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)