Course Syllabus

 

Instructor	Mike Substelny
Office Phone	440-366-7084
Office Address
Office Hours
E-mail	msubstel@lorainccc.edu
Location	Lecture UC 325 / Lab UC 225
Times	Lab Wednesdays 1:00
Start Date	August 30, 2017
Course Credits	3 (4)
Notes	Students must complete all labs and view all lectures.

Required Text

Students are required to obtain The Game Maker's Apprentice:

The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners (paperback)
by Jacob Habgood (Author), Mark Overmars (Author)
ISBN-10: 1590596153
ISBN-13: 978-1590596159
Publisher's Website
Amazon

The course will require programming using the "Game Maker" programming environment. Click here for Game Maker 8.1 

Suggested Text

Students are required to read Game Design Workshop, but purchase is optional:

Game Design Workshop, First Edition, Second Edition, or Third Edition (paperback)
By Tracy Fullerton
ISBN 1-57820-222-1

Amazon (First Edition)
Amazon (Second Edition)

Course Description

This is a basic course for students interested in designing, programming and developing computer games and simulations. Topics will include basic game/simulation design, programming and development as well as the role of the game/simulation designer, programmer and developer. Students will be introduced to programming using a gaming engine. The students will use provided or leverage their own created assets and create a small introductory game or games using an existing game engine software.

This is the first course in the Computer Game and Simulation Design Associates degree sequence.

Course Objectives

TOPICAL OUTLINE: (COMMON CORE TOPICS)

 

COURSE OUTCOMES & ASSESSMENT:	(Tools, Methods, and Expected Results)
Outcomes	Assessment Method(s) *Most courses will address all three domains. In the instance when only two domains are addressed, include a justification in the Division cover letter.
Cognitive/Knowledge:Create 2D a graphical user interface for a game	Assessment of the game interface using a rubric with the student success benchmark at the 70% average.
Cognitive/Knowledge:Place assets in 3D space	Assessment of  assets in 3D space using a rubric with the student success benchmark at the 70% average
Cognitive/Knowledge:Connect interactive code to the assets in order to create game logic	Assessment of  interactive code using a rubric with the student success benchmark at the 70% average
Cognitive/Knowledge:Create logic to determine if the game is complete and if they were successful	Assessment of  logic using a rubric with the student success benchmark at the 70% average
Cognitive/ Comprehension:Explain, compare and contrast the roles of games/simulations designers, developers and programmers.	Homework – Item analysis on homework item – 70% of the students will correctly answer the question. Examinations – Item analysis on test item – 70% of the students will select the correct answer.
Cognitive/ Synthesis: Work with dramatic elements, formal elements and sytematics of computer games and simulations	Homework – Item analysis on homework item – 70% of the students will correctly answer the question. Examinations – Item analysis on test item – 70% of the students will select the correct answer.
Affective/Disposition:  Determine their appropriate role in the game development process	An item-analysis of student surveys
Psychomotor/Skill: Use of mouse to click and drag elements	Elements will assessed by a rubric – 100% of the students will have obtained at least 7 out of 10 points on the rubric.
Cognitive/ Knowledge: Identify the barriers  to getting a job as a programmer, designer or developer	Homework – Item analysis on homework item – 70% of the students will correctly answer the question. Examinations – Item analysis on test item – 70% of the students will select the correct answer.
Cognitive/Analysis:   Analysis of prototypes and playtesting of controls, interfaces, games and simulations  for completeness, balance and functionality.	Homework – Item analysis on homework item – 70% of the students will correctly answer the question. Examinations – Item analysis on test item – 70% of the students will select the correct answer.

