Course Syllabus

GAME 1403 Introduction to Game Design and Development

Catalog Description: Introduction to electronic game development and game development careers.
Includes examination of history and philosophy of games, the game production process, employee factors
for success in the field, and current issues and practices in the game development industry. Lecture
hours = 3, Lab hours = 1

Prerequisites: COSC 1301

Semester Credit Hours: 4

Contact Hours per Semester: 96
State Approval Code: 10.0304

Course Subject/Catalog Number: GAME 1403

Course Title: Introduction to Game Design and Development

Course Rationale: This course teaches students effective and structured procedures used to design and
develop game software. It is a required course in the game development certificate program.

Instructional Goals and Purposes: The purpose of this course is to provide students with the foundation
in game design and development necessary for use in the workforce or for further study in the field of
game development and creation.

Learning Objectives:
1. Setup – The Development of an Industry:
o How Did We Get Here?
2. Game Elements
o Genres, Platforms & Applications.
o Player Elements: Market, Theory & Interactivity.
3. Scenarios – Creating Compelling Content.
o Storytelling: Building the Narrative.
o Characters & Objects: Building the Identity.
o Interiors & Exteriors Building the World.
o User Interface: Building the Connection.Level
o Design: Building the Experience.Music & Sound:
o Building the Atmosphere.
4. Strategy –
o Development & Business Cycles.
o Preproduction:Planning & Processing.
o Production: Prototyping & Play testing.
o Post-Production: Maintenance & Marketing.

Specific Course Objectives (includes SCANS):

After studying the material presented in the text and online, the student should be able to complete all
behavioral/learning objectives listed below with a minimum competency of 70% on assignments and
exams.

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 1. Describe the history and evolution of video and computer games and game genres. (1a-i, 1a-
iv, 1b-iv, 1b-vi, 1c-iv, 2c-i, 2c-ii, 2c-iii, 2c-iv)
a. Understand the process of creating games using objects and rooms
b. Understand the global user interface
c. Process player input using the keyboard and mouse
d. Use the file, edit, and add menus to manipulate sprites, sounds, and backgrounds
e. Write a Windows game program from scratch with Game Maker
2. Develop Action Games. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1a-iv, 1b-iv, 1b-v, 2c-i, 2c-ii, 2c-iii, 2c-iv)
a. Load an image from disk and draw it as a sprite
b. Draw transparent sprites over a background
c. Understand the use of events including create, destroy, alarm, collision, keyboard, and mouse
d. Use actions including move, control, score, and drawing
3. Demonstrate Level Design in Game Programming. (1a-i, 1a-iv, 1b-iv, 2c-ii, 2c-iv)
a. Create rooms and instances of rooms
b. Add levels to a game
c. Interactive Games
d. Design and create a simple cooperative game
e. Design and create a simple competitive game
4. Use C++ and GML to Code Game Programs. (1a-i, 1a-iv, 1b-i, 1b-iii, 1b-iv, 1b-vi, 2c-i, 2c-ii, 2c-iii,
2c-iv, 2d-iii)
a. Understand the use of game loops using C++ and GML
b. Use C++ and GML to add programming code to a game

Course Content:
Students in all sections of this course will be required to do the following:
1. Students will submit computer programs for each learning module of the course. Each program
must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the learning module represented.
2. Students will assemble a portfolio of programming projects to be submitted at the end of the
semester.
3. Students will conduct an interactive presentation of a comprehensive programming project
subject to peer and instructor evaluation.
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery:
Students in both the traditional class and in the Internet class will have access to this course via WebCT.
Students in the traditional class will meet regularly for lecture over the material. Students in the Internet
class will only be required to meet with the instructor for testing; however, Internet students are always
welcome to attend the traditional class (especially for exam reviews). Resources provided through
WebCT include

A calendar displaying assignments each week (please check often)

Online assignments
Chapter notes
Email (totally contained within WebCT)
All assignments will be submitted through WebCT. After the assignment has been graded, the
student will be able to view his or her grade by returning to the assignment and clicking the View
Scores button or by clicking the My Grades link in the left banner. All exams will be hands-on
application tests and students will not be able to view the answers to the exams online; however,
they will be able to see their grade in My Grades and drop by the office to review their exams. I
generally will have your work graded and posted within two days following the deadline.
Students in both the traditional and Internet classes should use the Email within WebCT to communicate
with the instructor. Using WebCT email gives you access to the instructor and other classmates without
having to remember or type email addresses—you just select a name from the list. If you are not able to
contact me using email in WebCT, you may use my Panola College email address. I attempt to respond
to all email within 24 hours. If you make an appointment with me through email to take an exam, for
example, I will reply to your email—if I do not reply you should send your email to me again or call me.
Please always include a subject line and your name in your email.

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Assessment:
The following items will be assigned during the semester and used to calculate the student’s final grade:
ASSIGNMENTS
We will work through each of the learning modules which correspond to the chapters in your
textbook. At the end of each learning module, you will complete a programming project
demonstrating your knowledge of the programming concepts presented in the learning module.
Program source code will be submitted to me according to the schedule provided using the online
drop box in the Assignments link of WebCT.
PORTFOLIO
The portfolio will be a collection of all program source code developed during the semester
including a comprehensive programming project to be completed in the final weeks of the
semester.

Portfolios are due by the scheduled deadline.

