Playing Together:Establishing an Interdisciplinary,
Interinstitutional Gaming InitiativeMike Reese
Assistant Director, CER
Joan FreedmanDirector, DMC
Today’s Game Plan
Lab
Course Project
Gaming Industry Mentors
Digital Media Center
Computer Science
Center for Ed Resources
Sheridan LibrariesOutside Funders
Big Huge Games/ Firaxis
Lecture
Students
Cast of Characters
Peter FröhlichCS Lecturer
Mike ReeseCenter for Educational Resources
Joan FreedmanDigital Media Center
Sue VazakasResearch Services Librarian
Why play?
Credit: http://www.moserware.com/2009/02/rebooting-computing-why.html
Gaming Lab
• 2 custom workstations with NVIDIA cards• Mac and PC w/ DMC standard apps• Surround sound system• Assorted controllers and other toys
Game Lounge
• PS2 and 3 consoles, arcade game table, controlled sound system, wii fit station
Challenges
Pre-course Design Conversations • Structure of Game Project• Format of Labs• Schedule of topics• Balancing Student Teams• R&D: NMC, local schools, industry
Structure of Course
• Lecture (3 X 1hr)• Lab (DMC) (11/4 hrs/week)• Industry Mentors• Students from many disciplines and
schools (JHU, MICA)
Student Assessments
• Biography/Introduction • Blog entries • Game reviews• Course project – make a game• Alpha, Beta, Gold presentations• Optional
– Mentor feedback– Lab attendance– pARTy demo
Course Project Assignment
Game must be/include• Fun• A game• Levels• Graphics• Sound
Lecture Overview
• Hodge Podge of topics– Archetypal Games– Programming 101 (Pygames)– Introductory Graphic design– History of Gaming– Working in the Industry
• Alpha, Beta, Gold Presentations
Lab sections
• Ten teams of four– 2 programmers, 2 artists– Handpicked/Skills Survey
• Lab sections met 1x a week• Mon or Wed, noon – 1:15 pm• Grouped by team when possible• MICA students all together
Lab Objectives
• Expose programmers to media making techniques
• Expose artists to new tools• Introduce new workspace and tools
– Staff– Hardware and software– Work and play spaces
Lab 1: Design and planning
• Deconstruct Super Mario• Recreate planning docs• Treatment, storyboard, timeline, • Character development• Level design map
Lab 2:Game rules and play
• Group makes game with physical props
• Writes rules and explanation
• Another group plays game
• Gives feedback
Labs 3, 5, 11: characters, animation and cut scenes
• Rotoscoping in Photoshop • Animation concepts in Flash• Titles in After Effects• Basic editing in Final Cut
Labs 4 and 10:Sound effects and score
• Listen to sounds in Triplets of Bellville• Discuss how sound enhances visual • Hands on experience w/ Soundtrack Pro
Labs 6 and 7: 3D modeling
• Demo 3D S Max
• Character creation (low polygon)
• 3D set building with textures and rendering
Instructions and packaging
• Examine packaging and instructions
• Design and layout with InDesign
• Write and test instructions
http://www.vimeo.com/5295315
Want to see some of the games?
Evaluation Activities
• Course evaluations• Online surveys• Focus groups• Mentor surveys
Student Feedback
Students Likes• “We got to make games – that was cool!”• “Our mentor was amazing!”• “Humbling what CS can do.” / “Artist are
amazing!”• “We played games - valuable research! And
no, I'm not just saying that, it was. :)”
Student Feedback
Lecture– Finalize syllabus – Assign more homework (really!)– Allow for specialization (offer two courses)“People didn’t learn enough to master anything, rather
just enough to make one a Jack of all trades. ”
Student Feedback
Course Project• “We need more deadlines for project.”• “We did not understand it [grading] – it
seemed totally random.”• Stipulate development framework• “We learned more from each other than the
teachers.”• “There was a lot of disconnect, a language
barrier [b/w artist and programmers].”
Student Feedback
Lab• Focus on labs more than lecture• Lengthen lab meetings• Include more hands-on activities• Allow for team meetings• Use open curriculum
Future Plans
• Sustainability - Tuition dollars• Lab Changes• Post course Recruiting Session• Partnership with other schools
Discussion
Is a gaming program a legitimate curriculum to support in higher education?
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