 

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT (Tools, Methods, and Expected Results)

1. Develop the professional competencies to function effectively within their chosen academic disciplines and careers.
2. Develop technological literacy and demonstrate knowledge of the applications of technology in everyday life.
3. Understand and apply methods of scientific inquiry.
4. Develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the arts and humanities.
5. Develop an understanding of the history of the diverse social, economic, and political models of society.
6. Develop precision, clarity, and fluency in writing.
7. Develop accuracy, conciseness, and coherence in spoken communication.
8. Apply mathematical concepts to solve quantitative problems.
9. Develop critical thinking and reasoning skills for problem solving.
10. Develop an awareness and understanding of gender, ethnic, minority, multi­cultural, and global issues.
11. Develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the benefits of a healthy, active and well-balanced lifestyle.

 

Tentative Schedule

Every week you should expect to:

1. Write a game program (more complex programs will take more than one week).
2. Play a game (longer games will take more than one week).
3. Attend labs.
4. Attend a lecture or watch via EdPuzzle or classroom participation.
5. Take a Quiz about the lecture (assigned Thursday AM and due the following Thursday by 12:00 PM).
6. Read at least one chapter in one of the textbooks.
7. Do at least one homework assignment.

There will also be two exams: one midterm and one final.

The schedule of course material will appear on the calendar.  The dates of homework assignments, labs, exams, and quizzes will all be listed there.  You can keep track of what you have completed and what you have yet to complete by checking "My Milestones" under the Report tab.

Course Requirements

All students will create computer games and submit them into Canvas Drop Boxes.  While there will also be tests, quizzes, and homework assignments, the games you create will be the most important part of your grade.  To get a good score you are required to go beyond following the instructions in The Game Maker's Apprentice.  As shown on each game's rubric, every game must include customized programming, artwork, music, sounds, etc. that you created.  Note that unoriginal artwork, music or sounds are worth less than original work.

Drop boxes in this class have a strict size limit of 10 megabytes.  It is up to you to limit the size of the music and audio files in your games so that they fit within this limit.  MIDI files will be preferred to MP3 files.

Course Prerequisites

There are no academic prerequisites. Students must have sufficient computer skills to download and install software and troubleshoot difficulties with new software. This may include the Yoyo Games InstantPlay plugin.

Grading Policy

Tests and quizzes are given to measure your learning.  Homework is the venue where most of your learning will take place.  Homework will be given in the form of online quizzes with no time limit. When possible, these will be multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank so that you may have instant feedback.  While these online homework assignments have no time limit, they will have a due date.

Discussion forums are an important part of your learning.  Your participation in the forms is mandatory and will be graded.

Attendance Policy

WEB-BLENDED STUDENTS: I will take attendance every Wednesday at 1:00 pm. I will also check your activity in the Canvas system. Absences from the laboratory may be excused at the instructor's discretion.

FULLY ONLINE STUDENTS: I will take attendance by checking your activity in the Canvas system. You must actually participate in discussions and submit work to be counted as attending.

Exam Policy

All quizzes and exams are open book, open notes. One midterm and one Final Exam will be administered online. Essays will be graded on content but errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization will be penalized.

Weekly quizzes will become available every Thursday morning and must be submitted by the following Wednesday at midnight PM. These will contain no essay questions. The ANGEL system will ask each student a set of randomly selected questions about that week's lecture. Students who fail to take a quiz during the assigned time window will receive a zero - no exceptions. At the end of the semester, the lowest five quiz scores will be dropped for each student.

Academic Integrity

College Withdrawal Policy: A student may withdraw from a course at any time within the first twelve weeks of the term and receive a "W" for the course.  This "W" does not affect the student's grade point average.  If this withdrawal takes place before the fifteenth calendar day of the term the student may receive a partial refund of fees; after the fifteenth day no refund of fees will be considered.  A student who stops attending any class without filling out a withdrawal form from the Records Department continues to be enrolled.  For these classes a grade of "F" will be assigned, and no refund of instructional, or any other fees will be considered.

Disability Policy

Special Needs Students Accommodations Statement: The Office of Disability Services exists to serve the needs of students with disabilities - physical, learning and/or emotional. If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodations or assistance, contact the Office of Disability Services located in CC 234 (College Center building).