COMP 585/585H/185H/790-093 Serious Games Introduction COMP 585/585H/185H/790-093 Serious Games

Today’s agenda Course Differences Who’s in the class? Class structure Introduction to content

Course differences

COMP 585 Base course Counts toward the BA or BS Includes team development of a game for an external client More about this later

Comp 585H Additional requirement Who should take it? Who should not? Research project Who should take it? Need the H to stay in the honors program Want to do the research Who should not? You think that’s the only way to get into this course Eligibility: honors program or 3.0

Comp 185H Does not count toward the COMP SCI major Cannot take both 185 and 585 Intended to bring different perspectives Expected to contribute to the development but not at the same level That’s the honors part Eligibility: honors program or 3.0

Comp 790-093 For MEITE Students Intended to bring different perspectives and focus on design Expected to contribute to the development but not at the same level

Sign up sheets 585 185H 585 -> 585H

Who’s in the class

Tell us Name When you graduate Major Your favorite game or what you like about games

CLASS STRUCTURE

assignments Game Critique 50 Minute Presentation Game Development Take Home Final Exam

Game critique Everyone critiques a serious game 7 minute presentation No duplication List of potential games Games matched to topics 3 games per day Additions welcome 7 minute presentation Gameplay (video or live) Relevance to topic

Research presentation Topic of interest related to games 4 person teams 50 minute presentations Individual or team Topics on specific dates (calendar)

TOPICS Narrative Graphic styles Sound Game play (game mechanics and balance) Level design Physics engine (3D) Game systems (consoles, VR, AR) Music (emotions, mood) Characters Graphics implementation (including light, camera) Procedural generation AI in games Evoking emotions: empathy, horror, perspective, moral decisions) Health Education Training Social change Accessibility Gender Marketing (use of games in advertising, marketing of games, in game advertising) Networking How games change us (age, violence)

Game development Client Proposals (Jan 25) 4-person teams (1 185H/790, 3 585/585H) Preferred platform is Unity but not all appropriate Teams meet with instructor or TA every week Work with client Range of projects (partial list) Augmented reality games Individual and cooperative games Frameworks and standalones … Presented at final game fest

The business of games

Games ARE Serious Business 2015 US revenue $13B ( $7B since ‘08) Software $5B Hardware $5B Accessories $3B Why decline? Players World of Warcraft: 5.5M subscriptions (from 12.5M) 165m mobile phone gamers

Who is a Gamer? Online gamers Casual gamers middle income ($35,000-$75,000) age 25-44 Casual gamers 76% female 71% 40 or older (47% 50 or older) 46% college graduates (14% adv degree) 53% income $50,000 or more 67% married (53% at least one child )

CAVEAT: lots of contradictory stats Most Popular Genres 44%: card, puzzle, arcade, word games 25%: family-oriented games 19%: RPGs, MMOGs CAVEAT: lots of contradictory stats

What is a game?

Alternative reality games Types of Games Computer games Board games Card games Parlor games Sports games Miniatures games Role-playing games Alternative reality games

TOY PUZZLE GAME PLAY GOAL RULES

Games vs. Toys What’s the difference? Children Adults Games: restrictive rules, limit-testing strategies Toys: fantasy and free play. Children captivated by versatility of toys Adults lose interest in toys Create games around toys tactics, strategies, results (Schiesel 2008)

Games… are an activity have rules have conflict have goals involve decision making are artificial are safe are outside ordinary life provide no material gain are voluntary have uncertain outcome are a representation are make believe are inefficient have closed systems are a form of art

What is a game? Play Pretend Goal Rules “work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and … play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.” Adventures of Tom Sawyer Pretend The Magic Circle (Huizinga) Goal Challenges Win, Loss, Termination Rules Meanings, gameplay, sequence of play, goals, metarules

games with a serious purpose beyond entertainment Serious games are games with a serious purpose beyond entertainment built for serious purpose used for serious purpose

What is a serious purpose? Education Training Social change Health education Pain control Rehabilitation Business Art Learning!