Download Intro to Class - Electronic Visualization Laboratory

CS 426
Video Game Design and Programming
© 2003 - 2010 Jason Leigh
Electronic Visualization Lab,
University of Illinois at Chicago
“The figure of merit for a good game is Minimum
Rules, Maximum Richness” – Nolan Bushnell
(founder of Atari)
Importance of Game Development
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Why are Video Games an important part of Computer Science?
It is one of the few applications that combines all the diverse CS areas into one
focused goal.
It attempts to do everything in real time.
Areas that are relevant:
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Computer architecture
Algorithms
Software frameworks
Operating Systems
Artificial Intelligence
Human Computer Interaction
Computer Graphics
Networking
Database design and management
Image processing
Other universities that offer a similar course:
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Georgia Tech – MS in game development
UC Southern California
Art Institutes International in San Francisco – Game Art & Design program
Rochester Institute of Technology
DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Wash., and Vancouver, Canada
Carnegie Mellon – Masters of Entertainment Technology conferred by College of Fine Arts
and School of Computer Science
Quick Game Industry Stats Today
(source: Entertainment Software Association: www.theesa.com)
The Class
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Meet in ERF Room 2068 from now on- door access issues.
Go thru: www.evl.uic.edu/spiff/class/cs426
Go thru class schedule
Go and play previous year’s winners
No Exams. Project-oriented class – lots of group
collaboration required.
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No, single student assignments
Collaborate on designing the gameplay.
Each year there is a theme.
Collaborate on developing the game prototype and final
presentation
– You will form a video game company of ~3 to 4 members
– Project will take up A LOT OF YOUR TIME- so good project
management is crucial.
Grading
• How do I get a B?
– A working demo system that is sufficient to give the player a taste of
what the full game will be like- ie a vertical slice of a game.
– A well deployed web site documenting the development of the game
and eventually deploying the game.
– Clear identification of the roles of each group member.
• How do I get an A?
– All of the above, plus…
– Demonstration of Good project management.
– Implement something technically excellent (clever algorithm) but at
the same time FUN to play.
– Apply the techniques you learned in the class to your game.
– Create an amazingly polished product that is FUN (see demo of
previous year).
– Give a great presentation throughout the class.
– The game needs to be FUN, NOT just pretty graphics.
– Create better work than your “competitors.” Remember you are a
game company!
– Oh and did I say the game needs to be FUN! 