Interactive Multimedia Games Development COM631

Interactive Multimedia Games Development

COM631

Module Overview

Times and Locations

Lecture/practical

Tuesday 09.15 – 11.05 Room MG229 (L)

Tuesday 12 – 15.05 Room MG122 (P)

Contact Details

Michael Callaghan

MS132

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 02871 675771

Online Resources

Details of Module specification, learning

outcomes, marking schemes and other

resources can be found online here

Module handouthttp://www.scis.ulster.ac.uk/~michael/COM631/Documents/Module_handout/Module_handout_COM631_2013.doc

Module specificationhttp://cis.ulster.ac.uk/administrator/files/modulespecs/com631.pdf

Module aims To provide students with an appreciation for

advanced techniques and approaches used in the game design and development process

To provide students with an appreciation of the technical and research challenges facing game designers

To provide students with the skills and expertise necessary to create high quality interactive games

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate their expertise in creating high quality content for use in computer games

Critically evaluate and select appropriate approaches and techniques to design and implement interactive multimedia games

Demonstrate their ability to create game prototypes, Demonstrate a detailed understanding of industry

standard game authoring tools, platforms, techniques and scripting languages

Main Topics

Game design/planning/implementation process Unity Metrics and analytics

Historical context

Mobile/pad sales

Low barrier to entry

New interactions modes

Peripherals

Rise of the indies

Rise of free to play and metrics

Rise of free to play and metrics

http://thinkgaming.com/app-sales-data/1/clash-of-clans/

Game metrics

http://www.scis.ulster.ac.uk/~michael/COM631/Spreadsheet/DubitVirtuaWoldModel_v1.3.xls

Lost in the crowd

God of War

Call of Duty

Assassins Creed

FIFA 2013

Orderly release with big budgets

Schedule (Provisional)

Assignment weighing & submission deadlines

100% Coursework

Submission Deadlines

Assignment 1 08/10/13 (Week 3)



Assignments Overview

Three individual assignments with a progressive

common theme (Game design)

Awareness, assess and critically evaluate Propose Plan and design Implement

Assignment 1 Overview

Assignment 1: Pitch and present an innovative

game

Total available marks 15

Individual assignment

Assignment 1

Due 08/10/13 (Week 3)

Assignment 1

Create a short pitch document/presentation for an innovative game you are going to create that you feel would be successful in the Dare competition

Ensure that your game idea could be implemented within the constraints of the module duration

Structure of the document is closely based on the application form for Dare to be Digital

Pitch document generated should follow the format given. Word limits will be strictly adhered to!

Assignment 1

Game should be tailored for mobile platform e.g. iPad, Android pad/iPhone/windows 8

Must employ platform appropriate game mechanics and control systems

Mechanics need to be innovative but simple! E.g. multitouch, flick, orientation, tap Should consider the use of metrics and analytics Should consider business model e.g. free to play

and the in-world economy

Pitch Format

Pitch document should be comprised of the following;

Concise game description (maximum 100 words) Description of core game play (maximum 100 words) Discussion of market potential of title (maximum 100 words) Discussion of target audience (maximum 100 words) Description of innovation and creativity (maximum 100 words) Consideration of in-world economy and monetization (maximum 100

words) Discussion of which technology you are using and why? (maximum 100

words) Short work plan clearly showing how you could design a level for your

game in the next 9 weeks. (Gantt chart!)

100 Word Games Pitch

There’ll be no trick or treating this Halloween!

Slyghoul the Hungry has risen and hasn’t fed for a hundred years.

He traps the children of Yew-tree Orphanage and grows stronger from their

fears. Only three children escape his grasp, but for how long?

Bound by need and circumstance; Lofty, Missey, and Rabbit must uncover their

inner strengths to escape. Light, Sound and Friendship are their only weapons

to defeat Slyghoul and his minions.

Time is running out, the light is fading, help them face their fears and save the

others...

Or be trapped forever by the Creeping Dark!

Assignment 1 Output

Report and class presentation. Report format Size: Must comply with the Dare to be Digital

application form format and must be within the stated word limit!

Font: Times New Roman Font size:12 Spacing: Single line Style:Technical/Formal

Assignment 1 Output

Submission Guidelines for presentation

Powerpoint presentation of appropriate length.

Submission Details

Assignments should be submitted on day of presentation

Assignment 1 Deliverables

Hard copy of report and PowerPoint presentation slides

CDROM containing digital copy of report and presentation slides

Presentation to class in week 3 10 minutes presentation 5 minutes questions

Assignment 1 Presentations

All students must attend all presentations!

