CSE1GDT Game Design Theory 2009

About me: Paul Taylor I’m a lecturer in Games Design and Development Currently Studying my PhD in Artificial Intelligence for Games I have been working on games design and development since 2003 My Honours Thesis was done using UnrealScript to demonstrate a new approach to Multi Agent AI Contact Details: Ph: Course Stuff:

Course Structure Lectures 2hrs/Week Labs 2hrs/Week –10% of your overall mark Tutorials 1hr/Week Assignment –20% of your overall mark –Due on 23 rd October Exam –70% of your overall mark –3 Hours (50% hurdle) –Don’t freak out Consultation Times – me to arrange

Course Goals Primary Goals –Learn how games are designed and developed –Design and develop some games as a team –Learn XNA –Learn how to analyse games so that you can use your skills on every game you build ever!

Programming Goals Quickly Learn to Program XNA –Development will be using C# and the XNA framework You need to be able to code sooner rather than later –the earlier you can identify problems the longer you have to fix them –The faster you learn simple programming, the quicker you can learn networking and advanced programming C# and XNA are available from dreamspark.com

Game Design and Development Goals What is required to make a game? Learn the many aspects of games design –what makes them fun? –what makes a game boring? –Style and Feeling –Wow factors –Game Flow –Player Expectations

The Assignment Develop a game as a group Games will be 2D, not 3D Most games are developed in at minimum, an 18 month Cycle You have 3 Months! –Thus the goal is to deliver a high quality 2D game as opposed to a crappy 3D game. –Marking will be based around the design and development of your concept through your XNA project.

Books There are 2 books for this semester –You WILL learn to LOVE them Seriously you will never throw these books out.

Book #1 The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design – F. Dille & J.Z. Platten –It’s not the ULTIMATE book For the few dollars it costs it is a life saver –Summed up the things in this book that will interest us are: Documenting, and the Development Process This book covers everything we will need for the development side of the subject. –Buy It!!!

Book #2 The Art of Game Design – Jesse Schell –This is also called the Game Design Bible –It is not the holy grail, it is pretty darn close –The things that interest us: This book covers Games Design and thus inherently covers level design. The Lenses in this book are a great tool when used properly. (we will learn!)

Why buy both books? This semester we will design and develop projects in small teams. The design will be covered by ‘The art of game design’ and the development will be covered by ‘The Ultimate Guide....’ Without the books, you will have to work a lot harder! *Note: I tried to keep the total for the books to a minimum, but we do require both books

How to Pass Easily!! Show up to ALL the Lectures Show up to all the Tutorials Show up to all the Labs –Seriously, if you sit in every lecture, tutorial and lab you will NOT need to review for the exam, you will already be able to pass it.

As for the Assignments... Spend 1 hour a week working on the game design. (The 3 rd hour of the Lab is booked for you lot) –This will easily get all of the design and documentation finished –If your design runs to schedule you should also be able to get your development done inside of the Lab classes. –Think about it, your assignment done without ANY homework –I’m not saying it is going to be easy, but if you work in the Tutorials you WILL learn a tonne.

Tutorials / Labs These will be run by myself and one of my ex students This is where all of the words I throw at you during the lectures will start to make sense. If you love games, all of this semester will be a load of fun.

References Game Level Design, Ed Byrne, 2005, Charles River Media The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design – F. Dille & J.Z. Platten The Art of Game Design – Jesse Schell