CS 4455
Video Game Design and Programming

Spring 2000
College of Computing Building 102 
Time: MWF 1:00

Description
This course will provide an introduction to current and future techniques for electronic game design and programming. Topics will include graphics game engines, motion generation, behavioral control for autonomous characters, interaction structure, and social and interface issues of multi-user play.

Instructors
Dr. Chris Shaw
cdshaw@cc.gatech.edu
369 Centennial Research Building
894-6328
Office Hours: Send email to schedule an appointment, I will schedule a weekly time in the College of Computing Study Area .
 
Teaching Assistant
Roberto Peon
 fenix@cc.gatech.edu
See CoWeb pages for any more info.
 
CoWeb:
Games Class CoWeb
I will set up a "CoWeb" using technology developed by Mark Guzdial. There will be lots of useful information about games there, including:

General Information

There are four optional texts for the class:

You can buy these from Amazon Books. The Georgia Tech Bookstore does not yet have copies.

The textbooks will be supplemented by handouts in class, pointers to web pages, and articles on both electronic and regular reserve.

We have a games library that you can check games out for 48 hours at a time from Joan Morton in the GVU office which is on the second floor of the CoC. We're lucky to have so many good games, so take some time and check some out! See "Games Library" below for more info!http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2000/cs4455_spring/gamelist99.htm

Syllabus

Schedule
 

Week of  Mon  Wed  Fri
Jan 3rd no class  no class 
  • Introduction and overview of course 

Assignment 1 (Game co-tutorial) out.
Jan 10th
  • How to write a game proposal 
  • Talk on how to give a talk 
  • Lecture2.ppt 
 Computer Graphics Review

Lecture3.ppt

 Computer Graphics Review

Lecture4.ppt
Jan 17th Martin Luther King Day Computer Graphics Review

Lecture5.ppt

Code Examples:

Human-Computer Interaction Review
  •  
  • Model Human Processor 
  • MHP Cycle times, decay times 

Assignment 1 due
Jan 24th Human-Computer Interaction Review (PPT)
  •  
  • Operation principles 
  • Skills, models 
 Reading:

Assignment 2 (Hack Quake1) out

 No Class
Jan 31st We will begin discussing people's game ideas in class.  Reading: 
  • "Enjoyment and the Quality of Life," chapter 3 of Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly. New York: Harper Perennial, 1991. (On electronic reserve.) 
  • Flow (PPT)
  • C2000 Lecture 10
    •

    Game Proposal out

    		 User-Centered Design
    Feb 7th Reading:  User Interface Controls for Games 

    Assignment 2 due

    		 Animation

    Educational Cell Bio Game
    Feb 14th Animation Animation Proposal Due

    In-class presentations of design proposals 

    Proposal Critique Out
    Feb 21st In-class presentations of design proposals Critique Due

    Interim Report 1 Out

    Feb 28th Dr. Andrew Glassner Guest Lecture -- Story Structure Interim Report 1 Due
    Mar 6th Spring Break!!
    Mar 13th Interim Report 2 Out
    Mar 20th
    Mar 27th No Class
    Apr 3rd Interim Report 2 Due
    Apr 10th Audio (PPT) Software Testing + Playtesting
    Apr 17th Design for Boys and Girls 

    Reading: 

    		  Final Presentation
    Apr 24th   Last Assignment (play testing and final paper) due.  

    Assignments and Grading

    1. Game Co-Tutorial (10%)
    2. Hack Quake 1 (5%)
    3. Game proposal (10%)
    4. Critique of another group's game proposal (10%)
    5. Progress report 1 on your game (5%)
    6. Progress report 2 on your game (5%)
    7. Game demo (35%)
    8. Presentation of game in class (5%)
    9. Paper about your game development, and playtesting (10%)

    The remaining 5% of your grade is for class participation. Contributions to the collaborative website count towards your participation grade.

    Games Library

    We will maintain a lending library of games that can be checked out from Joan Morton in the GVU office between 8-5pm M-F. Students will be asked to show an ID when checking out a game and may keep a game for up to 48 hours (unless demand gets too high). The games library will include PC games, Mac games, Nintendo 64 cartridges, and Playstation CD's. We will install a Nintendo 64 and a Sony Playstation in the undergraduate lounge area on the first floor of CoC. PC games that run under NT can be used in the cluster on the first floor. Mac games and PC games that run only under Windows '95 will have to be run outside CoC on home computers, unfortunately.

    Other Game Programming Courses