Richard Gesick’s

 

Game Design and Development

Policies and Overview

Texts:

 Big Java, 2nd Edition, Cay Horstmann, Wiley, 2006 $89.95

 TBA

 

Classroom expectations:

1.  Be on time to class ( in your seat before the bell rings).

2.  Do your work as assigned.

3.  Absolutely no food or drinks, of any kind, are allowed in the computer lab.

4.  Each student is responsible for making-up/turning in any work missed due to

     absences.

 

Game Experience Reflections: You will be expected to seriously play a variety of games and write about them.   Game experience reflections will be due on the average of every three weeks.  Each paper should describe three different games.  All games must be rated Teen or below.  The use of games rated MA are not allowed.  Some assignments will require the analysis of specific games.  Late assignments will be accepted but will incur a late penalty of 10 points per day except for excused absences.

 

Tests:  Tests will be given on Mondays or Thursdays.  Missed tests must be made up.  A grade of 0 will be recorded until it is made up.  Arrange for make-up test with me.

 

Programs and the computer lab: Programming assignments will be issued far enough in advance to allow for sufficient computer time to complete the project.  Generally, 2-3 class days of each week will be allotted for computer time.  You are also encouraged to use the computer lab during WEB but only under my supervision. 

 

Late programs will be recorded as having a grade of zero until they are turned in.  Once they are turned in, the late penalty of 5 points per day will be applied to the grade.

 

Final project: (spring) Create a significant computer game. The project will be graded on technical merits, creativity, fun and use of art. You can do the project individually or in teams of 2 students.

 

Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of the semester.

 

Grading:                    Fall                  Spring

            Programs         40%                 25%

  Tests                30%                 30%

            Game Exp.       15%                 15%

            Final Project     n/a                   15%

            Final Exam       15%                 15%

 

 

 Course Overview

 Unit 1 weeks 1 - 6

 Students learn: sort algorithms (merge sort, quick sort), game definitions and genres

 Program assignments include: Animate merge sort, write an interpreter program for graphical commands. Create interactive fiction game (text based – (zork))

Additional assignments:  Reflections games 1-6, Test 1

Unit 2: weeks 7 – 12

Students learn: linked lists and typography of games

Program assignments include: Linked list reversal with an iterator,  lexicographically sorted linked list reading from a file, create a maze game (pacman)

Additional assignments:   Reflections games 7-12, Test 2

Unit 3: weeks 13-17

Students learn: stacks, queues, game bricks and socket programming

Program assignments include: Implement a stack using an arraylist, platform game (Mario, donkey kong), a socket based game

Additional assignments:  Reflections games 13-18, Test 3

Unit 4: weeks 18 Final exam

Spring semester:

Unit 5: weeks 19-25

Students learn: sets and maps, graphics and sound, intellectual property

Program assignments include: Store/access information in a hash map, design a class IntSet, with functions to add, remove, print, union and intersection, store/access information in a hash set, create a shooter game

Additional assignments:  Reflections games 19-24 ,Test 1  

Unit 6: weeks 26-30

Students learn: binary search trees, AI in games

Program assignments include: Create a binary search tree, read data from file, implement a min heap, create a puzzle game( nim, scrabble, hangman, jumble, camouflage)

Additional assignments:  Reflections games 25-30Test 2

Unit 7: weeks 31-35

Program assignment: Final project – substantial computer game, must be completely functional and documented, may be a 1 or 2 person development teams

Unit 8:  week 36    Final exam