Assignment 1 Mark Allocation

Assignment 1 Warning! Assignment 1 is 700 words and a project plan It is worth 15% of the module mark! The submission should be well researched and thought out Clear evidence of understanding of your games unique selling

points and of similar games out there Clear rationale for using the technology Project plan must reflect nuances of the game you are going to

develop

This is a project plan!

http://www.scis.ulster.ac.uk/~michael/COM631/Documents/projectplanning/project%20plan%20microsoft%20project%20file.mpp


Assignment 2: Creation of an abbreviated game

design document (Preproduction)



Assignment 2

Due 29/10/13 (Week 6)

Example document here

Assignment 2 (Preproduction)

Create an abbreviated game design document for the game level/app you will create in Unity for Assignment 3

Structure is based on template/examples supplied Report generated should follow the format given as

closely as possible, example document here Be realistic on time constraints You must pitch your game to the class in a formal

presentation

Assignment 2 Guidelines

The document should follow the game design documentstructure provided and also include accompanying support material

Description of level theme/game/app Level/app design concept development material (including

rough sketches/photographs) Level layout design diagram (Level blueprint) and game

board (as appropriate) Consideration of in-world economy Model of game/in-world economy App store description

Assignment 2 Output

Report, supporting material and class presentation

Submission Guidelines for report As required following format/template given

Submission Guidelines for presentation Powerpoint presentation of appropriate length

Submission Details Assignments should be submitted on day of presentation

Assignment 2 Deliverables

Hard copy of game design document Copy of game model in Excel CDROM containing digital copy of all

report/presentation and supporting material Presentation/pitch to class in week 6

Level blueprint & game board

Level blueprint and game board from Level Design for Games, Phil Co

App store description

Game modeling

http://www.scis.ulster.ac.uk/~michael/com631/Models/CircuitWarzStage1.xlsm

Game modeling

http://www.scis.ulster.ac.uk/~michael/com631/Models/Gina.xlsm


Assignment 3: Create a game/app in Unity



Assignment 3

Due 10/12/13 (Week 12)

Assignment 3 (Implementation) Design a game level/app in Unity Level/app based on the game design document in assignment 3 Must be related to and complement your games pitch Can reuse content/models available online or within Unity

provided they adequately referenced. Assignment includes a presentation where the student will detail

to the class each stage in development and implementation process and present their final work

Assignment 3 Output

Source material, Unity level, screen capture video with voice over and

annotations, walkthrough giving overview of level, construction process and

game play, class presentation

Submission Details Assignments should be submitted on day of presentation

Deliverables (submitted on CD-ROM/DVD) A walkthrough level in Unity with voice annotation Source code and support material (E.g. Textures, 3DS Max models etc) Copy of class PowerPoint presentation

Resources

http://www.design3.com/

Resources

http://walkerboystudio.com/html/unity_training___free__.html http://www.3dbuzz.com/

Recommended Reading

Unity 4.x Game AI Programming

By: Aung Sithu Kyaw; Thet Naing Swe; Clifford Peters

Publisher: Packt Publishing

Pub. Date: July 23, 2013

Print ISBN-13: 978-1-84969-340-0

Getting Started with Unity

By: Patrick Felicia;

Publisher: Packt Publishing

Pub. Date: August 26, 2013

Print ISBN-13: 978-1-84969-584-8

Recommended Reading

Beginning 3D Game Development with Unity 4: All-in-One, Multi-

Platform Game Development, Second Edition

By: Sue Blackman

Publisher: Apress

Pub. Date: August 28, 2013

Print ISBN-10: 1-4302-4899-8

Print ISBN-13: 978-1-4302-4899-6

Unity Game Development Essentials

Author: W Goldstone

Publisher: PACKT PUBLISHING (13 Oct 2009)

ISBN-10: 184719818X/ISBN-13: 978-1847198181

Recommended ReadingGame Development with Unity

Michelle Menard

Paperback: 480 pages

Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning;(18 Feb 2011)

ISBN-10: 1435456580

ISBN-13: 978-1435456587

Unity 3 Game Development Hotshot

Jate Wittayabundit


Publisher: PACKT PUBLISHING (26 Aug 2011)

Language English

ISBN-10: 1849691126

ISBN-13: 978-1849691123

Recommended Reading

Game Level Design

Author: Ed Byrne

Publisher: Charles River Media (Dec 2004)

ISBN-10: 1584503696, ISBN-13: 978-1584503699

Level Design for Games: Creating Compelling Game Experiences

Author: Phil Co

Publisher: New Riders (Feb 2006)

ISBN-10: 032137597, ISBN-13: 978-0321375971

Recommended Reading

Beginning Game Level Design

Author: John Feil

Publisher: Course Technology (18 Feb 2005)

ISBN-10: 1592004342, ISBN-13: 978-1592004348

Introduction to Game Development

Editor: Steve Rabin

Publisher: Charles River Media

ISBN-10: 1584503777, ISBN-13: 978-1584503774

Recommended Reading

3D Game Environments: Create Professional 3D Game Worlds

Luke Ahearn (Author)


Publisher: Focal Press; Pap/Dvdr edition (May 19, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0240808959

ISBN-13: 978-0240808956

Recommended sites Game Developer Magazine

http://www.developmag.com/ Ernest Adams

http://www.designersnotebook.com/ Game design magazines

http://www.gdmag.com/homepage.htm Dare to be Digital Team Blogs

http://www.daretobedigital.com/ 3D Buzz

http://www.3dbuzz.com Walker Unity tutorials

http://walkerboystudio.com/html/unity_training___free__.html

Questions?

Any questions?

Interactive Multimedia Games Development

COM631

Module Overview

Interactive Multimedia Games Development COM631

Documents

Transcript of Interactive Multimedia Games Development COM631