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This is an individual project. You must create a single level (no AI necessary) for a 2D Role Playing Game. The level should take about 3 minutes to complete. You will be provided with a 2D game engine.
Pick from the following.
Quest generation: In this project, you will develop a system that dynamically generates quests. The quests must be based on some form of player model in order to demonstrate that the quests are customized to the player. You must demonstrate that different quests are generated when the player model is different.
Level/world Generation: In this project, you will develop a system that dynamically generates the game level and/or game world (e.g., terrain). The level/world must be based on some form on non-random information, such as preferences, quest structure. You must demonstrate that different levels/worlds can be generated when the information changes.
Encounter Generation: In this project, you must generate monsters/enemies/NPCs. The qualities of the monsters/enemies/NPCs should be based on computation of dynamic difficulty adjustment. You must demonstrate that the encounters are easier or harder based on difficulty level.
Item/Weapon Generation: In this project, generate weapons and/or items that can be found and used. The qualities of the items/weapons must not be random, but based on a model of player preference or dynamic difficulty adjustment. You must demonstrate that the items are different when the model or difficulty is different.
Music Generation: In this project, generate a continuous soundtrack. The music that plays must respond to the context of what is happening in the world. You must demonstrate that the music is not being selected, but being generated and that it changes when the context of game play changes. Music generation should only be chosen by those with music composition background and MIDI.
Create your own project: You may propose a project with approval from the instructor.
At the beginning of each project cycle, teams will be required to give a 2-3 minute project pitch describing the project they will be undertaking and their prelimiary plan for solving the problem. No slides. Presentation should include the goal, why they chose that, roughly the technique. This is not graded -- it is meant only to inform the instructor of the class of your intention and to solicit constructive feedback from the class. You are not beholden to the design, but if you make radical changes, you should inform the instructor. If you make radical changes, you may be asked to re-present your design. Each pitch will be followed by a short period for Q/A.
At the conclusion of a project cycle, teams will present their design and demo your system live in front of the class. The presentation should include what you were doing, how you did it, and show it working. Your primary objective is to convince the class that what you did is actually a good idea and actually works. Any solution must demonstrably show that it is not random and content generated is based on something dynamic (what happens in the game, difficulty adaptation, player model, etc.). The presentation will not be graded, but the project solution itself will be graded at this time.
Each team will be paired with a critique team (see below).
Critique teams are assigned to critique the project demos of other teams and generate a one page document. The 2 page document should:
It is important to note that the purpose of this writing assignment is to provide positive and constructive criticism. The critique document will not be shown to the other team.
Paper presentations are to be 15 minutes in length. The purpose is of the presentation is not to cover the details of the paper, but to lay out the relevant points at a high level of detail, going into low level detail only when necessary to make a point.
Consider the following questions for your presentation:
It is good have an opinion and to share it.
Two or three papers will be presented at a time. During class, all presenters will go back to back. After all presentations are done, discussion of all papers will be held. The presenters will form an unofficial "experts panel" to help with the discussion. Therefore, I recommend preparing questions for the class -- that will look good for your grade.
Synopses should not critique the presentation of papers, but should summarize the most salient discussion points (those that generate the most discussion or greatest differences in opinions). The synopsis should present a conclusion of some sort and BACK IT UP in some meaningful way. Examples include:
The grade will reflect the degree to which it captures the salient aspects of the discussion during that day's class and the thoughtfulness of the conclusion and the means to which you justify the conclusion.