COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II
New York City College of Technology The City University of New York
Department of Communication Design
COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II Course Description
This course is designed to apply game design theory (MDA), learned in the previous course, to the development of interactive video games. Students will explore basic programming concepts, scripting techniques, and drag ‘n drop configurable scripting to create game dynamics. Students will use a simple 2D game engine, such as Game Maker, to design and develop video games. Students will publish video games in mobile and web formats such as: iOS, Android and HTML5.
2 cl hr, 2 lab hrs, 3 cr Prerequisites
COMD 3508 or COMD 3540 Course Objectives
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES ASSESSMENT WEEKS APPLIED
For the successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
Evaluation methods and criteria
Describe basic principles of
programming and scripting such as: functions, variables, loops, logic, arrays, conditions and procedures.
Students will demonstrate understanding through laboratory exercises and a graded written exam.
2 - 7
Apply scripting principles and GUI based tools to create user interaction features in video games.
Students will demonstrate understanding through laboratory exercises and projects.
1 – 7, 9 – 10, 13 – 15
Apply MDA: Mechanics, Dynamics &
COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II video games such as a Maze,
Platformer, and Shooter games.
creation of written "pitch", design documents and projects.
Create paper prototypes to specify game dynamics and mechanics.
Students will demonstrate understanding through creation of paper prototypes.
8, 12
Evaluate effectiveness of game design concepts through observation of user interaction with prototypes of game concepts.
Students will demonstrate understanding through conducting user testing and writing reports on findings.
8, 12
Design and develop graphics for 2D games.
Students will demonstrate understanding through creation of digital graphic assets to design specification.
8, 9, 12, 13
Incorporate graphics into a 2D digital
game engine such as Game Maker Students will demonstrate understanding through creation of functional video games.
1 – 7, 9 – 10, 13 - 15
Design and develop a game concept
through published media file. Students will demonstrate understanding through creation of functional video games.
8 – 15
Publish a video game to an executable file or web page, such as HTML5 format.
Students will demonstrate understanding through creation of functional video games.
10, 14
General Education Outcomes
General Education Outcome covered: How the outcome is covered:
Listening: The student will demonstrate the ability to discern pertinent information from irrelevant information.
Students will be able to create assignments and projects from oral instruction.
COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II
relevant industry-‐specific language student work, through critiques. The student will demonstrate the ability to
evaluate strengths and relevance of arguments on a particular issue.
Students will be able to evaluate the success of their own work, and other student work, through critiques. The student will demonstrate the ability to
determine whether certain conclusions or consequences are supported by the information provided.
Students will be able to evaluate the success of their own work, and other student work, through critiques. The student will demonstrate the ability to
work in teams, including people from a variety of backgrounds, and build consensus.
Students work on a team based design project.
Teaching/Learning Methods ● Lectures
● Discussion and Readings ● Critiques
● Software Tutorials ● Project-based Labs Required Resources
GameMaker tutorials and community resources (or other comparable 2D engine): http://www.yoyogames.com/
The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, ISBN: 978-0-12-369496-6 Course References
International Game Developer’s Association: Curriculum Framework - version 3.2 beta - February 2008.
Steve Rabin. (2010.) Introduction to Game Development, 2nd edition. Course Technology Cengage Learning
Eric Zimmerman, Tracy Fullerton, Frank Lantz, Robin Hulke, Jenova Chen. (2009.) Ten Speakers. Ten Talks. Game Developer’s Conference.
Tracy Fullerton. (2008.) Game Design Workshop. A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. Morgan Kaufmann.
COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II http://www.gamecareerguide.com
http://www.gamasutra.com
http://www.gamedev.net/reference
Attendance (College) and Lateness (Department) Policies: A class roster roll will be taken at the beginning of each class. Only two absences may be allowed. After two absences, a student may be withdrawn because of unsatisfactory attendance (code WU). Students arriving after the roll is taken will be marked “late.” Students may be notified at the earliest opportunity in class after they have been absent or late. After being absent two times or equivalent (2 lateness = 1 absence), a student may be asked to withdraw from the class (code W before the College drop deadline) or may be withdrawn from the class (code WU).
