470-01 Special Topics in Computer Science: IMM 370-01: Topics In Interactive Multimedia: Game Design

Brief course description:
This course provides students from a variety of disciplines with an introduction to Video Game Engine Design and Architecture. Presentations by faculty will cover topics related to game construction including software engineering, AI, interactive story design, 3-D character and scene animation, networks, sound and music composition and theater production. This course provides a unique opportunity for students from a variety of disciplines to experience cross-disciplinary collaboration and discuss and reflect on the process of a multidisciplinary software development. Students will collaborate to create a completed design document for a 3-D video game as well as develop expertise in implementing proof of concept components of the game. They will learn about the architecture of a game engine by working with an existing commercial engine (Source) while they study how a "toy" or "bare bones" engine is constructed in C++ and DirectX. Based on student background and expertise students will be focus on "art" or "tech." Artist/writers will contribute to the development of a full design of a video game including a story bible, script, story boards, assets lists, pipeline plans, and sample art. Students with a computer science/programming background will take the lead in implementing the toy engine, they will be responsible for developing project management protocols (including animation pipeline processes) within the framework of Microsoft Sharepoint project management software. Assessment of student work will occur through assigned mini-projects, a take-home final (based on reflective journal assignments throughout the semester), and individualized contracts for deliverables.

Prerequisites: CSC 340 or (IMM 270 and one intermediate IMM course)