COSC 4301-04/COSC 5340-04 Game Design and Development – Syllabus Summer 2006
Instructor:
Lawrence J. Osborne
Maes 201
Office hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.and by appointment.
Email Address:
TA:
Maes 110,
Office hours TBA
Schedule: 8:00a.m. to 9:20 a.m MTWRF in Maes 111
Course Description
COSC 4301-04/COSC 5340-04. Introduction to Computer Game Design and Development. (3) Prerequisite: COSC 2336. Basic concepts and techniques for electronic game design and development. Topics include: game history and genres, game design teams and processes, theory of funativity, level and model design, game scripting and programming including computer graphics and animation, artificial intelligence. Fall.
Prerequisites
COSC 2336 with a C or better
Objectives of the course
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the basic history and genres of games
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the overall game design process
3. Explain the design tradeoffs inherent in game design
4. Design and implement basic levels, models, and scripts for games
5. Describe the mathematics and algorithms needed for game programming
6. Design and implement a complete three-dimensional video game
Instructional Method
This course incorporates lectures, readings and seminar-type discussions. Individual course assignments lead students through the basic elements of game design, building a basis for the final course project, a complete 3D video game, to be implemented in teams of 3-4 students.
Grading
Approximately 3-5 assignments emphasize learning the basic elements of game design, while 2-4 quizzes assess reading of course reading materials. The project, a team implementation of a complete video game, includes evaluation of the game as well as one or more presentations in the course of the game design. Attendance and participation are required in class. For each absence beyond the third absence, 5 % will be deducted from a student’s overall grade
Assignments/Quizzes 50%
Project 50%
A standard 10-point grading scale will be used for the class (A: 90-100, B: 80-90, …).
For credit in the graduate version of the course, graduate students must: 1) complete all assignments, 2) prepare and lead one class discussion, and 3) incorporate and demonstrate a significant portion of original scripting or programming in the final project. Assignments will also include additional exercises required for graduate students.
Course Policies
University integrity: Students are expected to know and abide by the Department of Computer Science Policy on Student Academic Integrity. Students are expected to submit their own work, and fully cite any sources used.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. For each absence beyond the third absence, 5 % will be deducted from a student’s overall grade unless documented evidence of a medical or family emergency is presented to the instructor.
Communication: Students are expected to read email and check the course website several times each week.
Textbook and resources
Title: Introduction to Game Development
Edited by: Steve Rabin
ISBN: 1-58450-377-7
Charles River Media, May 2005
Title: Programming Game AI by Example
Author: Mat Buckland
ISBN: 1-55622-078-2
Wordware Publishing, Inc., 2005
Course website: http://cs.lamar.edu/faculty/osborne/osborne.htm
Readings and slides will be linked to the course website during the semester.
Software: 3D GameStudio, http://www.3dgamestudio.com
This software is being made available in the Computer Science Maes 213 lab, and personal copies of the Commercial version of the software may be purchased through Conitec. The website contains several tutorials and samples. You may contact the company for a personal version at an educational discount if you let them know that you are taking the Game Design and Programming course at Lamar.
Topics
1. History of video games, game genres
2. The games industry
3. Theory of funativity: what is fun?
4. Game design teams and processes
5. Level design
6. Modeling
7. Human-computer interaction (HCI) & interface design
8. Computer graphics, collision detection, lighting, and animation
9. Game scripting and programming
10. Game data structures and algorithms
11. Artificial intelligence
12. Play testing
Interesting Websites:
1. http://www.igda.org
2. http://www.wordware.com/files/ai
3. http://tcnj.edu~games
4. http://www.IntroGameDev.com
5. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1175/is_n4_v30/ai_19571454
6. http://www.redstorm.com/
7. http://GameDev.net