Class Agenda, CSC 47001, IMM 37001, August 30, 2006

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM: HH 128 Overview of Course and Games: (Wolz and Nakra)

Course syllabus & assignments review

Overview of the Microsoft Games project

Tools for the course (Maya, XSI, Source SDK,DirectX/Visual Studio

What roles are required for game development

Review of homework for the week

Game evolution, what is a game?

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM:  BREAK

10:15 AM – 11:45 AM: HH 123 Your favorite games on the internet

In pairs find a game on the internet you really like (first 30 minutes)

Present your game to the group (second 30 minutes)

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM:  HH 123 Wrap up discussion

Homework:

Note well:  “reading” means getting the basic ideas, not learning every detail.  Art, media students should not be intimidated by the code in Young – ignore it if you choose to.  Computing students should not be intimated by the expectations for creative writing or artwork expected in Wellins.  Read in order to complete the reflective journals and to be prepared for lectures.  You will also discover that the readings are helpful for the long range assignments, and that you will return to particular readings for a more thorough understanding of some topics.  Note too that reading will be heavy at the onset of the semester and taper off completely by mid-semester.

Please note that if you are unable to get the books before next week, that Dr. Wolz’s copies will be available to borrow from Ms. Atchison in CS office (2^nd floor Holman Hall) for one day only, one at a time, from Thursday afternoon, August 31 to Wednesday, September 6. Please be considerate and only borrow them for a time period you can devote to the reading. The drop box should be available as of Thursday, 8/31.

            For 9/6:  Crawford, chapters 1 & 2.  Wellins, chapters 1 & 2. Young, chapter 1.
            For 9/13: Crawford, chapter 2, Young chapters 2 & 3.

Drop box journaling for due on September 6^th 8:30 AM.  Approximately 1 paragraph per question please:

1.     All three books discuss the notion of “design.”  Briefly contrast how each author defines design.

2.     Given Crawford’s definition of game genre explain what your favorite genre is and why.

3.     Wellins lays out a map of what storytelling is about.  Comment on how you think this applies to video games.

4.     In class we discussed roles for game development.  Declare two roles that you would be interested in taking on and explain why.