This is a course I am teaching winter term at Oregon State University through the New Media Communications Program. This page will serve as a sort of catchall location of information for the course.
When & Where: Winter 2009, Monday, 6:00-10:00 PM, Education Hall 126
Instructor: Tim Holt (tim.m.holt@gmail.com)
Virtual Office Hours: Any time you can find me online via email (tim.m.holt@gmail.com), MSN (tim_m_holt@hotmail.com) or Google Chat
Description
The class will be a mixture of lecture, exercises and independent game development. The goal of the class is to give students a good overview of game design and development along with practical hands-on experience creating games. All work will be done using the game FarCry.
The exact topics to be covered will change depending on student background and as the course evolves during the term, but here are some of the topics that (probably) be covered…
- What is a game, and what is game development?
- Game development approaches
- Modding
- Game designer tools
- Flash and other “lightweight” tools
- Commercial game engines
- Open source game engines
- Do it yourself or roll your own game engine
- Roles, team work and synergy of skills in game development
- Development and design principles
- Single versus Multiplayer design and development considerations
- Game system architecture
- Stopping cheating, hacking and other undesirable (?) behaviors
- Managing persistent versus transient game experiences
- Understanding system requirements and why they are important
- The importance of usability
- Level design
- Creating good game flow by balancing pain and pleasure, frustration and boredom
- Good design and development practices
- Creating a design
- Know your audience
- Know your own skills and available resources
- Know your business model
- Putting together a design document
- Prototyping games
- Iterative design
- Playtesting
- When to release
- Creating a design
- Evaluating and examining games, or “How to play a game like a designer”
Reading Material
The class has no specific textbook, but there may be some occasional online reading assigned during the term. Below are some online references and further reading that may prove useful or interesting.
FarCry
- Modding portal - an online community and resource portal for FarCry editing and modding. Lots of information here that might help you out, including an online forum where people post questions (and hopefully answers). You’ll also find some mods for FarCry as well as new models and other assets, including scripts.
- CryEngine Sandbox User Manual - An extensive manual for using the FarCry Sandbox game editor. You will need to reference this frequently while working on your in-class projects so keep this link handy. It’s very long (180 pages or so) so printing it out may be an issue.
Generally Interesting Blogs and Sites
- Raph Koster’s blog - A generally interesting collection of game news and thoughts from a vetran game designer and developer.
- Brenda Brathwaight’s Applied Game Design blog - An excellent collection of thoughts and essays from a well respected game designer.
- Lost Garden - More thoughts and essays on game development. The blogger also hosts occasional game design challenges.
- Psychochild’s blog - Another designer who hosts game design challenges.
- Gamasutra - The art and business of making games. Essays, articles, and game industry news. The post mortem articles are well worth reading, as you get to hear how different game projects went (or didn’t).
- Notes On Game Dev -Another collection of interesting essays, and dare I say… notes on game development :^)
- MapCore - An online forum where lots of level designers, game artists and other types hang out.
Communications
In addition to in-class announcements, additional information will be posted at this website…
Student’s Work
The following activities will be performed by the students taking this course…
Participation and Attendance
Attendance is required! Not all classes will run the entire 4 hours, but students are expected to attend all classes and do all projects.
Game Development Prototyping Projects
Approximately 5 smaller game prototyping projects will be completed during the term. Depending on the number of students and previous skills or backgrounds, the nature of the projects may change. If the class size is smaller, then projects will be worked on individually, but if the class size is large enough students may be grouped together to work on projects.
All projects will be developed as FarCry mods, and each will require completion of a short design document plus new game content or features as part of a mod.
Topics for these projects will include…
- Developing a basic game level
- Implementing a player goal, NPCs and other dynamic game elements
- Changing the look of the game
- Modifying and creating new textures and materials
- Adding new 3D models
- Creating and adding sounds to your level
- Basic game behavior modification via scripting
- Creating new types of gameplay via scripting
Grading will be based on completion, quality and clarity of design document and the game itself. As time allows, the projects will be reviewed and critiqued in class by the teacher as well as the other students. Each project will be 15% of the total class grade.
Game Development Final Project
A final project will also be required, which will involve creating a Far Cry mod that incorporates elements of the previous prototyping projects. This will require completion of a complete design document as well as the game. 2 to 3 weeks will be allowed for completion of the final project.
Grading will be based on completion, quality and clarity of design document and the game itself. The final project will be reviewed and critiqued in class by the teacher as well as the other students. The final project will be 25% of the total class grade.
Grading
Grading will be based on attendance, prototyping projects and the final project. The prototyping projects will be 15% each, and the final project 25%. One missed attendance will get your dirty looks, two will get your grade dropped a level, and three will get it dropped two. Of course this class will be so much fun you’ll always want to come! :^)