EXAMS
There will be one assessment to verify that you have the comprehensive knowledge required to
produce your portfolio. You will demonstrate this knowledge by conducting an interactive
presentation of a comprehensive programming project subject to peer and instructor evaluation.

Course Grade:
The grading scale for this course is as follows:
Assignments – 20%
Portfolio – 50%
Exams – 30%
All of your grades including a mid-semester and final grade will be posted to My Grades in WebCT.

Texts, Materials, and Supplies:

Text will be an e-book provided by the instructor.
Access to a computer and the Internet.

Other:
For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings:
http://www.panola.edu/collegestore.htm
For testing services, use the following link: http://www.panola.edu/instruction/dl/testing.htm

SCANS CRITERIA
1) Foundation skills are defined in three areas: basic skills, thinking skills, and personal
qualities.

a) Basic Skills: A worker must read, write, perform arithmetic and mathematical operations, listen,
and speak effectively. These skills include:
i) Reading: locate, understand, and interpret written information in prose and in documents
such as manuals, graphs, and schedules.
ii) Writing: communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing, and create
documents such as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts.
iii) Arithmetic and Mathematical Operations: perform basic computations and approach practical
problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques.
iv) Listening: receive, attend to, interpret, and respond to verbal messages and other cues.
v) Speaking: Organize ideas and communicate orally.

b) Thinking Skills: A worker must think creatively, make decisions, solve problems, visualize, know
how to learn, and reason effectively. These skills include:
i) Creative Thinking: generate new ideas.

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 ii) Decision Making: specify goals and constraints, generate alternatives, consider risks, and
evaluate and choose the best alternative.
iii) Problem Solving: recognize problems and devise and implement plan of action.
iv) Visualize ("Seeing Things in the Mind's Eye"): organize and process symbols, pictures,
graphs, objects, and other information.
v) Knowing How to Learn: use efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge
and skills.
vi) Reasoning: discover a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more
objects and apply it when solving a problem.

c) Personal Qualities: A worker must display responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-

management, integrity, and honesty.
i) Responsibility: exert a high level of effort and persevere toward goal attainment.
ii) Self-Esteem: believe in one's own self-worth and maintain a positive view of oneself.
iii) Sociability: demonstrate understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in
group settings.
iv) Self-Management: assess oneself accurately, set personal goals, monitor progress, and
exhibit self-control.
v) Integrity and Honesty: choose ethical courses of action.

2) Workplace competencies are defined in five areas: resources, interpersonal skills,

information, systems, and technology.

a) Resources: A worker must identify, organize, plan, and allocate resources effectively.
i) Time: select goal-relevant activities, rank them, allocate time, and prepare and follow
schedules.
ii) Money: Use or prepare budgets, make forecasts, keep records, and make adjustments to
meet objectives.
iii) Material and Facilities: Acquire, store, allocate, and use materials or space efficiently.
Examples: construct a decision time line chart; use computer software to plan a project; prepare a
budget; conduct a cost/benefits analysis; design an RFP process; write a job description; develop
a staffing plan.

b) Interpersonal Skills: A worker must work with others effectively.

i) Participate as a Member of a Team: contribute to group effort.
ii) Teach Others New Skills.
iii) Serve Clients/Customers: work to satisfy customer's expectations.
iv) Exercise Leadership: communicate ideas to justify position, persuade and convince others,
responsibly challenge existing procedures and policies.
v) Negotiate: work toward agreements involving exchange of resources, resolve divergent
interests.
vi) Work with Diversity: work well with men and women from diverse backgrounds.
Examples: collaborate with a group member to solve a problem; work through a group conflict
situation, train a colleague; deal with a dissatisfied customer in person; select and use
appropriate leadership styles; use effective delegation techniques; conduct an individual or team
negotiation; demonstrate an understanding of how people from different cultural backgrounds
might behave in various situations.

c) Information: A worker must be able to acquire and use information.

i) Acquire and Evaluate Information.
ii) Organize and Maintain Information.
iii) Interpret and Communicate Information.
iv) Use Computers to Process Information.
Examples: research and collect data from various sources; develop a form to collect data;
develop an inventory record-keeping system; produce a report using graphics; make an oral
presentation using various media; use on-line computer data bases to research a report; use a
computer spreadsheet to develop a budget.

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d) Systems: A worker must understand complex interrelationships.
i) Understand Systems: know how social, organizational, and technological systems work and
operate effectively with them.
ii) Monitor and Correct Performance: distinguish trends, predict impacts on system operations,
diagnose deviations in systems' performance and correct malfunctions.
iii) Improve or Design Systems: suggest modifications to existing systems and develop new or
alternative systems to improve performance.
Examples: draw and interpret an organizational chart; develop a monitoring process; choose a
situation needing improvement, break it down, examine it, propose an improvement, and
implement it.

e) Technology: A worker must be able to work with a variety of technologies.

i) Select Technology: choose procedures, tools or equipment including computers and related
technologies.
ii) Apply Technologies to Task: understand overall intent and proper procedures for setup and
operation of equipment.
iii) Maintain and Troubleshoot Equipment: Prevent, identify, or solve problems with equipment,
including computers and other technologies.
Examples: read equipment descriptions and technical specifications to select equipment to meet
needs; set up and assemble appropriate equipment from instructions; read and follow directions
for troubleshooting and repairing equipment.

Revised Spring 2011