Evolution of Game Design: 2010 to present

Let's delve into the consoles of the eighth and ninth generations and explore the advancements in computer gaming and related technologies with this online course from LaSalle College’s Vancouver campus, crowned the #1 undergraduate school in Canada for video game design by the Princeton Review 10 years in a row.

Join us as we witness the decline of physical game media in favor of digital downloads, embrace the emerging virtual reality (VR) gaming sector, and recognize the rise of esports as a major commercial enterprise.

With this online course, you will discover the significance of independent video games in gaming history and their relevance to the industry's evolution.

You will also explore the evolution of handheld, mobile, and social media games, along with the transformative impact of micro consoles on the gaming landscape.

Finally, you will uncover the resurgence of experimentation with mixed and virtual reality technology, immersing yourself in the future of gaming.

After all, what could be better than playing a video game—other than living inside one?

Topics covered include:

• The end of generations
• Independent games
• Mobile games, social games, microconsoles and mixed reality

Module 1: The end of generations

• Tech trends in the 2010s
• True high definition and the eighth generation
• The ninth generation and the end of physical media

Module 2: Independent games

• What is an “indie” developer?
• The dark times
• The dawn of indies
• The indie explosion - Spotlight: Vancouver

Module 3: Mobile games, social games, microconsoles and mixed reality

• 1976–1988: Electronic handheld games
• 1989–2003: Handhelds take off
• 2004–2021: Sony versus Nintendo
• Mobile and social games
• Microconsoles
• Mixed reality