CSC 5930 Computer Game Development SPRING 2009

Section 2

 SCHEDULE

Dr. Tom Way
Schedule is subject to change during the semester.  Please check the online version on the course website from time to time.
#
 Date
 Topics, Assignments, Activities
1

T 1/13

 Introduction to course, plan for the semester
Interactivity: develop a game (Tic-Tac-Toe)
Discuss class meeting plan for 1/20

Assignment: type up 3 brief ideas for new games (due Thurs. 1/15 in class)
Th 1/15 Guest speaker: Scott Weaver will demo his Gamemaker games and discuss his design approach

Team Sign-up Sheet (form teams of up to 4 by end of class)

Due today: single page with 3 brief ideas for new games
Assignment 1: download & install Gamemaker, experiment with it, type up and email a short review (due via email to me by Thurs. 1/22)
Assignment 2: meet with your team during class time on Tues. 1/20, begin planning a simple game to develop using Gamemaker. Be prepared to briefly discuss game plans in class on Thurs. 1/22.
2 M 1/19 UNIVERSITY CLOSED - MLK DAY
T 1/20 Team meetings, no regular class meeting
Th 1/22 Team Status and TCNJ Synchronization

1. Discuss team status, review team web page on class site (20)
2. Review of open communication ground rules. (5)
2. Reminder of Gamemaker assignment.
3. Brainstorming on live class-to-class communications options. (5)
3. Intro & review of TCNJ wiki, teams generate list of questions. Dr. Way will post. (45)

Due today: individual review of Gamemaker, sent via email to me.
Due today: discuss team plans for game during class.

Assignment: Read chapter 1 in textbook by next class meeting
3 T 1/27 Role of the Game Designer (Chapter 1)

1. Skype and/or streaming video test (2:20pm)
2. Game Prototype Project assignment (pdf) - due 2/05/09
3. Lecture on role of game designer (Chapter 1 slides)
4. Possible live remote presentation by TCNJ students (3:00pm)
Th 1/29 Role of the Game Designer (cont'd)

In class: Playtesting lab
1. Go to Sploder
2. Select a game and test it
3. Jot down notes about your reaction, what is good, what is bad,
    how it could be improved. Be ready to demo the game to us.
4. When done, try using Sploder to create your own game.
4 T 2/03 Role of the Game Designer (cont'd)
2:45pm TCNJ video conference
Intro to Processing [handout: selected examples]

In class (if time): Try out and help me write on board an evaluation of the Tiled map editor software. Evaluation can include technical comments, reactions, usability, suitability, thoughts, ideas, alternatives or questions. All feedback will be valuable and important. (What's a tile map or tile engine?)
Th 2/05 Game Prototype Evaluations
Evaluation forms will be handed out
* game play evaluations - each student evaluates all games
* team member evaluations - team members evaluate each other
5 T 2/10 The Structure of Games (Chapter 2)

1. Lecture on game structure (Chapter 2 slides)
2. Discussion of game prototypes, walk-thrus by teams
3. Phase 2 Game Development Project (pdf) - plan due 2/12/09, project due 3/10/09
4. Midterm exam replaced by project, comprehensive exam on factual material
    will be given later in semester
Th 2/12 Phase 2 Project Brainstorming

1. Discuss & analyze phase 2 project ideas (game analysis checklist)
2. Demos of: Frogger Extreme, Zombie Nation, Zombie Township, Zombie Infection.
6 T 2/17 Shared Project Synchronization

1. Review TCNJ wiki in detail, follow steps in handout (wiki review handout)
Th 2/19 Team Check-ins
Working with Formal Elements (Chapter 3)
Guest Speaker: Scott Weaver

1. Brief status report from each team
2. Scott Weaver will demo new game, field questions
2. Lecture on Chapter 3 topics (Chapter 3 slides)
7 T 2/24 Working with Formal Elements (cont'd)

1. Prepare for web conference, review TCNJ agenda, our home page & development questions,
    and think of any additional questions we have for the TCNJ students about what we can
    contribute. Volunteers to serve as technical leads or liasons?
2. Continue Chapter 3 lecture and discussion
3. TCNJ web conference at 3pm

By next class:
Th 2/26 Team Check-ins
More Chapter 3
Game genres

1. Brief status report from each team.
2. Discussion of TCNJ liaison assignments.
3. Finish Chapter 3 lecture material.
  T 3/03 NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
Th 3/05
8 T 3/10 Team Check-ins
Finish Chapter 3

