CIS 587 Computer Game Design and Implementation
                        Spring 2000


Bruce R. Maxim, PhD                         Office: 120 ELB
Associate Professor                         Hours:  3:30-4:30
Phone:  436-9155                                    TTh & by appt.
e-mail: bmaxim@umich.edu


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)

       Developer's Guide to Computer Game Design by Lewinski,
       Wordware Publishing, 2000 (required)

       Internet Game Programming Using Java, by Morrison,
       Sams.net, 1996 (optional)

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


Week of               Topic                         Reading
        
 05-08     History of Computer Games                G1
           Video Game Evaluation Criteria           notes,D1
           Game Design Principles                   G1,D2-7
                                                     
 05-15     Game Evaluation Project Due 

           Interactive Fiction                      GCD,D4

 05-22     Using the Inform Engine                  notes
           Video Game Architecture                  notes,D15
           Basics of Windows Programming            G2-4
           DirectX                                  G5-6

 05-29     Memorial Day Holiday 

           Interactive Fiction Project Due

           Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites       G7
           Introduction to 2D Graphics              G8

 06-05     User Interface Design                    notes

           Physics and Collision Detection          G13
           Basic I/O                                G9
           Use of Sound                             G10
           Development Tools                        D7

 06-12     Game Design Document Due

           Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing   G12
           Artificial Life                          notes 
           Introduction to 3D Graphics              GCD
           Binary Space Partition Trees             notes

 06-19     Optimization Techniques                  G11
           Networks and Multi-Player Games          G11
           Marketing Issues                         D3,5
           Intellectual Property Issues             notes  

 06-26     Term Project Due

 06-27     Project Fair (3:00 - 7:00 pm)