CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation
Fall 2014
Bruce R. Maxim, PhD Associate Professor Office: 233 CIS Phone: 436-9155 E-mail: bmaxim@umich.edu |
Classroom: 1420 PEC Meeting Time: 6:00-8:45 W Office Hours: 2:30-4:30 WTh |
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 to 6 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: Introduction to Game Design, Programming, and Development by Gibson,
Addison-Wesley, 2014 (required)
Game Design Workshop by Fullerton,
CRC Press, 2014 (required)
Programming 2D Games by Kelly,
CRC Press, 2012 (recommended)
URL: http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/CIS/course.des/cis487.html
Week of |
Topic
|
Reading |
09-03 |
Video Game Evaluation Criteria
|
Notes,G1-G8 |
09-10
|
Game Design Principles
Game Play and Story Telling |
F1-F3,G11
F4-F5 |
09-17
|
Design Documents and Intellectual Property
Prototyping |
F6-F8,G12,G13
F6-F8,G9 |
09-24
|
Game Evaluation Project Presentations
Basics of Windows Programming |
K1-K2 |
10-01 |
DirectX
Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites |
K3-K4
K5, Notes |
10-08 |
Physics and Collision Detection
User Interface Design and Basic I/O |
K6
K8-K10 |
10-15 |
Design Document Walk Throughs
Use of Sound |
K7 |
10-22 |
Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing
Unity Basics |
Notes
G15, G16 |
10-29 |
MonoDevelop and Programming
Unity Debugger and Classes |
G17-G23
G24-G27 |
11-05 |
2D Game Project Fair
|
|
11-12
|
Prototypes 1 and 2
Play Testing |
G28-G29
F9-F11,G10 |
11-19
|
Prototypes 3 to 8
Unity Level Design |
G30-G335
Notes |
11-26
|
Game Concept Presentations
|
|
12-03 |
Team Organization
Game Production and Marketing |
F12-F14
F15-F16,G14 |
12-17
|
3D Project Fair (6:30 - 9:30 pm)
|
|