Faculty Syllabus

Class Outline/Course Calendar:

• Week 1:
  • Lecture: Introduction to course – Instructor; Syllabus; Equipment; Supplies; Textbooks;
  • Lecture: Functional Design Specification Create
    • Assignment 1: Write a functional specification for a Monopoly game  Outline all interface screens, art and sound assets necessary and create a flowchart of gameplay.  Also include all UI interactions and a plan for getting the game done within a semester.
    • Assigned Reading (reference): Fullerton: Ch 14
    • Assignment 2: Write a proposal for a game for DC3 using the GPP (Game Product Proposal) assignment.
• Week 2:
  • Continue to work on Functional Specification
• Week 3:
  • Due: Final pass of Functional Specification, GPP
• Week 4:
  • Lecture: Unity Engine – beginning steps (setting up a map level, getting around the interface, looking at an existing coded game, help resources, directory structure)
    • Assignment: Build PC-compatible version of Monopoly
  • Lecture: Object Orientation, Adding Comments, Strings, Dialogs, Interface for entering script, UI implementation - Front End, Exiting the Game
• Week 5:
  • Lecture: Tying dialogs together, Events, Buttons, Variables (including types of variables)
  • Lecture: Variables, Relationships, Player Concept and creation, Sound and Movies, Entities, Debugging
• Week 6 [On or about first week of October]:
  • Lecture: Random Dice Roll, Property Object, Position, String Values in interface, aliasing tables, event variables, working with data.
• Week 7:
  • Lecture: Laying out a User Interface (UI).  Fonts, Switch Statements, Additional Dialogs and Tying them Together, Rent/Buy choice
  • Due: Front End Works
• Week 8:
  • Lecture: 3D Static Assets, Camera
• Week 9:
  • Lecture: Pop-up Window, if/then/else
• Week 10:
  • Lecture: Event Object Array, Dynamic Art Assets, Move an object, animation, adding dice
• Week 11:
  • Lab
• Week 12:
  • Lecture: Switch Players, State Machines to make a smoother move
  • Due: HUD Works
• Week 13:
  • Lab
• Week 14:
  • Lab
• Week 15:
  • Lab
• Week 16:
  • Due: Final Presentation (1 complete gameplay turn)
  • Wrap-up

Please note that schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Google Classroom.

Texts, Instructional Materials and Resources

         Recommended Text(s): Game Design Workshop, Second Edition: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games by Tracy Fullerton, Christopher Swain, and Steven Hoffman, ISBN: 0240809742

         Instructional Resources:Microsoft Office: includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint; Microsoft Visio: flowcharting program; Microsoft Project: Scheduling software; Unity 5.1.2:Game Development Environment

Supplies

Pencil or Pen, 3-ring notebook with paper and pockets (in which to keep notes, exercises, projects and information sheets), 4 - 8 GB removable drive (USB or otherwise).

Lectures:

Creating a Game Design Document

Intro to Game Engine (map levels, interface, resources, directory structure, reviewing existing codes)

Object Orientation, Strings, Dialogs, Interface for scripting.

Variables, Relationships, Player Concept and creation.

Sound Movies, Entities, Debugging

Property Object, Position, tables, data

UI Fonts, Switch STatements

3D Static Assets, Camera

Pop-up Window, if/then/else

 Event Object Array, Dynamic Art Assets, Move an object, animation, adding dice

Switch Players, State Machines to make a smoother move

Student Learning Outcomes

        Course Student Learning Outcomes

Construct objects in a digital 3-D environment; utilize a game engine to create an interactive production level environment.

            Discipline/Program Student Learning Outcomes

            1. Identify and demonstrate the fundamental skills and concepts in game design and development.

            2. Define, design and produce game assets for a game project.

            3. Efficiently complete game projects within deadlines.

            4.   Develop a game proposal for a game project.