The aim of this module is to introduce students to theory and practice of game development. This will be achieved by enabling students to develop computer game prototypes. The course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of game development such as game design principals, game engines, computer graphics, sound and artificial intelligence.
Module Aims
This module aims to expose students to the important considerations in game logic and design by enabling students to create 2D computer games. Students will an industry standard game engine that they can enhance and reuse to build a variety of game prototypes.
Students will learn the basics of game logic and design by understanding how to create a reusable game engine; capture keyboard, mouse, and joystick input; animate graphical objects with sprites; detect collisions between sprites; play digital sound effects and music and give game characters intelligent behavior.
Game Logic and design
- History of computer games, technology, game theory, gameplay, game balance, design documentation, ethics and societal issues in games.
Game Engines
- Introduction to the game loop and the role of object orientated concepts in game development.
Game Logic
- Mechanics, game logic, balance, progression
Graphics & Animation
- Co-ordinate systems, color, device contexts, pens, brushes, bitmaps, fonts, graphics primitives, sprites, managing sprites, animation.
Input
- Accessing keyboard, accessing mouse, interacting with joysticks and joypads,
AI
- Rule based AI, roaming, chasing and evading.
Class time is split into a series of interactive “studio classroom” based lectures and practical problem solving in labs. In lectures, students have access to a PC, with appropriate software and development kits, so that material and examples can be examined in a live environment. In addition, students will be expected to proactively and independently seek out resources on the internet and from the library to supplement their own learning.
A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be employed to distribute all teaching materials and to support student interaction with both other students and academic staff. Where new material is not presented in lectures, such material will be made available through the VLE and students are expected to proactively use this resource.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 50 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 50 |