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Game Design and Architecture
Fall 2006

Wednesdays, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Instructors:  Dr. Ursula Wolz (Computer Science and Interactive Multimedia), Dr. Teresa Nakra (Music). 

Rooms:  Lecture/discussion in HH 128, Lab in HH 123 (Intel/Windows) and HH 374 (Mac OS X).

Office Hours:  by appointment via email wolz@tcnj.edu, nakra@tcnj.edu Dr. Nakra will also hold an “open lab” tentatively scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in HH 105.  Dr. Wolz will hold an open lab session on Tuesday afternoons from 11:00 – 2:30 PM, also in HH 105 (Mentored Research meetings will also occur during this time period.)

Course Goals:  To provide a multi-disciplinary introduction to video game design and implementation.  Students will customize a broad set of learning goals to their own needs, ranging from the purely artistic to the purely technical.  Lecture and workshops will provide a full range of exposure to game development including game engine design, story telling, interactivity, networking for MUDDS, 3-D pipeline for games, sound, music and dialog.  Students will also address issues of gender and racial equity in the games industry as well as social, ethical and health concerns.

Textbooks and Resources:  We will draw extensively from Web-based resources that will be posted on SOCS.  Required reading:

Chris Crawford on Game Design, Chris, Crawford, New RIders, 2003, ISBN 0-13-146099-4

Programming A Multiplayer FPS in DirectX,  Vaughan Young, Charles River Media, 2005, ISBN 1-58450-363-7

Storytelling through Animation, Mike Wellens, Charles River Media, 2006, ISBN 1-58450-394-7

Recommended if it becomes available:

Mapping and Modding Half-Life 2 Complete, Tim Holt, Paraglyph Press, August 2006 (est.), ISBN: 1-933097-13-2

Class Structure:

8:30 - 10:00:  Topic lecture/discussion (full group)

10:15 - 11:45: Workshop on computing and/or design (varies btw full group & split group as needed)

12:00 - 12:30: Wrap up, task assignment review (full group)

Collaborative Project Development (via the workshops):

• Completion of at least the “second level” of the game UFONJ (developed by last years’ classes)
• A “toy” game engine (implementing the code in the Young book above)
• A story bible for a new game, including time line for production in the spring course with sample assets including 3-D models, rough levels with AI triggers, sample music and dialog.
• Develop two special seminars on “Social and Ethical Concerns for Video Games”

Individual Assignments:

1.     By Sept. 13^th 2006, students will be expected to submit a personal set of deliverables to complete the collaborative projects, depending on their areas of interest and expertise.  Drafts should be reviewed with Drs. Nakra or Wolz prior to the deadline.   Presentation of deliverables will occur during the final exam slot during finals week. (Completion of deliverables with negotiated modifications as the semester progresses, 50% of final grade)

2.     Everyone is expected to do weekly reading assignments and complete reflective journals (dropped in a SOCS box.)  (10% of final grade – to receive an “A” in the course you must simply complete these on time).

3.     Workshop assignments will be posted on a regular basis, and students will be expected to complete half of those posted. Approximately 1/3 will be highly technical, 1/3 highly artistic, and 1/3 mixing tech with art.  These will support learning that contributes to completion of deliverables (20% of final grade)

4.     Everyone is expected to complete a take-home final exam consisting of a set of reflective essays. It will be distributed on the last day of class and due at the final exam session.(20% of final grade)