CIS 490 Computer Game Design and Implementation
Spring 1999

Bruce R. Maxim, PhD                         Office: 120 ELB
Associate Professor                         Hours:  1:30-2:30
Phone:  436-9155                                    TTh & 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 4 graded assignments. Each assignment will 
be accompanied with an oral presentation. The final project will 
count for 40% of your grade. 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)

       Windows Game Programming for Dummies by LaMothe, IDG Books,
       1998. (required)

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

URL:   www.engin.umd.umich.edu/CIS/course.des/cis490a.html


Week of               Topic                         Reading
        
05-10 History of Computer Games                 S1-3

Video Game Evaluation Criteria            S7

           Game Design Principles                    S4-5
                                                   L2,20-21

 05-17     Game Evaluation Project Due 

          Video Game Architecture                  S10-11

 05-24     Basics of Windows Programming             L1-6

          DirectX                                   L7-9

Introduction to Bit-Mapped Sprites        L10

           Introduction to 2D Graphics               L11

 05-31     Memorial Day Holiday

           Arcade Game Design Project Due

           Interactive Fiction                       S6

           Physics and Collision Detection           L17

 06-07     User Interface Design                     S6
     
           Use of Sound                              L13

           Basic I/O                                 L14

06-14 Interactive Fiction Project Due

           Animation Techniques                      S11

          Introduction to 3D Graphics               notes

          Binary Space Partition Trees              notes

06-21     Artificial Intelligence & Game Playing   M15-16

          Artificial Life                           notes

Optimization Techniques                   L2
 
           Networks and Multi-Player Games          M17-19

           Marketing Issues                         S12-15
                                                     L19  
 
 06-28     Intellectual Property Issues             S16-17 

 06-30     Final Project Presentations (12:00 - 3:00 pm)