Cutting Edge Facilities for Game Development

SCI L113
Premiere Instructional Computer Classroom/Lab Space
Used for the core design and development courses held in SCI, L113 is equipped with 24 iMacs (dual boot), a full image of development software, a 5.1 sound system and 2 projectors. This space is the main development lab for student projects and is also used for many extracurricular events, such as the Global Game Jam.

SCI L114
Stereoscopic Lab
The L114 workspace offers two projection screens and workstations configured for development of stereoscopic games, animation and immersive projects. The Stereoscopic Lab provides the next generation technology of 3DS technology and providing a platform for students, faculty and staff to integrate the most cutting edge stereo equipment in a faculty-supported environment.

SCI 206
Seminar Room
Sometimes game design needs a large physical space. SCI 206 provides a large hall for guest speakers and seminar groups to engage students and support flexible production of interative projects.

ADVANCED GAMES LAB
“Start-up” Space for Advanced Teams
Every spring, 5-6 Advanced Project Teams are selected in a rigorous green light process involving faculty, industry and student leads. Teams are selected based on the strength of their ideas, their leadership skills, and their plan for completing a challenging and innovative project. Teams are comprised of students from Interactive Media & Games, Computer Science (Games), Animation, Fine Art and more.

MFA THESIS LAB
“Start-up” Space for MFA Graduate Thesis Projects
During the third year of the Interactive Media & Games MFA degree, each degree candidate will design and develop a final project that will contribute to the field of interactive media. The MFA Thesis Lab is located on the research floor of SCI, so that there is natural overlap with these year-long projects and the work going on in SCI’s research labs.

USC GAMES STUDIOS
The Viterbi-managed EGG Building on West Adams Boulevard, is the primary teaching lab for courses in game production. The lab provides resources for building 3D models, game animation, game engine development and utilization, and game design and prototype development for serious and entertainment purposes.

GAME INNOVATION LAB
The USC Game Innovation Lab is a research space and think tank where new concepts in game design, play, and usability can be developed, prototyped and play tested in an environment separate from the timelines and constraints of commercial game development. Under the direction of Associate Professor Tracy Fullerton, the goal of the lab is to nurture concepts that push games beyond their currently defined genres, markets and play patterns and to make breakthroughs in these areas that will be valuable to lab sponsors and the industry on the whole.

KINECT DEVELOPMENT LAB
In cooperation with Microsoft, this is a dedicated Lab environment dedicated to USC’s Kinect Development in cooperation with Microsoft.

MOTION CAPTURE STAGE
The SCA Motion Capture Stage is amongst the most sophisticated motion capture stages at a university anywhere. The facility is set up for the capture of both body and face, and is capable of elaborate virtual production, ala AVATAR and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Students from all disciplines within the school use the Vicon-and Xsens-based motion capture stage for both linear media as well as games and interactive media.

HARDWARE BREAKDOWN
46 Vicon MX Motion Capture Cameras
Xsens MVN Motion Capture Suit
50 Wacom Tablets
300+ Computer Workstations
Multiple Game Developer Kits
12 Xbox Kinects
3D Scanner

2D & 3D SOFTWARE
Maya
3DS Max
Motionbuilder
Vicon Blade
Adobe Creative Suite 6.0
Nuke
ZBrush
Boujou
Blender

GAME ENGINES
Unity 3D
Crytek
Unreal

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT and MANAGEMENT
Processing
iOS/Xcode
Subverison
Unity Asset Server
Perforce
Flash Builder/FLEX
XNA Game Studio
Arduino