Design and Programming of Computer Games TDDD23

Introduction to TDDD23 Course overview Games from last year Course pedagogy Game design / SE Course Goals / Tasks Lab 1.

Game Feast Last year games examples

Theory on Higher Education Students can handle reading and performing educational tasks them selves Students need help with reflection and conceptual change In-depth studies are more important than subject coverage You drive, we help you steer

What is a computer game Interactive entertainment Competition? Sports? Social Interaction? Cinematic? Literature? Social interaction Strategic, Reactive, puzzles, plot What is entertaining and engaging?

What is development of computer games Very-large software project Testing-based development –No known standards? Experience-based software –Extreme usability and design Large game-world projects What is fun for others?

Games SE Testing Polishing Usability Simplicity Uniqueness / Identity Ultimate Localization From the absolute bottom up (engine) Art/story/IP-driven Publisher market

Course Goals Learn about the largest and most specialized software development task in the history of man – well maybe not…. Understand how the fun factor affect development Learn the importance of testing, polishing, attention to detail… Hands-on game building – build a preproduction demonstrator

Forum, forum, forum… (student_id and password) How we work in the course Go to lectures, do tasks, do reviews, discuss on forum and complete project You build games … win the prize Labs times are resources for students – no assistance in these labs

Lectures This introduction lecture Guest lectures

Literature Examples are provided on the web page – find something you like Requirement: read to motivate your design Requirement: motivate your project design with literature

Examination Individual examination – –work alone or in teams. –Understand everything, answer everything

Success factors How to pass and get a good grade –Quality of completed project. (what is quality: consistency in look and feel, well tested high quality working game - before since and features) –Ability to adapt game-design knowledge into final project. –Review contributions –Handing in on time.

Your Tasks Project – your own game idea, design and implementation (back up with literature) Game Workshop, Oral exam, Screen Cast Review groups participation (individual)

Game Maker 8 2D (3D) Game Editor –Both advanced visual editor and programming language –RAD but real Mark Overmars –Prof. at Utrecht University –Large community –Windows

XNA Game Studio Unity 3D

Resources: Graphics and sound GM-forum has a lot of resources – find it there. Essential to games but not the main aspect of the course

Task 1 Playing Continous Game Analyzing game mechanics and game play – uncover the game design Think about controls What is fun?