial neural networks, intelligent systems, and various artificial intelligence theories, technologies, and applications.

MAIE02  Mobile Game Development(3 Credits)

The course introduces students to the current state of mobile game design and development and Unity 3D, a multi-platform and easy-to-use game development tool. Based on intuitive tools and module operation techniques, it helps students with no basic design and programming skills to get started and learn in an easy way. 

MAIE03  Computer Graphics and Visualization in Technology(3 Credits)

The course provides students with an exploration of how to demonstrate two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphics in a computer by using mathematical algorithms, and related principles and algorithms on how to conduct graphical calculations, process, and display via computers. The computer graphics mainly focuses on the mathematical construction methods of points, lines, faces, volumes, fields, and their graphic display as well as their changes over time. 

MAIE04  Digital Image Processing(3 Credits)

The course introduces students to the basic concepts and theoretical knowledge of computer digital image processing, including fundamental theories of image transformation, image enhancement, image restoration, image reconstruction, and image analysis. Through the hands-on practice, it enhances students’ ability of image processing algorithm via programming language, and to solve technical and practical problems. 

MAIE05  Character Animation(3 Credits)

The course introduces 2D and 3D character design and production. It covers character construction, 2D character costume design, 3D character mapping (UV removal), material operation, and 2D and 3D structural settings, etc. Students can understand, practically make, and perform characters and actions in games or animations, which lays a foundation for practical operations related to digital media (2D, 3D animation/game design).

MAIE06  Business of Interactive Media(3 Credits)

This course guides students to reflect on interactive media-related issues, in particular the customer-oriented product design and development, marketing and sales of interactive technology products in global markets, entrepreneurial fundraising processes, entrepreneurial management practices, different entrepreneurial exit strategies, and cultivates students’ capabilities of innovation, entrepreneurship, and management.

MAIE07  Legal Issues in Business Administration(3 Credits)

The course not only introduces management and its practice but also emphasizes the management-related business ethics and legal issues since the quality of management has a profound impact on the performance of an enterprise. Also, it provides students with the knowledge of business management ethics, copyright, intellectual property rights, and relevant legal norms as well as their implementation in daily life. 

MAIE08  Statistics(3 Credits)

The course introduces students to the basics of statistics. Orientated in practical applications, it assists students in understanding how to apply statistics into the research through instruction and exercises.

MAIE09  Consumer Insights(3 Credits)

The course introduces how to observe and analyze consumer behavior, and shows the importance of this expertise to marketing communication strategy planning. It focuses on the understanding of consumer needs, the application of consumer behavior to marketing strategies, and discussions between individual consumers and their environment.

MAIE10  Art of Design(3 Credits)

The course mainly guides students to explore and reflect on artistic expressions of creative design from a variety of factors including society, culture, economy, market, and technology, and interdisciplinary studies, technical creativity and practices. Art of design is the embodiment of the designer’s all-rounded qualities such as the ability to express, perceive, and imagine. 

Degree Requirements

1.Students are required to complete two core courses, three major courses, two elective courses, Game Industry Workshop and Academic Activities (ten times of attendance) during the first 3 semesters to gain 25 credits. 2.Students need to complete internship during the summer vacation after the first school year to gain 6 credits. 3.Students have to complete an original research masters thesis which is not less than 20,000 words, and pass the thesis oral defense to gain totally 12 credits. 5.After finishing each course, students will be assessed based on regulations established by the instructor and the Faculty.

Learning Time

The duration for taking all courses is 18 months and the duration for thesis writing is 6 months.

Qualifications of Graduation

A master's degree shall be awarded to a student who meets the following requirements and is approved by the Academic and Teaching Committee of the University: 1.Complete and pass the requirements of the study plan during the study period of the corresponding course, and the cumulative average point of each course (excluding the dissertation score) shall not be less than 2.50; 2.Observe the University code of study; 3.Pay specified fees and return borrowed University property. If students pass all courses required above except thesis with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, but fail to submit or pass the final thesis oral defense during the specified period, he/she only can get a completion certificate. Note: All curriculum programs and study plan are set according to the newest announcement of the BOLETIS OFICIAL DA REGIÃO ADMINISTRATIVA ESPECIAL DE MACAU. In case of any conflicts, the Chinese version shall prevail.