Christopher Barney is a Game Design professor at Northeastern University rated 2.76/5 by 281 students, with 3.95/5 difficulty and 33.0% who would take them again (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Christopher Barney professor reviews and ratings: 2.76/5 from 281 student reviews at Northeastern (33.0% would take again). TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
Echoing the words listed here by other students. A very tough teacher who has his own set of rules that, even after finishing this class, I could barely understand. Will not shut down conversations in class, but will talk in circles, and somehow, for talking the whole three hours, he still does not teach anything of value. I regret taking this.GAME3400 2026-02-22 23:00:13 +0000 UTC
Chris' classes are tough but he will challenge you. I don't want to be learning basic Unity or do some random group project which is every other game class. He has actual industry experience and a focus on patterns, which are tough to learn but actually practical. Take if you are serious about learning and are actually trying to get into industry.GAME3400 2025-09-15 14:01:58 +0000 UTC
Not pointless, but the name is criminally deceiving. Prof has a lot of good intentions but the current class structure is less-than-ideal. Takes a lot of time to teach the pattern identification process, which should be taught in a separate course. He expects the ability to model & work in and Unity but does not teach it so be ready to self-teach.GAME3400 2024-12-04 20:36:20 +0000 UTC
Professor Barney has a lot of knowledge about the gaming industry at large and tries to instill that knowledge to his students in his classes. Game 3400 has a large focus on modeling which is something to be aware of, but so long as you do the work (which is a lot at times) the professor will work with you.GAME3400 2024-12-02 23:02:58 +0000 UTC
- You will be the labor of his Pattern studies. He quotes 'It will benefit you a lot' but the entire course is just making you a lab rat. He will not teach you how to use unity, He will not teach you how to modeling, He will not teach you how to game design or level design. Your job is to read tons of stuff and make patterns for his research.GAME3400 2024-10-29 22:57:08 +0000 UTC
Pattern-obsessed, makes students churn out patterns for his buggy website all semester. Talks in circles, runs out of time in a 3.5-hour class. Never touches Unity, expects self-teaching on top of heavy readings and projects. His unrealistic expectations are exhausting! Please teach a separate patterns class so students can focus on level design.GAME3400 2024-10-27 17:20:58 +0000 UTC
Christopher Barney has an average rating of 2.76/5 from 281 student reviews. 33.0% of students said they would take them again.
Christopher Barney's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.95/5 based on student reviews.
Christopher Barney has taught GAME2950, GAME3400, GSND6250, GSND6000, GAME4000, INAM5964, GAME4460, GSND6460, GSND5110, GSND5111, GAME2500, GAME3700, GSND6240, GAME3800 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.