Academic Integrity Standards: Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. Grading ● Completed Tutorials: 30% ● Lab Exercises 20% ● Project #1: 25% ● Project #2: 25% Topics
WEEK Lecture Topic Laboratory Exercise Homework Assignment 1 Introduction to 2D Game
Engine Interface:
Demonstrations of the user interface for a game engine such as Game Maker
Create a simple digital game through demonstrations and written instructions. Using tutorial instructions provided by the professor, create a maze game. 2 Basic Programming Principles:
Discuss the components of
Explore the concepts of programming and
Complete the Maze game.
COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II simple programming and
scripting such as: functions, variables, loops, logic, arrays, conditions and procedures.
Use a GUI interface to learn how to work with characters: moving, scoring, lives and special features. scripting while creating a Maze game. 3 Basic Programming Principles:
Discuss the components of simple programming and scripting such as: functions, variables, loops, logic, arrays, conditions and procedures.
Work with levels and timelines to create layered game play. Explore the concepts of programming and scripting while creating a Scrolling Shooter game. Using tutorial instructions provided by the professor, create a Scrolling Shooter game. 4 Basic Programming Principles:
Discuss the components of simple programming and scripting such as: functions, variables, loops, logic, arrays, conditions and procedures.
Work with levels and timelines to create layered game play. Explore the concepts of programming and scripting while creating a Scrolling Shooter game. Complete the Scrolling Shooter game. 5 Basic Programming Principles:
Discuss the components of simple programming and scripting such as: functions, variables, loops, logic, arrays, conditions and
Explore the concepts of programming and scripting while creating a Platformer game. Using tutorial instructions provided by the professor, create a Platformer game.
COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II procedures.
6 Basic Programming Principles:
Discuss the components of simple programming and scripting such as: functions, variables, loops, logic, arrays, conditions and procedures. Explore the concepts of programming and scripting while creating a Platformer game. Using tutorial instructions provided by the professor, create a Platformer game. 7 Basic Programming Principles:
Publish games to external executables.
Review creating a pitch document.
Publish your game in a format like HTML 5. Exam on Basic Programming Principles. Project #1: Design a Maze Game for a mobile device. Generate a pitch document for a Maze game. 8 Project #1: Design a Maze
Game
Design and develop a Maze game with original concept and graphics. Create a paper prototype of your game concept. Conduct user testing. Create a written report on user testing and how it influenced changes in your design concept. Create graphics for your game.
9 Project #1: Design a Maze Game
Design and develop a Maze game with original concept and graphics.
Develop your
Maze game. Continue to develop your Maze game.
10 Project #1: Design a Maze Game
Design and develop a Maze game with original concept and graphics.
Develop your Maze game.
Publish your Maze game to a mobile format such as iOS or Android.
11 Project #1: Design a Maze Game
Play test and Critique final Maze
Project #2: Design a Scrolling Shooter
COMD COMD 3708 – Game Design Concepts II Design and develop a Maze
game with original concept and graphics.
games. Game for the web.
Generate a pitch document. 12 Project #2: Design a
Scrolling Shooter Game Design and develop a
Scrolling Shooter game with original concept and
graphics. Create a paper prototype of your game concept. Conduct user testing. Create a written report on user testing and how it influenced changes in your design concept. Create graphics for your game.
13 Project #2: Design a Scrolling Shooter Game Design and develop a
Scrolling Shooter game with original concept and
graphics. Develop your Scrolling Shooter game. Continue to develop your Scrolling Shooter game. 14 Project #2: Design a Scrolling Shooter Game Design and develop a
Scrolling Shooter game with original concept and
graphics. Develop your Scrolling Shooter game. Publish your Scrolling Shooter game for the web in a format such as HTML 5.
15 Project #2: Design a Scrolling Shooter Game Design and develop a
Scrolling Shooter game with original concept and
graphics.
Play test and Critique Scrolling Shooter games.
