1 Syllabus Stuff Course Materials Slides http: / / - PDF document

What Do You Think Goes Into Developing Games? IMGD 1001 - The Game � Consider a computer game you want to build (or, one you like that has been built) Development Process: � Assume you are inspired (or forced or paid) to Introduction engineer the game � Take 3-4 minutes to write a list of the tasks required � Chronological or hierarchical, as you wish � Include your name and name of game � (I’ll collect and read, but not grade) � What do we have? IMGD 1001 1 What to Expect Topics � This course is mainly about the process of � Background successfully bringing a game from idea to � Syllabus Stuff delivery � Motivation � Major "players" in the process � Steps in the development lifecycle � Steps in the development lifecycle � Fi � First Year Advice t Y Ad i � What makes a good (and bad!) game � Presupposed background � Not much! � Nice to have � Gaming experience in a few genres IMGD 1001 3 IMGD 1001 4 Instructor Background Student Background ( Who Am I ?) ( Who Are You ?) 1. Year (freshman, sophomore, … ) � Dr. Mark Claypool (Prof, “Mark") � Computer Science 2. Major (IMGD (Art or Tech), CS, HUA, … ) � Operating Systems, Distributed Computer Systems, Multimedia, Networks 3. Programming: (none) 1 to 5 (guru) � Director of the IMGD program � The Game Development Process p a) Java a) Java � Technical Game Development b) C+ + � Research interests c) Flash � Networks, Multimedia, Network games, Performance � Like to play 4. Gamer: (casual) 1 to 5 (hard-core) � RTS (Battle for Middle Earth, Fat Princess, … ) � Sports (FIFA, Madden, Strikers, … ) 5. Number of Games Built (zero is ok!) � FPS (Battlefield, Doom, … ) � Adventure (Uncharted 2, Indigo Prophecy, Fable II… ) 6. Other … IMGD 1001 5 IMGD 1001 6 1

Syllabus Stuff Course Materials � Slides http: / / www.cs.wpi.edu/ ~ imgd1001/ a10/ � On the Web (PDF) � Office hours: � Caution! Don’t rely upon the slides alone! � TBA (about 3-4 per week each) Use them as supplementary material � See Web page � (come to class!) ( ) � Email: � E il � Timeline � { bmoriarty, claypool, pgb, wangjia} at wpi.edu � Tentative planning � img1001-staff at cs.wpi.edu � imgd1001-all at cs.wpi.edu � Project writeups � GDC Forums � Resources � IMGD 1001 forum: http: / / forums.gdc.wpi.edu/ � Game creation toolkits, documentation, etc. � For discussions, announcements … IMGD 1001 7 IMGD 1001 8 Text Books Course Structure � Main text: � Prerequisites � Out-of-Class � The Game Development Process � None! � Reading � Written by lots of people, edited by Steve Rabin � Close to course material, required for this class � Neither Programming � Projects � 1000 pages! But good reference nor Art � Supplemental texts: � Grading � Game Architecture and Design - A New Edition � In-Class � In Class � Exams (40% ) � Exams (40% ) � by Andrew Rollings and Dave Morris � by Andrew Rollings and Dave Morris � Heavily used for design � Lecture � Projects (60% ) � On Game Design � By Ernest Adams � Discussion � Some solid game design material � Exercises � Designing Arcade Computer Game Graphics � by Ari Feldman � Exams � Creating 2D art for games � Creating the Art of the Game � by Matthew Omernick � Creating 3D art for games � Maybe some other articles (i.e. Gamasutra) as needed … (More on Exams and Projects, next) IMGD 1001 9 IMGD 1001 10 Exams Projects (1 of 2) � About 5 projects � 2 exams � 1 st is to form a group � 40% of grade � 2 nd has three parts, tutorials with some "add ons" � After that are original, made from "scratch" � Non-cumulative � 60% of your grade � Closed-note � Cl d t � Except for 2 nd project, done in groups (3 per group) � Closed-paper � Apply concepts taught in class � Related to Game Development � Closed-friend � Build upon each other � Should have working game at end! � Add this to your portfolio � 10% penalty on late projects IMGD 1001 11 IMGD 1001 12 2

Projects (2 of 2) Publish Your Game! � Project 3: Game Inception and Design � Work with WorldWinner � Inspiration of a game, design and documentation � Teagames � Project 4: Content Creation � Physics-based Flash games � Create 2-d animated sprites (or other art) and select � Trending to extreme sports g supporting content supporting content � “Real” site! � Project 4: Game Logic � Implement game objects and game rules � 1.5 million visitors/ month, 8 mins avg. � Project 5: Level Design � Publisher/ client will help guide design � Put above components together in compelling game � If successful, goes on site! � Project presentation � Credits for your team, of course � Try to get external advisors IMGD 1001 13 IMGD 1001 14 Course Topics Why This Class? � Game Industry � IMGD requirements (Core Course, see http: / / imgd.wpi.edu) � Introduction � Structure � Team � Major actors IMGD Core � Timeline � Trends Technical Artistic HUA Area Area Technical � Game Design � Size and Shape Requirement Requirement � The Creative Process � Engineering � Engineering IMGD IMGD � Design Documentation � Design Documentation Advanced Advanced Advanced Advanced Social � Game Architectures � Artistic Content Creation IQP Science � Color and Displays � Programming � 2D and 3D Electives � Production, etc. � Graphics MQP MQP � Animation � Release � Introduction to steps of Game Development � Audio � Postmortem � Help decide on Technical/ Artistic Area � Music � Sound Effects � Fun! (" passion for games" ) IMGD 1001 15 IMGD 1001 16 First Year Advice – your “Job” First Year Advice – the Syllabus � High school is different than college! � Read syllabus for each class � Key to performing successfully! � Go to class! � Think of your classes as your full-time job � Some key things to note: � First-year grades pave way to grades in � Grading policy g g g subsequent years � Attendance policy � Professor/ TA name, location and office hours � Make a study schedule early � Learning outcomes and course expectations � WPI expects 3-4 hours study for each hour of � Deadlines for course requirements class (i.e. 17 hours per class, so ~ 54 hours) � Maybe a time management calendar � http: / / www.collegeboard.com/ student/ plan/ college-success/ 118.html IMGD 1001 17 IMGD 1001 18 3

First Year Advice – ask Questions First Year Advice – get Involved � Help is there, but you must ask � Involvement in campus orgs/ events is an important part of your education! � Office hours � Find out what is going on campus � Discussion forums � http: / / www.wpi.edu/ Admin/ SAO/ Orgs/ p / / p / / / g / � Peers � P � Balance this with your classes � Tutoring � IMGD Seminars – Thursday at 11am � Online help (with food!) � Especially important in later classes � Student run Game Development Club (GDC) IMGD 1001 19 IMGD 1001 20 First Year Advice – Resources Homework � Academic advising � Reading: � Rabin, Chapter 7.2 and 7.3 � Counseling center � IMGD Lab (FL222) � http: / / www.wpi.edu/ Admin/ SDCC/ � ID on lock � Professors Upper-classfolks � Professors, Upper classfolks � Login � Tutoring services � Proj1 � Specific for major/ class (i.e. ACM and GDC) � Form a group � Career development center � So, get to know some fellow class mates! � http: / / www.wpi.edu/ Admin/ CDC/ � Proj 2 IMGD 1001 21 IMGD 1001 22 4