CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation

Fall 2003

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

Classroom: 1195 SOM Meeting Time: 4:30-6:00 MW Office Hours: 1:30-4:00 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)

Software Engineering and Computer Games by Rucker,

Addison-Wesley, 2003 (required)

Game Design: Theory and Practice by Rouse,

Wordware Publishing, 2001 (recommended)

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

Week of	Topic	Reading
09-08	History of Computer Games Interactive Fiction	L1,SE15-SE19 L14,LCD,R10-R12
09-15	Using the Inform Engine Video Game Evaluation Criteria	Notes L1,R1-R2
09-22	Game Design Principles Game Play	R3-R5,SE1 R7,R13
09-29	Game Evaluation Project Due Design Documents	R15,R17,SE2-SE5
10-06	Video Game Architecture Basics of Windows Programming	R6 L2-L4,SE20,SE23
10-13	Interactive Fiction Project Due DirectX	L5-L6
10-20	Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites Introduction to 2D Graphics	L7,SE6,SE8-SE9,SE31 L8,SE24-SE25
10-27	Physics and Collision Detection	L13,SE7,SE11-SE13
11-03	User Interface Design	Notes,SE27
11-10	Basic I/O Use of Sound	L9,SE28 L10,SE30
11-17	Game Concept Presentations Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing	L12,R9
11-24	Development Tools Level Design Thanksgiving Vacation	R19 R21
12-01	Play Testing 3D Graphics	R23,SE21 LCD,SE15,SE24
12-08	Optimization Techniques and Multi-Player Games Marketing Issues Intellectual Property Issues	L11 Notes Notes
12-19	Term Project Fair (3:00 - 7:00 pm)