Information Engineering for Videogames and Virtual Reality

The degree programme (BSc) in Videogame and Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality Engineering is a three-year course that can be accessed with a secondary school diploma or other qualification obtained abroad recognized as suitable. Furthermore, the following are required: a good knowledge of the Italian language, logical reasoning skills, knowledge, and ability to use the main results of elementary mathematics and the foundations of experimental sciences. Adequate initial preparation is
verified according to the methods described in the Academic Regulations of the Degree Programs.

The admission to the degree programme (BSc) in Videogame and Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality Engineering is open and the course of study aims to train professionals capable of managing the design, programming and development of videogames, multimedia software, virtual reality systems, augmented reality and, more generally, extended reality, digital systems supporting manual games, digital simulation systems, educational and / or "serious" games, narrative entertainment production systems using advanced technologies and methodologies developing software systems.

Graduates in Videogame and Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality Engineering will develop solid skills related to the design and development of videogames and augmented, virtual and extended reality systems, the operation of GPUs, cloud gaming and computer optimization, hardware devices to
support video games and augmented, virtual and extended reality systems, human-machine interfaces, digital simulation, networks and IoT devices to support video games and systems augmented, virtual and extended reality. In addition, graduates will have skills regarding 2D and 3D graphics, Experience Design, game design, animation, sound design, economics for the video game market and multimedia software.
One of the main features of this degree programme is its transversality to train a holistic professional, who has knowledge ranging in a wide number of sectors ranging from information technology, and more generally from ICT disciplines to industrial design, architectural and urban composition, to
animation, to business economics, with strong knowledge of foundations.

The training is organized in such a way as to consider the transversality that characterizes the course of studies. In fact, in the first year, alongside the foundations (relating to the areas of mathematics, physics and computer science), contents related to characterizing subjects (relating to the ICT sector)
and to design are properly introduced.
The second year focuses on the characterizing subjects (related to the ICT sector); courses on calculation of probability, game theory and artistic and industrial design extend the acquired knowledge in the foundations courses.

The third year, alongside some basic subjects relating to the IT sector, introduces subjects relating to creative design and business economics. Finally, there is a wide range of elective courses that will allow students to acquire vertical and applicative knowledge relating to the topics of their interest. Upon completion of the training, an adequate number of credits could be dedicated to internships or to the realization of project work. All students will also be able to take advantage of internationalization programs to carry out periods of study abroad.

The degree programme relies on conventional teaching methods; e-learning platforms (Moodle - Learning Management System) will be used as a support to frontal teaching. The demand for graduates in the videogame sector and, more generally, in augmented, virtual,
extended and immersive reality is growing strongly, as demonstrated by national and international sector studies. It is destined to have further growth in the future thanks to the digitization processes and the development of 5G and 6G networks. The possible employment opportunities of the course of studies are identified in companies that deal with the creation of videogames, augmented, virtual, extended and immersive reality systems and as a freelancer.

Videogame and augmented, virtual and extended reality engineering

Function in a work context:

The main roles of graduates in Videogame and augmented, virtual and extended reality engineering can be summarized as follows:
• Design, development, and management of videogames.
• Design, implementation, and management of augmented, virtual and, more generally, extended reality systems.
Their training allows them to interact with specialists from all engineering and economic-management sectors as well as to translate the requests of domain experts into formal specifications who, although not technicians, operate in the videogame sector of augmented, virtual and, more generally, extended reality. They will also be able to independently develop simple projects or collaborate in the design and development of complex systems.

Skills associated with the function:

The degree programme (BSc) in Videogame and Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality engineering trains a professional with interdisciplinary knowledge in the fields of videogame creation, "edutainment" systems, immersive software systems, virtual, augmented, and extended reality systems. These systems are strongly vertical from a technological aspects, but, at the same time, transversal, as regards the creation of the contents they transmit. To cope with this peculiarity, the graduate in Videogame and Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality engineering will have the skills of an engineer (acquired through basic subjects in the fields of mathematics, physics and computer science) to whom will be accompanied by specific skills relating to the design and implementation of multimedia software, the use of telecommunications networks, the Internet of Things and human-machine interfacing in the field of video games and extended reality systems, the operation of GPUs, cloud gaming and computer optimization, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity applied to this category of software systems, hardware devices adopted in these contexts, digital simulation and game theory. In addition, the graduates will have skills related to 2D and 3D graphics, User Experience Design, game design, animation, visualization of creative scenarios to support video games, sound design, organization from an economic-business point of view of the videogame and multimedia market.

Employment opportunities:

Graduates in Videogame and Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality engineering can carry out their work in all the areas of the modern technological society, and in particular in:
• companies that design and develop videogames;
• companies that make traditional games and want to create additional graphic interfaces to support them;
• companies that deal with the creation of augmented, virtual and, more generally, extended reality systems;
• companies that deal with design and development of multimedia software;
• manufacturing or service companies and in process industries, to design and develop extended reality systems to support their activities;
• healthcare companies, to design and develop of augmented, virtual and extended reality systems to support patients (for example, for their rehabilitation);
• companies that deal with educational gaming;
• Public Administrations and in tourism, to design and develop augmented, virtual and extended reality systems to support their activities;
• training institutions,
• freelance (upon registration in the Order of Engineers, Section B).
An additional opportunity for graduates is the possibility of continuing their studies by enrolling in Master's Degree Courses or 1st level Masters in Italian or foreign universities.