CSCE 590E Spring 2007
Computer Game Design and Programming
By Jijun Tang
Introduction
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First time ever offered as a course in
our department
Some in CSCE245/240 have
developed games
We plan to offer this course every
spring in the future:
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your input is important to make this
happen!
Introduction-2
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Instructor:
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Jijun Tang
3A50, 777-8923, jtang with cse.sc.edu
TA:
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Joachim Stahl
Stahlj with cse.sc.edu
Book
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Introduction to Game Development
Edited by Steve Rabin
Charles River Media, ISBN 1-58450-377-7
~$70
We will follow the major chapters of this
book, so having a copy is required. Some
homework will be assigned from the
exercises in the book.
Objectives
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Understand the general procedure and
requirements of game design
Become familiar with the popular game tools
like DirectX, 3DMax, Photoshop, etc.
Design a complex software package, write
good and detailed documentation, and give
technical presentations.
Work as a group with several people, and
gain first-hand experience about handling
projects in the industry.
Topics
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Game history and game reviews
Game design principles, processes and game architecture
Direct X, SAGE, DXFramework and other engines
2D/3D graphics, animation
Artificial Intelligence, physics, collision detection
Story-based Game Design, Text-based adventure, First
person shooter games, Role-playing games, Strategy games,
Sports games, Multiplayer games, online games
Art in games, music and sound effects, game aesthetics
Documentations, testing and publishing
Forum
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We have a class forum at:
http://forums.cse.sc.edu/forumdisplay.php?f=15
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The forum should be used as the
primary source to seek helps
Please do not post words that will
offend others
Grading
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No exam
2 projects:
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One smaller to make you master
Visual .Net and MFC, and basic game
programming (graduate: individual,
undergraduate: team of two) 15%.
One bigger project
Big Project
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Group of 4, a graduate student will be
the leader, you pick your own group.
Finish a 2D/3D game using one of the
two available engines:
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DXFramework (U Mich)
SAGE (N. Texas)
30% points for the programming part
Presentations
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2 intermediate presentations, 10%
each.
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1st presentation is about the overall
design, seek approval from the class
2nd presentation is about the detailed
design, check any missing part and
discuss possible problems
Homework and Quiz
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30%, 7 homework total
Some are simple, like doing a survey
Some are complex, for example to
create a flash game
5% quiz, 5 total, randomly given
Lab Session
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We need it
What is the best time?
Tools
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Visual .Net
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All labs have installed .Net
You can get a copy from the college
http://msdn03.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Home.aspx?campus=sc_eng
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DirectX
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All labs have installed DX SDK
No openGL will be supported
2D/3D tools
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2D: installed GIMP, free
you can purchase Paintshop Pro and
install at your home computer (I have
used it for 5 years)
Microsoft paint can be useful, but its
functionality is very limited
2D/3D tool
3D: GMax
 Free from AuthoDesk, but it stops the
support of gmax 18 months ago
 You can obtain a copy from
http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax
 I have used 3D Canvas Pro for 5 years
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$65 for professional version
Demo of my work
Engines
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SAGE and DXFramework (or others)
SAGE: A Simple Academic Game
Engine
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http://larc.csci.unt.edu/sage/
Developed by Ian Parberry
Student project demos---
DXFramework
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U. Michigan
Based on DirectX 9.0
Has a python script to help the
creation of games
Demos
Game History
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First game: William Higinbotham
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1958
Analog computer
An isolated incident
Inpsiration: Steve “Slug” Russell
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1961 as a student in MIT
DEC PDP-1 (18 bit) $120,000
Tennis for two (1958)
Spacewar (1961)
Game for the Masses
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Ralph Baer (left) and Nolan Bushnell (right)
Magnavox Odyssey (1972)
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1967-1968, Ralph Baer
Light gun and shooting
Brown Box, the first home video game
console
Sold to Magnavox
Light Gun and Odyssey
Nolan Bushnell and Atari (1972)
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Computer Space machines
Atari company
Arcade games
Pong: first popular video game
Pong and Arcade
Computer Space
Cartridge-based Console (1977)
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Atari 2600, 1977
Able to support many games
Crash (1983)
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Poor games
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Pac-Man on console
E.T. ($20 Million for the right)
Too many cartridges
Rebirth, with Japanese companies
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Nintendo Entertainment System (8 bit)
from Nintendo (任天堂)
Miyamoto’s Mario
NES (90% market)
NES
Mario
Game
boy
contra
A Video
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Play
Sega
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Sega Master System (1985)
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Saturn (1994)
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16 bit
Genesis
Not successful, but can add modem
Dreamcast (1999)
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Built-in modem, 128-bit graphics
Last from Sega
Sega Systems
Master System
Saturn
Playstation
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Playstation I
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Playstation II (2000)
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Sony (1994-1995)
CD form
DVD
Strong third party support
Playstation III (2006)
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Do you wait in the long line?
Playstation I
Final Fantasy
Grand Theft Auto
Xbox
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Microsoft has been in game for long
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Flight simulator
Age of Empires
Microsoft (2001)
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PC architecture
Xbox Live
Xbox 360 (2006)
MS Games
Home computers
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Apple II and Macintosh
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First home computer
366 games are created for Apple II
IBM PC
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IBM 5150
IBM is no longer in PC business
Designers
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Will Wright
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Sid Meier
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Pirates!
Railroad Tycoon
Civilization
Ken & Roberta Williams
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SimCity
The Sims
Adventure games: Quest
half-Life
Richard Garriott
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RPG games
Ultima
Old Legendary Games
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Pac-Man Play
Tetris Play
Final Fantasy
Pokémon
Doom
…
Studios
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MS (flight simulator, AE)
Electronic Arts (publisher, C&C)
Interplay
LucasArts
Blizzard (Warcraft)
Id Software (DOOM)
Types
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Adventure (text-based/graphical)
Action (shooting, combat sim)
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First-person shooting
Combat sim
Action adventure
Platformer (Mario)
Fighting (street fighter)
Real-time strategy (RTS)
Survival Horror
Types
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Role Playing Game (RPG)
Stealth
Simulation
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SimCity
Flight Simulator
Train Simulator
Racing
Sports
Types
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Rhythm
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Puzzle
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Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)
Tetris
Education
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Typing
NSF funds many such games
Homework
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Due on Monday before class begins
Type in word, print it and turn it in
Question 1: List some games you have
played, briefly describe them (or providing
screen shots) and catalog each
Question 2: Compare Wii, PS3 and Xbox
360, using public available data (price,
RAM, architecture, features, etc)