1. Computer Game Programming Rick Barker Cecil Schmidt Carol Browning Ernest Ferguson

2. Computer Game Programming Washburn University Special Topics Class Spring 2006 Rick Barker

3. Washburn Environment Intro class with small subset of C Two semesters of Java Art Department –Two classes on Computer Graphic Design –One class on Game Design No special setup for gaming

4. Computing Environment For this class No Game engine MSDN access to Visual Studio.net Or Bloodshed CPP No special graphic package, used Paint 2-dim graphics Windows PCs, all students had their own computers, many with laptops brought to class.

5. Choosing a Text No game engine on campus Basic language in Department is Java In 2005, almost impossible to find a text with Java Decided upon C++ –Beginning Game Programming, Michael Morrison – SAMS 2005 –Accelerated C++ Koenig&Moo - Addison-Wesley 2000

6. Why this game text? Instructor had no gaming knowledge –Played Arcade games many years ago Pong, space invaders, etc –Some shooting game on Apple IIe Students had at least one semester of Java, OOP, and subset of procedural C –Instructor felt students could transfer their knowledge to C++ Text starts from beginning –Build game engine from scratch, –Adding features to engine as it advanced through concepts.

7. Course Schedule 15 week course First 10-11 weeks work through text –Periodically Author provides simple game that uses recent concepts and updated game engine Student then creates mods for the game. Last month, group work to develop a their own game as final project

8. Mods to Text Games Task is to create a different game using the same (or similar) basic function of the original. Create new sprites, new backgrounds, music, etc. Requires students to understand the existing C++ code (or learn the new statements) Usually a new game involves additions to the Author’s Game Engine Sometimes we added enhancements to Engine

9. Last Month of the Semester After finishing the text, student groups created original games –Design of game with story boards –Creation of sprites –Coding game, using final game engine Presented games for final exam, all played –Documentation for game with story boards, definition of sprites and capabilities

10. Students learned - C++ How to work on their own Applied many of the concepts they had learned in their classes to a task they wanted to do Had to find a way to accomplish their dream game. Windows API’s (from text use) Text software often NOT bug free.

11. Professor learned - RPG is not a computer language, but role playing game. Students were interested, which translated to curiosity and exploration of subject –Both game design, language, and Windows It worked to carefully select students for the first time offering this class Worth trying again, we will offer it again this Fall