Introduction to Computer Game Design and Development Fall 2005
Home Contact Syllabus Outline Project Syllabus
Syllabus Handout Course:
ITCS 4230/5230 Section 001
"Introduction to Game Design and Development"
Tuesday/Thursday 11-12:15 pm
Woodward 130Instructor:
Tiffany Barnes
Office: Woodward 403E, Phone 687-8577
Hours: Monday 1-:230 pm, and by appointment
Email: tbarnes2@uncc.eduTeaching Asst.:
Amanda Chaffin
Office: Woodward 455
Hours: 1-3 T, ThTextbook:
Introduction to Game Development
Edited by: Steve Rabin
ISBN: 1-58450-377-7
Charles River Media, May 2005
Game Design Workshop: Designing, Prototyping, and Playtesting Games (Paperback), Tracy Fullerton, Christopher Swain, Steven Hoffman
Software:
3D Game Studio
3D GameStudio is available in Woodward 335. The trial version is free for 30 days at http://www.3dgamestudio.com.
You may purchase the Commercial version of 3DGS for $100 by calling Conitec, and mentioning that you are taking this class with Dr. Tiffany Barnes and would like the educational discount.
Emails:
The class email list has been set up at UNCCGameDesign@yahoogroups.com. 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 points may be deducted from a student's overall grade.
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.
Below is presented the weight of the different course components toward your final grade.
Component Weight Assignments/Quizzes 50% Project 50% Topics:
- History of video games, game genres
- The games industry
- Theory of funativity: what is fun?
- Game design teams and processes
- Level design
- Modeling
- Human-computer interaction (HCI) & interface design
- Computer graphics, collision detection, lighting, and animation
- Game scripting and programming
- Game data structures and algorithms
- Artificial intelligence
- Play testing