San Jose State University Greensheet

Spring 2008

CS134: Computer Game Design and Programming

CS 134 Section 1 (Course Number 26865): Mon/Wed 1:30pm-2:45pm, Location: MH 223

Instructor: Soon Tee Teoh

Office Hours:

Tue 3pm-5pm, Thu 10am-12:10pm

I am also available by appointment.

Office: McQuarrie Hall 216 (phone: 408-924-7227).

E-mail: teoh@cs.sjsu.edu

Course Website:

http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/~teoh/teaching/cs134/

Prerequisites:

The prerequisites for this class are CS 130 and CS 151 (with a grade of "C-" or better in each).

Adding and Dropping Classes:

The student is responsible for understanding the policies, procedures, and deadlines for adding and dropping classes, and for academic renewal, withdrawal.

Course Description:


This class introduces architectures and object-oriented patterns for computer game design. Topics include animation, simulation, user interfaces, graphics, and intelligent behaviors. Each student is expected to participate in a team project requiring substantial programming.

Text: none

Course Objectives:

The course objectives are:

To learn about the software development process in the context of video games;

To learn about object oriented techniques with regard to video game development;

To learn about the basics of creating a game engine;

To understand the use of simulations and physics in the context of video games;

To learn about Artificial Intelligence in the context of video games; and

To learn about collision detection in the context of video games.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

Create a requirements document for a reasonable sized project;

Understand the various stages of a software development process and use them in new projects;

Apply game design patterns in developing a new video game;

Understand how a game engine can be put together;

Understand how physics can be applied in video games and how to set up a simulation environment;

Understand and apply useful AI techniques like the A* algorithm in the context of video games; and

Understand common techniques for detecting collisions among objects in a video game.

Schedule:

This is the tentative course schedule. All topics marked in Red-Bold-Italics are class activities which are part of the project or midterm examination. Failure to be present at the appointed time will result in loss of points.

 

Week

Date

Topic

Assignment Due

0

1/23/08

Introduction to Game Design

 

1

1/28/08

Game Design Principles

 

1/30/08

Graphics Engine

 

2

2/4/08

Graphics Engine

 

2/6/08

Graphics Engine

Project Proposal

3

2/11/08

Project Discussion

 

2/13/08

Beyond Graphics Engine

 

4

2/18/08

Game AI: A* Path Finding

 

2/20/08

Game AI: Flocking

 

5

2/25/08

Game AI: FSM

 

2/27/08

Game AI: Fuzzy Logic

 

6

3/3/08

Review

 

3/5/08

Midterm 1

 

7

3/10/08

Collision Detection

 

3/12/08

Collision Response, Projectiles

 

8

3/17/08

Game Physics: Laws of Motion

 

3/19/08

Graphics: LOD, Visibility

 

 

 

Spring Break

 

 

9

3/31/08

None (Cesar Chavez Day)

 

4/2/08

A* Optimizations, Shadows

 

10

4/7/08

Intro to Networking

Project Version 1

4/9/08

Play-testing

 

  11

4/14/08

Review

Play-testing Report

4/16/08

Midterm 2

 

  12

4/21/08

Decision Trees and Neural Nets

 

4/23/08

Particle Systems, Terrains

 

13

4/28/08

Animation

 

4/30/08

Review

 

14

5/5/08

Project Demos

Project Version 2

5/7/08

Project Demos

 

15

5/12/08

Review

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching Methodology: The course is given through two lecture periods each week. There will also be a designated discussion session and class activities. Students in the course are expected to complete all the project assignments and learn the material covered in lecture.

Attendance Policy: Lectures: Students should attend all lectures, not only because they are responsible for material discussed in the lectures, but also because active participation is essential to insure maximum benefit for all members of the class. Attendance will not be used as a criterion for grading. The student is responsible for knowing all announcements made by the instructor during lectures.

Course Requirements:

The course is composed of three components: assigned readings, lectures, project and exams. Examinations will be based on lectures.

Examinations: All examinations will be announced at least one week in advance and will cover material discussed in class and the text book. Test material will be drawn from lecture and any supplementary material provided by the instructor. Exact details about examinations in this course will be determined by the instructor. Typically there will be two in-class examinations during the semester and a two-hour final examination. Specific details will be made available before the exams are offered.

Grading: Your grade will depend on: exams (based mostly on class lectures) and project. Each student will accumulate points for all assigned project parts and exams. Keep your project and tests at least until you receive your grade. The instructor should be notified of any grading disputes and special circumstances regarding midterms and the project by May 15, 2007.

(1) 2 Midterm Examinations (2 @ 15%) 30%

An unexcused absence from an examination will result in a grade of zero for that examination. The only valid excuses for missing an examination are prior written approval from the instructor or a documented medical emergency.

(2) Project 40%

Students will work in groups of 2 or 3 members (each group should turn in only ONE project). Each group is required to present a 10-minute demonstration of their work. Each student in the same group will receive the same grade for the project.

The project is graded on the correctness of the program and the adherence to the requirements given in the assignment. A submission that does not follow the instructions cannot be evaluated and therefore will receive no credit. If the program code is written clearly, some partial credit may possibly be given for partial correctness of the program code.

Late Turn-In Policy: You may submit your project within 24 hours after the due time for a 10% deduction of your grade for that part. You may submit your project within the next 24 hours for a 20% deduction. No credit will be awarded for projects submitted more than 48 hours after the due time.

 (4) Final Examination 30%

The final exam will assume familiarity with material covered in lecture. The final exam will be held on:

            Section 1: Wed May 21, 2008, 12:15pm – 2:30pm

Grading Scale (in points):

100-95 A+ 
94.99-90 A 
89.99-85 A-
84.99-80 B+ 
79.99-75 B 
74.99-70 B-
69.99-65 C+ 
64.99-60 C 
59.99-55 C-
54.99-50 D+ 
49.99-45 D 
44.99-40 D- 
Below 40 F

Academic Integrity:

Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at SJSU, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/.

Further Information:

·  If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations register with the SJSU Disability Resource Center to establish a record of their disability.

·  Please familiarize yourself with SJSU policies and procedures:

·  http://info.sjsu.edu/static/soc-spring/soc-spring.html

·  http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html

particularly the add/drop policy. It is your responsibility to know and observe these policies. However, if there is something about a policy that you don't understand, please feel free to ask! You can also find answers to many questions at the Student Advising Center. Note that for the Spring, 2008 semester the last day to drop without consequence is Monday, February 4, and the last day to add is Monday, February 11. After these dates it becomes very difficult to drop or add a class, so be sure you are in good shape before these dates arrive!