CSCI4455: Game Design & programming 2014

Meets: Friday from 6:10PM – 8:40PM in Tompkins Hall room 411
Blackboard: http://blackboard.gwu.edu/
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None

Instructor: Hao Sun

[email protected]
http://mason.gmu.edu/~hsun2/
Office: Tompkins Hall room 411
Office hours: Friday from 5PM – 6PM

Description:

Game design, in various electronic entertainment technologies, involves a diverse set of skills and backgrounds from narrative and art to computer programming. This course surveys the technical aspects of the field, with an emphasis on programming.

We will be using Javascript and Phaser for programming assignments.

Textbook: none required

Topics:

Principles of Game Design
Game Structure
Prototyping
Playtesting
Balancing
Teams
Development

Grading:

There will be mid-term and final exams (40%) and assignments and presentations (60%).
Late policy: Each student will be granted 3 grace days that can be used with programming assignments. The smallest unit that can be used is one day.

Course Outcomes:

An ability to employ a variety of data structures in a game development and design context.
An ability to identify the issues involved in the core mechanics and design of a game and how to solve them with appropriate techniques.
An ability to design and implement simple games from the ground up.