CS 583 Topics Covered

 Order

Topics

Lecture & Discussion

Topic 1

Introducing to 3D Game Development

Course intro, review of text, syllabus, & lab issues.
Discuss Industry, Elements of 3D Games,

Topic 2
Game Industry and the Game Development Pipeline

History of games from before computers and the evolving field of computer game development.  The steps in game development as a software engineering process.  The roles of members of the game team (

Topic 3

3D Concepts

Describe coordinate systems, constructing models, rendering and transformations, programming.

Topic 4

Game Programming
Game Play

Discuss Torque Script. Describe game structure. Lead discussion of client vs. server design issues.

Topic 5

World View of Game Programming

With class focus on programming, we must consider how the field is perceived by the general public and the programmer responsibility.

Topic 6

Network
Common Scripts

Lead discussion about messaging and ways it can be used. Discuss uses for Master Server concept. Lead discussion regarding Common code base vs. Control code - design decisions that lead to each.

Topic 7

Introduction to Textures
Skins

Demonstrate Paint Shop Pro and major features. Describe UV Unwrapping and skinning process. Demonstrate.

Topic 8

Working in a Group

Game Industry is a team-work environment.  Students must develop understanding of the roles and skills needed to be an effective team member.

Topic 9

GUI Elements
Structural Material Textures

Describe various GUI controls, demonstrate the Torque GUI Editor, and show relationship to .GUI file type contents. Segue discussion to structures and textures. Lead student discussion of sources of textures for use in games.

Topic 10

Terrains

Modeling with Softtware (Milkshape)

Describe terrain in gaming context. Relate real-world terrain to uses in game. Discuss fidelity, spread, and freedom of terrain. Demonstrate Modeling with Milkshape. Demonstrate using the UVMapper Tool. Lead discussion of modeling techniques.

Topic 11

Character Models

 Vehicle Models

Describe character modeling issues. Lead discussion on which techniques are suited to modeling which parts of a character.
Discuss pre-constructed models available on the Internet from Game Enthusiasts.  Evaluate suitable of freely available models.
Describe vehicle modeling issues. Lead discussion on which techniques are suited to modeling which parts of a vehicle.

Topic 12

Game Items.  Weapons.  Structures

Describe the various types of useful game items to be modeled.

Topic 13

Game World Environment

Programming Sound

Describe the various environmental aspects of games that can be modeled, and why they are needed.  
Demonstrate Audacity, and lead discussion of where and when sound effects are useful in games.

Topic 14

Sound and Music

 The Game Mission

Describe in detail some of the more mundane sound effects (like footsteps) and why they are important. Lead discussion about the use of music in games - where, when, why, how.
Describe utility of requirements specifications. Demonstrate the Mission Editor.

Topic 15

The Game Server

The Game Client

Describe importance of using server-side code for certain game-play issues. Discuss event triggers.
Describe which game mechanisms are best left to the client code.

Final

The End Game: Wrap-up, Presentations, and Demonstrations

Describe testing and hosting issues. Lead round-table discussion of game ideas.