Course Prerequisite
GA3332 Interface Design for Games
Required Text
Game Development Essentials: An Introduction, by Jeannie Novak (Thomason / Delmar Learning) 2005, ISBN # 1-4018-6271-3. [Note, this is the same book used in Survey of the Game Industry and Gameplay & Game Design, so you should have a copy already.]
The primary methods of instruction are through lectures presented by the instructor; students can pose questions and answer them (with the possibility to earn an extra credit point at the instructor's discretion) at any time. Supporting the lectures is an ongoing Graded Course Project where the students form teams to create a fictional startup computer game developer and apply the lessons so that the can ultimately make a Project Pitch to an interested game publisher.
In addition, the students will be individually graded on a Game Review, a Letter of Recommendation that they must compose, and on a Peer Review of their contributions to their Team.
Specifically, students will earn points for both individual and team efforts as follows:
Individual efforts: three Exams, Peer Review, Game Review, Letter of Recommendation, and their three individual Graded Course Project Tasks (144 points total).
Team efforts: Company Identity (name, logo, motto, business cards, and letterhead), original Game Concepts, two Practice Pitches, and the Final Pitch Presentation (56 points total).
|
Company Identity [group] |
12 points |
|
Original Game Concept [group] |
6 points |
|
First Exam [individual] |
20 points |
|
Second Exam [individual] |
25 points |
|
Peer Reviews [individual] |
8 points |
| Practice Pitch 1: Progress [group] | 8 points |
| Third Exam [individual] | 25 points |
| Practice Pitch 2: Substance [group] | 10 points |
| Fourth Exam [individual] | 25 points |
| Final Individual Task "A" | 14 points |
| Final Individual Task "B" | 12 points |
| Final Individual Task "C" | 10 points |
| Final Letter of Recommendation [Individual] | 10 points |
| Final Pitch Presentation [group] | 20 points |
|
Total 1 |
200 points 2 |
1. Note that extra credit assignments are usually provided during the course and extra credit points might also be awarded for class participation. Students may voluntarily participate in extra credit assignments but are not required to do so. Points earned for extra credit are in addition to the above schedule.
2. A student’s final score, including extra credit, will be divided by two to get a percentage (100 scale) value. Grades based upon that result are as follows:
Grading Scale (percentage):
A = 4.0 100 to 92
A- = 3.7 91.9 to 90
B+ = 3.4 89.9 to 88
B = 3.0 87.9 to 82
B- = 2.7 81.9 to 80
C+ = 2.4 79.9 to 78
C = 2.0 77.9 to 72
C- = 1.7 71.9 to 70
D+ = 1.4 69.9 to 67
D = 1.0 66.9 to 60
F = 0.0 59.9 and below
* How your grade is computed, simply:
1. Add up all of the values of the optimum possible number of points that you
could have earned to date.
2. Divide the number in your Total * column on the far right side of
the table by the sum from step 1.
3. Multiply the result by 100 to obtain your Percentage Score.
4. Compare your Percentage Score with the Grading Scale above,
and that's where you currently stand.
For example, let's say that, to date, the optimal possible score would be 55. Your total score, including -1 point for a tardy and +1 point of extra credit, is currently only 38 out of that possible 55 points, so the math works out thus: (38 / 55) * 100 = 69.1 (when rounded up to the nearest tenth of a point). If you look up 69.1 on the above Grading Scale, you're only getting a D+. (However, you're very close to a C-, so just try a little harder!)
Learning the material in this
course involves hearing the lectures, participating in class discussions,
reading the "Required Reading" section on each week's web page, and completing the weekly homework assignments.
Negative points are scored for absenteeism. The penalty of -1 point
is assessed per tardy (with attendance taken twice per session) and -3 points
for a complete absence. The life lesson here being that "half of success is
just showing up."
You must turn in assignments at
the beginning of class. If you must miss a class meeting, please
contact me in advance to make alternative arrangements for submitting that
week’s homework.
Click here
to send me an email.
No late homework assignment
will be accepted after one week. All late homework assignments are
worth one less point for being late regardless of the reason.
If you miss an exam, attend the next class session 1/2 hour early. You will be given a special make-up exam at that time only. Any other special arrangements for making up exams or homework will be made entirely at the instructor’s discretion.
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First Exam |
Week 3 |
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Second Exam |
Week 5 |
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Third Exam |
Week 8 |
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Fourth Exam |
Week 10 |
|
Course Project Due |
Week 11 |
Below is a detailed, week-by-week look at the course, complete with hyperlinks to various materials in this web site. If you get lost during a given week of class, you can always find you way back by looking here. Note: the various lecture links provide the weekly Review Sheet notes for students; these are password protected files.
