CIS 487/587 Computer Game Design and Implementation

Fall 2007

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)

The Game Programmer’s Guide to Torque by Maurina, Peters,

2006 (required)

Game Architecture and Design by Rollings and Morris,

New Riders, 2003 (recommended)

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
09-05	Video Game Evaluation Criteria	L1,R1.1-1.3
09-10	Game Design Principles Game Play	RM1-RM4,R2.1-2.2 RM3-RM8
09-17	Design Documents and Intellectual Property Basics of Windows Programming	RMAppA L2-L4
09-24	Game Evaluation Project Presentations DirectX	L5-L6
10-01	Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites Introduction to 2D Graphics	L7 L8
10-08	Physics and Collision Detection User Interface Design	L13,R4.1-4.3 Notes,R6.1
10-15	Basic I/O Use of Sound	L9 L10,R5.5
10-22	Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing Level Design	L12,R5.3-5.4 RM2,RM4
10-29	2D Game Presentations Torque Basics	M1-3
11-05	TorqueScript and Programming Torque Animation	M4-M6 M7
11-12	Torque Mission Objects Torque Scripting	M8 M9-10
11-19	Game Concept Presentations Torque Special Effects Thanksgiving Vacation	M11
11-26	Torque GUI and Game Interfaces Torque AI	M12-13 Notes
12-03	Team Organization Play Testing	RM9-RM15,R3.1 RM13,RM22,R3.5
12-10	Game Production and Marketing	Notes,R7.1-7.6
12-17	Term Project Fair (3:30 - 6:30 pm)