CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation
Fall 2008
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: 3:30-4:30 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.
Texts: Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus by LaMothe,
Sams, 2002 (required)
The Game Programmer’s Guide to Torque by Maurina, Peters,
2006 (required)
Game Design and Development by Adams and Rollings,
New Riders, 2003 (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 |
09-03 |
Video Game Evaluation Criteria
|
L1,R1.1-1.3 |
09-08
|
Game Design Principles
Game Play and Story Telling |
AR1-AR5,R2.1-2.2
AR9-11, AR6-7 |
09-15
|
Design Documents and Intellectual Property
Basics of Windows Programming |
Notes
L2-L4 |
09-22
|
Game Evaluation Project Presentations
DirectX |
L5-L6 |
09-29 |
Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites
Introduction to 2D Graphics |
L7
L8 |
10-06 |
Physics and Collision Detection
User Interface Design |
L13,R4.1-4.3
Notes,AR8 |
10-13 |
Basic I/O
Use of Sound |
L9
L10,R5.5 |
10-20 |
Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing
Level Design |
L12,R5.3-5.4
AR12 |
10-27 |
2D Game Project Fair
Torque Basics |
M1-3 |
11-03 |
TorqueScript and Programming
Torque Animation |
M4-M6
M7 |
11-10
|
Torque Mission Objects
Torque Scripting |
M8
M9-10 |
11-17
|
Torque Special Effects
Game Concept Presentations |
M11 |
11-24
|
Torque GUI and Game Interfaces
Torque AI
Thanksgiving Vacation |
M12-13
Notes |
12-01 |
Team Organization
Play Testing |
R3.1
R3.5 |
12-08
|
Game Production and Marketing
|
R7.1-7.6
|
12-15
|
3D Project Fair (3:30 - 6:30 pm)
|
|