CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation

Fall 2006

 

 

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)

 

       Game Architecture and Design by Rollings and Morris,

       New Riders, 2003 (required)

 

       Introduction to Game Development by Rabin,

       Charles River Media, 2005 (recommended)

 

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

 

 

Week of

Topic

 

Reading

09-06

History of Computer Games

 

L1,R1.1

09-11

 

Interactive Fiction

 

Using the Inform Engine

L14,LCD

 

Notes

 

09-18

 

Video Game Evaluation Criteria

 

Game Design Principles

 

L1,R1.2-1.3

 

RM1-RM4,R2.1-2.2

 

09-25

 

Game Play

 

Level Design

 

RM3-RM8

 

RM2,RM4

10-02

Game Evaluation Project Presentations

 

Team Organization

 

 

 

RM9-RM15,R3.1

10-09

 

Game Architecture and Implementation

 

Design Documents and Intellectual Property

RM16-RM24,R3.6

 

RMAppA

 

10-16

 

Interactive Fiction Project Presentations

 

Basics of Windows Programming

 

 

 

L2-L4

 

10-23

DirectX

 

Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites

 

L5-L6

 

L7

 

10-30

 

Introduction to 2D Graphics

 

Physics and Collision Detection

 

L8

 

L13,R4.1-4.3

11-06

 

User Interface Design

Notes,R6.1

11-13

 

Basic I/O

 

Game Concept Document Presentations

 

L9

 

 

11-20

 

Use of Sound

 

Development Tools

 

Thanksgiving Vacation

L10,R5.5

 

RM14,RM15,R3.2-3.5

 

 

 

11-27

 

Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing

 

L12,R5.3-5.4

 

12-04

Play Testing

 

Game Production and Marketing

 

RM13,RM22,R3.5

 

Notes,R7.1-7.6

12-11

 

Optimization Techniques and Multi-Player Games

 

L11,R3.4,R3.7,R5.6

 

12-20

 

Term Project Fair (3:30 - 6:30 pm)