Syllabus Spring 2015

DIGM 531: Advanced Game Design II

Spring Term 2014/2015

Meeting Time: Tuesdays 15:30 – 18:20, URBN Center 239/202/206

Instructor: Prof. Stefan Rank [stefan.rank (AT) drexel.edu]

Office Hours: by appointment

Course Description

This class is part of a two-course graduate-level sequence (with DIGM 530 Advanced Game Design I). The two courses cover game design principles and provide hands-on experience in team-based game design and development. The sequence leads up to investigating research issues in gaming, including modeling, animation, storytelling, programming, AI, marketing and user interface design for various markets, devices, and purposes.

The main purpose of this course is to prepare students with the necessary skills for designing and developing for complex games based on research into relevant topics and for using games for research. During the second course, in particular, student teams plan their area(s) of research and iteratively design and test their game prototypes to advance their understanding of identified research issues.

Learning Objectives

To develop your knowledge and skills of:

• • Game design principles

  • Iterative design & development skills

  • Game production skills

  • Team-based organization and communication skills

  • Research issues in gaming

Format

Classes will be a combination of presentations, class discussions, individual and group assignments, and lab. Class participation is an important part of your evaluation and grade. In addition, students will be required to work in teams outside of class, doing research online and in books and journals, and hands-on exposure to various video games.

Students will chose one or more research topics and orient their development towards those topics. Students will also investigate public submission of their project through either publication or display or contest.

In class presentations (see the grading system for criteria):

• For the team project: one work-flow and research pitch and three iterations of the prototype are presented in class.

• For individual research: groups of students present chosen book chapters, research papers, or other research material.

Each student is required to submit a reasoned critique of the members of their team every week.

Required Texts:

• • Tracy Fullerton (2008): Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to creating Innovative Games. Burlington, MA: Elsevier.

  • Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc, Robert Zubek (2005): MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research, Technical Report, Northwestern University.

Other required reading material may be provided by the instructor on a weekly basis.

Recommended:

• Links on Revision Control and Asset Management

Suggested Topics:

• • Level generation / procedural content generation, difficulty curves / (dynamic) progression, level editing support, adaptive aesthetics, aesthetics rooted in a certain culture or tradition, (support for) user-generated content, support for asymmetric gameplay, combination of multiple input devices, A-B testing procedures, questionnaire design for playtesting, automated testing support / continuous integration, auditive / visual feedback and user satisfaction, video analysis of games, in-depth analysis of genre influences, streaming of gameplay commentary, in-game support for gameplay videos, (novel) marketing channels, game-theory analysis of games, ...

Requirements and Grading Policy

• • Class Participation: Active and informed class participation is expected and mandatory.

  • All written correspondence related to class to the instructor **and** between team members must be archived (yes, even emails and instant messaging). The instructor may request submission of this material from individual students as part of the evaluation of their performance as a team member. Professional correspondence with team members and the instructor (in the role of an external game producer) is expected.

  • Late Policy: All readings and assignments are due **before** class. Assignments and projects submitted after the specified deadline will not be accepted. Excuses will not be accepted after the assignment is due. If you believe the assignment even might have to be turned in late, it is your responsibility to notify your instructor beforehand.

  • Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: For the benefit of those who may not have been told before, cheating or plagiarism are violations of both personal and academic integrity. Such violations are punishable with a failing grade on the work and may also result in a failing grade for the course and disciplinary actions on the part of the University. Copying text, artwork, models, or animations without credit, whether copyrighted or made freely available on the web, is considered plagiarism for the purposes of this class (as it is in industry) and is forbidden. One illegal asset can open an employer up to litigation. Having another student perform your tasks for you is considered cheating as well. Cheating and plagiarism are often done not due to sinister intentions, but because of laziness, fear, lack of preparation, overloaded schedule, or other reasons. If you are having a problem in class and are fearful that your grade may suffer, please talk to your instructor about it rather than attempting some shortcut. We are always eager to try to help and do not want to have to fail anyone.

  • Students are responsible for checking their **Drexel email account** daily for course announcements. If you have any question about an assignment, please email the instructor at least **24 hours** before the deadline.

  • Two unexcused absences will constitute a loss of 20% of the final grade. 3 absences, without a valid excuse will result in an F grade.

A student that demonstrates an eagerness to participate and shows some thought and preparation behind their comments, delivers clear and useful presentations, and contributes to successful pitch and prototypes of their team will have no trouble achieving an "A" grade for this course.

Grading System

• 70% - Term project

  • Will be graded based on its functionality, aesthetics, and originality, as well as its relation to the chosen research topics. Weekly group member critiques by email will further inform the grading.

  • Work-flow and Research Pitch: 10%

  • Prototype Iteration #1: 20%

  • Prototype Iteration #2: 20%

  • Prototype Iteration #3: 20%

• 20% - Group presentation on individual research (15-20 minutes)

  • Clarity of content: 10%

  • In-depth analysis of your game and 1-2 other games using the material: 10%

• 10% - Class participation

  • Attendance and participation in class discussions, reasoned group member critiques. Will be graded on how well you contribute your own ideas and thoughts and demonstrate that you keep up with the presented material.

A+: 100-97, A: 94-96, A-: 90-93, B+: 87-89, B: 84-86, B-: 80-83,

C+: 77-79, C: 74-76, C-: 70-73, D+: 67-69, D: 60-66, F: 0-59

Teams

• Volcano by Team Magma: Bushra, Chelsea, Joe M., Josh, Rich, Shihong, Valentina

• Morpheus by Team Echo: Anna, Cassie, Ethan, Felicia, Ning, Ryan, Teslim

• Matsya by Team Aqua: Erica, Joe B., Jonas, Jonathan, Martina, Rohan, Zheng

• Snail Mail by Team Rocket: Alex, Don, Joe J., Jonnathan, Kai-Lin, Kreg

Schedule (may be updated during the term)

Drexel University Code of Conduct

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, and Cheating Policy

http://drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp

Drexel University Student Handbook

http://drexel.edu/studentaffairs/community_standards/studentHandbook/

Students with Disability Statement

http://drexel.edu/ods/student_reg.html

Course Drop Policy

http://drexel.edu/provost/policies/course_drop.asp

Course Change Policy

The instructor reserves the right to change the course during the term at his or her discretion. These changes will be communicated to students via the syllabus, website announcement, or email.