You will need Adobe Reader to view most of the lecture files. If you don't have have it, don't panic; it's a free download from Adobe. Just click on this button and download the proper version.
Week |
Lectures and Labs |
Homework & Graded Course Project Assignments |
|
Lecture: Evolution of Video Games (pinball, Spacewar, consoles, arcades, computer, and internet); Hit Driven, Marketing Driven, Technology Driven (industry flowchart, growth, risk aversion, management solutions, the nature of retail game sales); Think First, Then Do (A Successful Life’s Activity Process, some important things to think about) |
Explain Graded Course Project in detail (reference web site for complete written details); Fill out ‘Job Applications.’ Form Teams of 4 (to 6) members, explain jobs; Team Members can make trades Homework: teams consider their respective business identities; each member must bring 1) a 3 game Inception Docs that meet client’s needs, and 2) 3 business identities (name, logo & motto). |
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Lecture: The Business Context (the Project Triangle); Addressing the Business Equation (Vision = Resources); The Project Plan (PERT and Gantt charts, Top 10 Risks document); Estimating Task Times (knows and unknown, Task Boxing, S.W.A.G.) |
Due: 3 business identities for final decision meeting, and 3 Game Inception Docs to “Game Storm” (Combat in the Arena of Ideas from Survey of the Game Industry); determine which will be Graded Course Project and which others are ‘alsos.’
Homework:
1) Create draft business identity materials (business card and
letterhead with name, logo & motto); |
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|
Exam 1 (20 points) Lecture: The Risk Management Process (The Risk Gauge); Task Tracking (The Wall, walking, meetings); Leadership & Management (tips for ensuring success); Time Management. |
Due:
1) Draft business identity materials (business card and
letterhead with name, logo & motto) for discussion; iterate. Homework: 1) Final business identity materials. 2) Final Concept Document. 3) Final Project Work Schedule. Textbook: Chapter 12, Marketing & Maintenance. |
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Lecture: Starting Up a New Game Company (some mind-boggling considerations); Marketing Plans (general, specific, Marketing Warfare) |
Due: 1) Final business identity materials (12 points as per grading rubric). 2) Final Concept Document (6 points). 3) Final Project Work Schedule for team and Biz Dev review. Each member works on his or her component of the Design Document. |
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Exam 2 (20 points) Lecture: Budgets (Top 10 Elements, budget formula, effectiveness curve, The Multiplier, Internal budgeting and ROIs) |
Peer Review: JOAT (8 points for JOATs only). Homework: Invite Guest Speakers for Week 7. |
|
Bonus Exam (0 points) Course Project Survival Test Lecture: Intellectual Property Protection 1: Patents, Copyrights, and Trade Marks |
Peer Review: Art Director (8 points for Art Directors only). Homework: 1) Prepare for next week’s Practice Pitch. 2) Invite Guest Speakers for next week. |
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Lecture: Intellectual Property Protection 2: Trade Secrets and Non-disclosure Agreements Guest Speakers, if provided (extra credit) |
Due: Practice Pitch 1 (8 points, graded on progress). Peer Review: Technical Director (8 points for Technical Directors only). |
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Exam 3 (25 points) Lecture: Deal Points (The Six Sides: defining, IP, schedule, money, liability, miscellaneous; important vocabulary terms; a lawyer’s advice) |
Peer Review: Writer / Designer (8 points for Writer / Designer’s only). Homework: Prepare for next week’s Practice Pitch. |
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Lecture: Getting a Job in the Game Industry; Letters of Recommendation |
Due: Practice Pitch 2 (10 points, graded on substance and completion / maintaining Project Schedule). Peer Review: Producer (8 points for Producers only). Homework: 1) Each Team Member writes a Letter of Recommendation for one other Team Member. 2) Prepare for next week’s Dress Rehearsal Practice Pitch. Textbook: Conclusion: The Future. |
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Exam 4 (25 points) Lecture: Reality Checks (know the bad things that await you in the game business); The Future of the Game Business (an open discussion) |
Due: 1) Letter of Recommendation (10 points). 2) Dress Rehearsal Practice Pitch (0 points; class and Biz Dev will provide critical analysis of style & substance). Homework: Prepare for next week’s Final Pitch. |
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Lecture: Why Make Games? (A morale boosting review); The Tao of Working in the Game Business (important reminders) |
Due: Final Pitch Presentation to client (56 points as per grading rubric). |