CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation

Fall 2002

Bruce R. Maxim, PhD Associate Professor Office: 120 ELB Phone: 436-9155 E-mail: bmaxim@umich.edu

Classroom: 198 ELB Meeting Time: 4:30-6:00 MW Office Hours: 12:30 & 3:30 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, 1999 (required)

Game Design: Theory and Practice by Rouse,

Wordware Publishing, 2001 (required)

URL: http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/CIS/course.des/cis587.html

Week of	Topic	Reading
09-02	History of Computer Games	L1
09-09	Interactive Fiction Using the Inform Engine	LCD,R10-R12 Notes
09-16	Video Game Evaluation Criteria Game Design Principles	R1-R2 R3-R5
09-23	Game Play Game Evaluation Project Due	R7,R13
09-30	Design Documents Video Game Architecture Basics of Windows Programming	R15,R17 R6 L2-L4
10-07	DirectX Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites	L5-L6 L7
10-14	Interactive Fiction Project Due Introduction to 2D Graphics	L8
10-21	Physics and Collision Detection	L13
10-28	User Interface Design	Notes
11-04	Basic I/O Use of Sound	L9 L10
11-11	Game Concept Presentations Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing	L12,R9
11-18	Development Tools Level Design	R19 R21
11-25	Play Testing 3D Graphics Thanksgiving Vacation	R23 LCD
12-02	Optimization Techniques Networks and Multi-Player Games	L11 L11
12-09	Marketing Issues Intellectual Property Issues	D3,D5 Notes
12-17	Term Project Fair (3:00 - 7:00 pm)