CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation

Fall 2013

Bruce R. Maxim, PhD Associate Professor Office: 233 CIS Phone:  436-9155 E-mail: bmaxim@umich.edu

Classroom:    1420 PEC Meeting Time: 4:35-5:50               MW Office Hours: 2:30-4:30               MW

     This course deals with the study of the technology, science, and art involved in the creation of computer games. The focus of the course will be hands-on development of computer games. Students will study a variety of software technologies relevant to computer game design, including: programming languages, scripting languages, operating systems, file systems, networks, simulation engines, and multi-media design systems. Lecture and discussion topics will be taken from several areas of computer science: simulation and modeling, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, real-time processing, game theory, software engineering, human computer interaction, graphic design, and game aesthetics.

The work for this course will include a variety of projects. All projects will require design activities and students will be expected to make use of existing programming tools. The final project will require students to go through all phases of system life cycle: specification, design, implementation, and evaluation. Your scores on the projects and presentations will determine your grade in this course. There will be 4 graded projects. Each project will be accompanied with an oral presentation. The final project will count for 40% of your grade. Late work will be penalized, as will evidence of cheating in any form.

The University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities.  Students need to register with Disability Services (DS) every semester they are enrolled for classes.  DS is located in Counseling & Disability Services, 2157 UC.  To be assured of having services when they are needed, students should register no later than the end of the add/drop deadline of each term.

Texts: Programming 2D Games by Kelly,

       CRC Press, 2012 (required)

       3D Game Programming All in One CD by Finney,

       Cengage, 2012 (required)

       Advanced 3D Game Programming All in One CD by Finney,

       Cengage, 2005 (recommended)

       Introduction to Game Development by Rabin,

       Charles River Media, 2005 (recommended)

URL:   http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/CIS/course.des/cis487.html

Week of	Topic	Reading
09-04	Video Game Evaluation Criteria	Notes,R1.1-R1.3
09-09	Game Design Principles Game Play and Story Telling	R2.1-R2.2 Notes
09-16	Design Documents and Intellectual Property Basics of Windows Programming	Notes K1-K2
09-23	Game Evaluation Project Presentations DirectX	K3-K4
09-30	Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites Introduction to 2D Graphics	K5 Notes
10-07	Physics and Collision Detection User Interface Design and Basic I/O	K6,R4.1-R4.3 K8-K10
10-14	Design Document Walk Throughs Use of Sound	K7,R5.5
10-21	Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing Level Design	Notes,R5.3-R5.4 Notes
10-28	Torque Basics TorqueScript and Programming	F1,Notes F2-F5,R3-R4
11-04	2D Game Project Fair Torque Animation	F13-F14
11-11	Torque Mission Objects Torque Scripting	F21-F24 Notes
11-18	Torque Special Effects Torque GUI and Game Interfaces	R5-R9 F10,F16-F20
11-25	Game Concept Presentations Torque AI	Notes
12-02	Team Organization Play Testing	R3.1 R3.5
12-09	Game Production and Marketing	R7.1-R7.6
12-16	3D Project Fair (6:30 - 9:30 pm)