CIS 490 Computer Game Design and Implementation
Spring 1999

Bruce R. Maxim, PhD                          Office: 120 ELB
Associate Professor                          Hours:  12:00-1:30
Phone:  436-9155                                     MW & by appt.
e-mail: bmaxim@umich.edu


This course deals with the study of the technology, science, 
and art involved in the creation of computer games. The focus of 
the course will be hands-on development of computer games. 
Students will study a variety of software technologies relevant to 
computer game design, including: programming languages, scripting 
languages, operating systems, file systems, networks, simulation 
engines, and multi-media design systems. Lecture and discussion 
topics will be taken from several areas of computer science: 
simulation and modeling, computer graphics, artificial 
intelligence, real-time processing, game theory, software 
engineering, human computer interaction, graphic design, and game 
aesthetics.

The course will include a variety of group projects. Group 
projects will involve system implementation. All projects will 
require design activities and students will be expected to make 
use of existing programming tools. The final group project will 
require students to go through all phases of system life cycle: 
specification, design, implementation, and evaluation. Your scores 
on the exams and assignments will determine your grade in this 
course. There will be 2 exams and 4 to 6 graded assignments 
(programs, reports, presentations). The assignments will account 
for 60% of your grade, and the exams the remaining 40%. Late work 
will be penalized, as will evidence of cheating in any form.
        
        
Texts: Game Developer's Marketplace by Sawyer, Dunne, & Berg
       Coriolis Books, 1998 (required)

       Internet Game Programming Using Java, by Morrison
       Sams.net, 1996 (optional)

       Spells of Fury: Building Windows95 Games Using DirectX
       by Norton, Waite Group Press, 1996 (optional) 


Week of               Topic                         Reading
        
05-10 History of Computer Games

Game Design Principles

Video Game Architecture

05-17 Video Game Evaluation Criteria

           Introduction to 2D Graphics

Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites

05-24     Physics and Collision Detection

          Basic I/O
           
          Interactive Fiction

          Introduction to 3D Graphics

05-31     3D Graphics API's

          Binary Space Partition Trees

          Exam 1

06-06 Artificial Intelligence and Game Playing

Artificial Life

Use of Sound

06-13 User Interface Design

Optimization Techniques

Networks and Multi-Player Games

06-20 Animation Techniques

Character Animation

Intellectual Property Issues

Exam 2
 
 06-27     Final Project Presentations

           Final Project Presentations