Course Description

The aim of this class is not merely to script a game. There are many systems available for free download that will let you script a game with minimal programming. The aim of this class is to allow you to get familiar with the native code needed to support game programming. The class is taught using code for a simple billboard 3D game called Ned's Turkey Farm. The term billboard means that it uses 2D sprite artwork. The game is 3D but uses only simple constrained camera motion. These simplifications allow novice artists and programmers to get up to speed and produce a game demo in 15 weeks.

Grades will be based on a project with several milestones along the way. You will write a complete, playable game demo in groups. A typical group will consist of two or three programmers from this class, plus one or two students from a parallel class taught concurrently in the College of Visual Arts and Design. You will be graded on the code, and the art students will be graded on the artwork. Unlike other CSCE courses, you will be graded on how well the executable runs, not on the source code. Grades are based on completeness points (whether the game is fully functional), techno points (whether the game uses some new technology not covered in class), group participation, and milestones hit.

Participation in group development of a simple game demo with other programmers and artists is a key part of this class. Since the art class and the programming class are scheduled at the same time in the same building, you will be able to meet face-to-face regularly. Both class will use an open-source version control system called Subversion so that group members can submit work from any place, at any time. Class materials, including source code and lecture notes, will be available to class members in a Subversion repository.