Development of Computer Plays

Subject guarantor:

Helena BENDOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s):

Helena BENDOVÁ

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the development of computer games through a theory and practical path, from AAA games to casual games. This covers programming, game design and team management issues. The students attempt to create one small casual game.

Mode of study:

This course takes place in a series of lectures and group work on the development of a casual play in small student teams.

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

Those interested in the course need not have any previous knowledge (it is not necesary to know how to program).

Recommended optional programme components:

http://artemis.ms.mff.cuni.cz/main/tiki-index.php?page=Computer+games+development

Course contents:

A course instructed by Mgr. Cyril Brom, Ph.D. (MFF UK), Mgr. Jakub Gemrot (MFF UK), Mgr. Vít Šisler, Ph.D. (FF UK) and Bc. Otakar Nieder (Bohemia Interactive Simulations) and invited guests from the gaming industry providing a comprehensive overview of the development of computer games. In the course practical, students propose and create a small casual game in teams of 3-4 for Android, UDK, Flash or HTML5 including the game script, GUI design and game architecture. The theory section will contain programming (various hardware platforms, script languages, etc.), use of computer graphics in games, game design, project management and game marketing. The course is open to those interested from various schools (MFF UK, FF UK, FAMU, VŠUP, ČVUT) and departments. Considering the differences in student knowledge they will be able to choose lectures. The course practical will develop a small casual game which is to be successful in the market among real distributed casual games or international competition. To produce such a game in reality is a question of good game design and a couple days of good programming and graphics work. It will also be possible to attain grants for game creation.

Student teams will be interdisciplinary, the same as the interdisciplinary teams which really develop games. We will try as much as possible that each team has a representative of key professions: programmer, designer and graphics artist. Student teams are formed during October of 2012. We hope that the game proposal creatively includes the ideas of all team members. No one in the team is to operate as a „hired-hand.“ Because of the structuring of the team the first 4 lectures are obligatory (from then on the lectures may be selected according to specialization within the team).

There are approx. 15 lectures during the semester. Half of these are technically focused (graphics and programming focuses), half on game design, marketing, etc. The main lecture block takes place at MFF UK (Malostranské nám. 25) every Friday at 9:00 in lecture room S9. The course begins on Friday the 5th of October. There are 4 technical exercises for development platforms (UDK, Flash, HTML5, Android) during the semester. After the team selects a platform for their game, there will be an additional 1-2 exercises for their platform to attend. The exercises and accompanying lectures will take place on Friday from 10:40 in classroom S9, the first of which is planned for October 26th.

Recommended or required reading:

Materials from the internet.

www.gamasutra.com

http://www.gamedev.net/

Books:

Game Programming Gems 1 - 8, Charles River Media

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

Lecture, technical exercises and group student work in teams of 3-4 on a small causal play.

Assessment methods and criteria:

In January of 2013 there will be a presentation of student projects. Students will be assessed for a) game design, b) game technical functions, c) level of presentation. In extreme cases teams will be assessed as a whole.

Course web page:

http://artemis.ms.mff.cuni.cz/main/tiki-index.php?page=Computer+games+development

Note:

This course takes place in collaboration with the Faculty of Math and Physics, Philosophy Faculty of the Charles University, Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, and FAMU

Further information:

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2012/2013:

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon
Tue
Fri
Thu
Fri	místnost () BENDOVÁ H. 09:00–12:00 (přednášková par. 1)

Date	Day	Time	Tutor	Location	Notes	No. of paralel
	Fri	09:00–12:00	BENDOVÁ H.			přednášková par. 1

Schedule for summer semester 2012/2013:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Animovaná tvorba - bakalář (optional subject)
• Dokumentární tvorba - magistr (optional subject)
• Dokumentární tvorba - bakalář (optional subject)
• Animovaná tvorba - magistr (optional subject)
• Scenáristika a dramaturgie - bakalář (optional subject)
• Scenáristika a dramaturgie - magistr (optional subject)
• Režie - bakalář (optional subject)
• Režie - magistr (optional subject)
• Kamera - bakalář (optional subject)
• Kamera - magistr (optional subject)
• Produkce - bakalář (optional subject)
• Produkce - magistr (optional subject)
• Audiovizuální studia - bakalář (optional subject)
• Střihová skladba - bakalář (optional subject)
• Střihová skladba - magistr (optional subject)
• Zvuková tvorba - bakalář (optional subject)
• Zvuková tvorba - magistr (optional subject)
• Fotografie CZ - bakalář (optional subject)
• Fotografie CZ - magistr (optional subject)
• Audiovizuální studia - magistr (optional subject)
• Fotografie CZ: Restaurování fotografie (optional subject)