TECH 290 Building Game Worlds: Level Design, Mods and Quality Assurance

Media Arts & Technologies Department, Rockville Campus, Montgomery College

Instructor Information
Name: Deborah Solomon
Mailbox Location: Media Arts & Technologies Department (Ground Floor TC)
Email:
Course Websites: solomonster.com and Blackboard /
Office Location: Tech Center 121 (Ground Floor)
Office Hours: Mon 5:00-6:20pm, Tues 5:20-6:20pm, Wed 5:00-6:20pm, Thurs 2:30-3:50pmOffice Phone: 240-567-5136 (emailis preferred, as I am not always in my office

Course Information

Semester: Fall 2017Section 23795 (hybrid onsiteonline): Tuesdays6:30-9:10pm, 8/28/17-12/12/17Check MyMC or with the registrar for these deadlines: Last date for a refund, to change from audit/credit, to drop without a grade, or to drop with a W grade
/ Location: CS16
Lab location: HU314

Course Description

Topics include level design, game modifications ("mods"), quality assurance and testing. Provides an overview of level design and testing, two of the most common entry-level positions in the game industry. Mods, based on existing game engines, vary from individual hobby activities to AAA-published titles like Counterstrike (originally created by college students) and are a powerful tool in an aspiring game developer's portfolio.

Prerequisites/Corequisites/Assessment Levels

Prerequisite: TECH 190, or successful completion of the department skills assessment. (GDES 240 and/or TECH 225 are recommended but not required -- it is helpful to have some prior 3D modeling and/or programming experience, but these are not required.) Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD120.

Assignments / %
Discussion Board & Participation* / 10
Build 1 / 5
Build 2 / 5
Build 3 / 20
Video 1 (trailer) / 10
Video 2 (walkthrough) / 10
Quizzes / 5
Documentation (maps, papers, etc.) / 10
Website (portfolio) / 15
Final Exam / 10
Total: / 100

Goals & Objectives

Development and enhancement of non-technical skills

  • Speak and write about the course topics with sufficient proficiency
  • Apply critical thinking to a variety of topics in the course

Gaming & Simulation industry

  • Use common terminology of game development
  • Examine the history of game modifications (“mods”)
  • Understand the evolution of the “prosumer” concept and its importance in game marketing
  • Analyze the evolving interaction between game companies and players and the development of game centered communities

Careers

  • Describe the variety of career paths in the gaming industry and identify skills needed for success in some of these different career paths
  • In particular, understand the roles of Level Designers & Quality Assurance members of a game development team

Game Software Applications

  • Evaluate game engines, level editors and other software used in level design, modding and testing.
  • Understand how to choose and apply the above software applications.

Create and test interactive 3D game worlds with characters, terrain and architecture

  • Write interactive dialogue and stories
  • Design for different game genres

Game Development, Level Design & Testing

  • Develop business, design, teamwork and production skills while learning standard gaming business practices by demonstrating the steps necessary to create levels, mods and test plans.
  • Actively participate with others students in the class in order to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of working in a development team situation
  • Identify business and legal issues involved in the game creation process

Course Materials

Texts: There are no required text books for this class. However, I have listed some optional text books that you might find useful. Many of these can be found for free on Safari. We will also be using required online resources such as readings, videos and tutorials. The required online materials will give you information on Unity and level design theory that is necessary for passing this class. As this is a hybrid class, you are expected to spend significant time learning from the online resources in addition to your homework assignments.

Optional texts (NOT required – just in case you would like further resources):
Game Development Essentials:
Game Level Design
Castillo, Travis, 2008.
Cengage Learning.
ISBN: 9781401878641
(Used copies on Amazon $10). / Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design
Rogers, 2014. Wiley. ISBN: 978-1118877166 / Unity Game Development in 24 Hours, (2nd Edition)
Sams Teach Yourself®
TristemGeig, 2015. Sams.
ISBN:9780672337512
May be FREE on SafariorMC catalog Authors’ websites:fixbyproximity.com
bentristem.com
Unityin Action
Joseph Hocking
Manning Publications
2015, ISBN: 9781617292323 May be FREE on SafariorMC catalog / Building an FPS Game with Unity
John P. Doran
Packt Publishing
2015, ISBN: 9781782174806
May be FREE on SafariorMC catalog / Building Levels in Unity
Volodymyr Gerasimov
Packt Publishing
2015, ISBN: 9781785282843
May be FREE on SafariorMC catalog

Software:

This semester we will be using Unity. The free version can be downloaded at You will also need to create a (free) Unity account in order to use the software.

Unity version 2017is installed in the classroom and the computer labs in CS21A and HU 314. Please note that the class/lab version might not be the latest version. If you plan to work on your assignments from home, using a different version of Unity, you might not be able to merge your files with files created using the version that we use in class. So you need to pick one version with your group and stick with that version.(And ALWAYS save multiple backups of your files!)You can download older versions of Unity here:

Computer Labs: You can use the free computer labs at MC. HU314 has class software. Bring your ID. You may need to ask the lab assistants to let you into that room if it is locked.

Other technology & supplies:

To complete work for this class, you will need,

  • Internet access to use Blackboard and to post your homework files on Blackboard
  • Google Drive OR MS Office apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint to create documentation
  • Video recording/editing software (see the video assignment for more details)
  • A free web hosting service like webs.com, weebly.com or wix.com
  • A way to save your files (e.g. a memory stick, external hard drive, CD, etc.) – bring this to class every week. You will be uploading homework to the Blackboard site; but you will need to keep multiple back-up copies of all your files.
  • Office supplies: Sticky notes are useful for flowcharts and storyboarding. Graph paper (free online), a pencil and eraser are good for map designs. Please staple homework before class.

Read Part 2 of the syllabus for the homework schedule and instructions

Read Part 3 of the syllabus for additional policies