CSCE590E - Computer Game Design and Implementation -- Spring 2007

Instructor:	Jijun Tang
Phone:	777-8923	Email:	jtang at cse.sc.edu
Office:	SWGN 3A50	Class location:	SWGN 2A21
Office Hours:	MW 2:30pm-3:50pm (or by appointment)	Meeting times:	MW 4:000pm-5:15pm
TA:	Joachim Stahl	TA Office Hours:

Third Homework due Feb 26th

Check detail

Material for Feb 28th

for 02/28

Flash game pictures

cock roach kitchen train

Mine Game Downloads

Whole package

Announcement:

Small program will be due before Spring break.

First design presentation will be before Spring break.

A forum is set up for our class, click here to check.

Class notes

Jan 16th. Jan 22nd. Jan 24th Jan 29th Feb 05th Feb 07th Feb 12th Feb 19th Feb 26th Mar 19th Mar 21st Mar 26th Mar 28th April 2nd April 4th April 9th April 11th April 23rd

Text Books

Required: Introduction to Game Development, Edited by Steve Rabin, Charles River Media, ISBN 1584503777

Languages, Game Engines, Others

We will use MS .Net 2005 (you can obtain a copy from the college), the language of choice is C++. There are two engines we will use: DXFramework (2D/3D) and Sage (3D). You need to use other software. For 2D graph, you need to use photoshop (if you have one) or paintshop or gimp. For 3D modeling, 3D Canvas pro ($65 for full version) and Gmax (free) are all good candidates.

Course Description

In this course we will study technologies involved in the creation of computer games. The course will emphasize hands-on development of games. Students are required to work as a group to design and implement a computer game, using public available game engines (DXFramework, for example). A showcase open to the whole department will be organized at the end of the semester.

Course Objectives

On the completion of this course, students will be able to:

Understand the general procedure and requirements of game design
Become familiar with the popular game tools like DirectX, 3DMax, Photoshop, Poser, etc. More importantly, they will learn how to search useful informations and tutorials through Internet and other sources.
Design a complex software package, write good and detailed documentation, and give technical presentations.
item Work as a group with several people, and gain first-hand experience about handling projects in the industry.

Topics Covered

We will cover the following topics in the class:

Game history and game reviews
Game design principles, processes and game architecture
C#, Direct X, and the DXFramework Package
2D/3D graphics, animation, Maya, Poser
Artificial Intelligence, physics, collision detection
Story-based Game Design, Text-based adventure, First person shooter games, Role-playing games, Strategy games, Sports games, Multiplayer games, online games
Art in games, music and sound effects, game aesthetics
Documentations, testing and publishing

Prerequisites

C or better in CSCE240, 245 and 350.

Grading

There will be two projects in the semester: during the first half, you will design and implement a simple windows-based game such as mine sweeper, chess play, tank war, etc; at the end of the semester, you need to finish a more complex project starting from design to testing. The design of the final project will be started earlier in the semester, and each group (of four people) will give at least two presentations.

Grade is given based on: 15% for the first project, 10% for each presentation, 30% for the final project, 30% for homework, and 5% for attendance.

Graduate students are expected to contribute more. Each group will have at least one graduate student to be pointed as group leader.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory and I will randomly give 5 quizzes, missing any quiz will lower your final score by one point.

Projects

There will be two projects: one small project to implement a game from scratch (first half semester), one group project to implement a complex game to use some engines. Homework will be based on the text book, which may also include small projects such as design and implementing a flash game.

Account

Each one student will get a new CSE account if he/she doesn't have one yet. This account enables you to use some CSE machines to code and debug.

Reading and Lectures

Students are expected to read all assigned materials before the lecture begins. There will be no slides for you to download. However, I will upload some other materials to the web if necessary. The two exams are based on the books, class notes and materials taught in the class.

Deadlines

All due dates are strictly enforced.

Academic Honesty

Projects and examination work are expected to be the sole effort of the student submitting the work (of course, exclude the group project). Students are expected to follow the Code of Student Academic Responsibility found in the Carolina Community and should expect that every instance of a suspected violation will be reported. Students found guilty of violations of the Code will be subject to academic penalities under the Code in addition to whatever disciplinary sanctions are applied.

There seems to be a widespread misunderstanding of the concept of "your own work." In addition to the USC Code, some good sources of text for what is or is not acceptable behavior are the academic honesty policy statement from Harvey Mudd College, the policy statement from Professor Steven Huss-Lederman at Beloit College, and the text of part of the collaboration policy statement from MIT.

A sample first-offense admission can be found at admission.

Proper Use of Computing Resources

Students are expected to be aware of the university policy on use of computing resources, including the Student Guidelines for Responsible Computing, as well as the college and departmental policies on proper use of computing resources. Every instance of a suspected violation will be reported. Students should be aware that neither the instructor nor the department are responsible for making alternative arrangements should improper use leading to revocation of access to departmental or college resources make it impossible for you to complete the programming assignments on time.

On the nature of academic work

Students might also find relevant an essay from a professor at Georgia Tech.