1. Get photos (by Najib) of simulated TCNJ video conference
2. Acquire or arrange for Jing captures of games & any game demos ready for tech fair
3. Finish discussion of Chapter 3 topics
Th 3/12 Team game development meetings, no regular class meeting. Some students visited technology fair to assist, as needed, with presentation of game demos.
9 T 3/17 Game genres
1. Discussion of game genres. [ref1][ref2] (Game Genre slides)
2. View examples of genres in popular culture
     a. Early graphical RPG from Big [video]
     b. MMORPG (WoW) from South Park [Make Love, Not Warcraft]
     c. Artificial learning, tic tac toe from War Games [video]
     d. Early first person shooter from Back to the Future II [video]
     e. Getting exercise? DDR scene from Grandma's Boy [video]
     f. Classic misrepresentation from National Lampoon's Vacation [video]
Th 3/19 Phase 2 Game Evaluations
Evaluation forms will be handed out (pdf)
In-class game playtesting
* game play evaluations - each student evaluates all games
* team member evaluations - team members evaluate each other
10 T 3/24 Phase 2 Game Review
1. Teams each present their game and talk about design,
    technology used, challenges, unsolved problems,
    creative solutions, etc.
2. Dr. Way presents plan for rest of semester
3. How to evaluate Zombie Township?
4. Individualized Assignments (pdf)
Th 3/26 Individualized Assignment Working Session

1. Dr. Way will help you get started on your individualized assignment.
2. Dr. Way will introduce how to perform a code review (briefly) by reviewing his own code.
3. Start working on your code review, or doing research on your presentation.
4. Some students may also work on a special Processing project to support TCNJ.
5. Watch this video by Prof. Pearson at TCNJ on Peer Review techniques (8:45)
    and send me a one or two sentence reaction.
6. Final Game Project handout (pdf)
7. Listen to these interesting discussions from NPR about grad programs in gaming, independent game developers, and new ways to use game technology.
11 T 3/31 Introduction to Scratch

Lab: download, install, try out Scratch, get started on assignment

Scratch Lab and Possible Final Project (handout)
Getting Started with Scratch (handout)

Dr. Way's borderline working Heart & Soul Scratch project
Th 4/02 Individual Assignment Presentations

1. Students will present the results of their individual assignments
12 T 4/07 Individual Assignment Presentations (cont'd)

1. Students will present the results of their individual assignments.
2. Study guide for comprehensive game design theory exam. (handout)
Th 4/09 EASTER BREAK - NO CLASS
13 T 4/14 Game Design Process

1. Lecture on game design process & experience (slides)
    [sampling of material from Chapters 6, 7 & 8]
2. Scratch lab time (time permitting).

Scratch Lab after class: 3:45-4:30 (or longer)
Next Scratch Lab TBA
Th 4/16 Topic Grab-Bag
Guest Speaker: Scott Weaver

1. Scott Weaver will demo his completed game and answer questions.
    Scott used free tools DarkGDK and MS Visual C++ Express
2. Lecture on playtesting, game completeness & fun factors (slides)
    [sampling of material from Chapters 9, 10, 11]
14 T 4/21 Comprehensive exam of game design theory based on study guide
Th 4/23 CATS Evaluations & Focus Groups
Attendance is mandatory
15 T 4/28 Deemed a Friday class day
No class meeting
Th 4/30 Final Project Game Evaluations & LAN Party

In-class game playtesting
* evaluation forms will be handed out (pdf)
* students will evaluate team games and Scratch projects
* game play evaluations - each student evaluates all games
* team member evaluations - team members evaluate each other

Once game evaluations are complete, we will have a LAN Party.
Pizza and beverages will be served. Since there is no class after
ours in the room, the LAN Party will probably continue after 3:45.

THIS IS THE FINAL CLASS MEETING
F 5/01 READING DAY
16
 M 5/04
 FINAL EXAM (Villanova schedule)
Mon. May 4, 2009  10:45am - 1:15pm
NOTE: due to project based nature of this course, the final exam requirement will be fulfilled by a final project that covers the practical aspects of the course and and earlier comprehensive exam that covers the theoretical aspects of the course.
Deadline for any final revisions to Final Project due

Last updated: 04/21/2009