CIS140 Game Design

FALL 2010

Monday and Wednesday 3:00pm-5:00pm Room 8-1F

Syllabus: 

INSTRUCTOR:  Jeff Gullion
OFFICE:  8-02-B
PHONE:  515-964-6367
EMAIL: jhgullion@dmacc.edu
INSTRUCTOR WEBSITE:  http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/jhgullion/

TEXT:  None

REQUIRED SOFTWARE: To Be Determined

PREREQUISITES:    Expected good computer skills and some experience with gaming

OBJECTIVES:

The student will learn about the basic elements of game design and an overview of the tools and technologies in use in the gaming industry. We will also reserach and discuss the skills necessary to work in this field. We'll use a variety of tools and technologies to design, code, test and play computer games of various types.

I. ATTENDANCE:

This class assumes that the student will attend. Since there is not book for this course the majority of information will be delievered in the classroom. Printed material will not always be available for handouts so the student is responsible for locating notes from other students.

II. PROJECTS:

  • There will be 5-8 assigned projects throughout the course.
  • Each project will be given a DUE DATE when assigned.
  • Each project will be worth 50 points.
  • Assignments turned in after the due date without prior discussion with the instructor will be reduced by 20%
  • Students are encouraged to assist each with projects but are expected to do their own work. Joint projects and any work copied from another person will not be tolerated and will be given a ZERO score.

III. QUIZZES:

  • There could be 1-4 quizzes worth 25 points each
  • Quiz/Exam dates will be announced in class.
  • NO MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE INSTRUCTOR.

IV: FINAL PROJECT

  • There will be a final project worth 200 points
  • The final project will be presented to the class on the regurarly scheduled Final Exam date

V: COURSE GRADE:

The Final Course grade will be determined by combining your totals points. The grading scale is as follows: 90% AND ABOVE = A, 80% to 89% = B, 70% to 79%= C, 60% to 69 = D, 59% AND BELOW = F.   Pluses and minuses will be used at the instructor's discretion.

VI. CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM

Engaging in any form of cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, test, quiz or project will result in a ZERO grade for that particular assignment. These acts are considered academic misconduct by the college and various disciplinary actions may be taken.

VII.     This syllabus is tentative and the instructor reserves the right to make changes during the course of the semester.

VIII.   SPECIAL NEEDS

It is the policy of DMACC to accommodate students with 
disabilities. Any student with a documented disability who requires 
reasonable accommodation should contact the Special Needs 
Coordinator at (515) 964-6850 voice or (515) 964-6810 tty. 

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CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Week

Date

Topic Assignments and Due Dates
1

Aug 30

Sept 1

Introduction to Games

Evolution of Games and Genres

Research Project 1 - Top 10 Game Companies in World

Research Project 2 - Top 10 Game Companies in US

3

Sept 6

Sept 8

Holiday! - Labor Day No classes!

The Game Industry

 

Project - WAR!

Research Projects 1 & 2 DUE!

4

Sept 13

 

Sept 15

Elements of a Game

Research Project 3 - Game Industry Jobs

Project - WAR DUE!

Game Lab - Game Demonstration

5

Sept 20

 

Sept 22

Employment In the Gaming Industry

Research Project 3 DUE!

Research Project 4 - Job skills for the Game Industry

Research Project 4 DUE!

6

Sept 27

Sept 29

Game Structure Components  
7

Oct 4

Oct 6

Gameplay Concepts  
8

Oct 11

Oct 13

Gameplay Concepts  
9

Oct 18

Oct 20

Core Mechanics  
10

Oct 25

Oct 27

Game World / Storytelling and Narrative

Runequest User Interface Project
11

Nov 1

Nov 3

Character Definition and Development Project-1 Zombie FPS DUE!
12

Nov 8

Nov 10

Game Development Cycle  
13

Nov 15

Nov 17

Game Design Document  
14

Nov 22

Nov 24

Lab Project - Game  
15

Nov 29

Dec 1

Lab Project - Game  
 

Dec 6

Dec 8

Lab Project - Game  
Final

Monday
Dec 13
3:30- 5:30pm

Final Project Presentations  

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LINKS:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/5.0/docs/api/    Java/Sun provided list of all Classes for version 5.

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/        Java/Sun  provided list of all Classes and Methods.  Detail information and summary level!

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