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FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
Fordham College at Lincoln Center

Department of Computer & Information Sciences

SYLLABUS

	Semester:		Spring, 2012
	Course Number:		CISC 2540 L01
	Course Title:		Intro to Video Game Design
	Instructor:		Dr. Robert K. Moniot
			Office LL 817-E, Phone (212) 636-6334
			Office hours: MW 10:30-11:15, TF 2:30-3:30
			Other office hours by appointment
			E-mail:
			URL: http://www.dsm.fordham.edu/~moniot
	Class Hours:		TF 1:00-2:15 Room LL 520
	Required Text:		Game Design and Development: Introduction to the Game Industry, by Michael Moore, Pearson, 2007 (ISBN: 9780131687431)
			Reality is Broken, by Jane McGonigal, Penguin Press, 2011 (ISBN: 9781594202858)

Course Outline: This course provides a gentle and fun introduction to the design and production of computer-based video games, for students with no prior programming experience. Students will learn principles of game design, and apply them to create an actual computer game. Students will also research selected aspects of games and/or the game industry, write term papers about their topics, and give presentations.

Grade will be based on:

• attendance and participation (15%),
• a midterm paper (6-8 pages, 20%),
• an in-class presentation (20 minutes plus Q&A, 20%),
• a game project (20%), and
• a final term paper (9-10 pages, 25%).

There will be no final exam. The class is required to meet during the final exam period. This time will be used to review and return graded final term papers.

The topic for a term paper may be: a review of a commercial video game; exploration of some aspect of the social impact of a game or of some genre of games in general; or other topics of interest related to video games. The presentation topic should be the same as the topic of one of the two term papers, but no two students are to give a presentation on the same topic.

Academic integrity is very important to the mission of the university. Plagiarism or failure to properly cite sources will result in an F on the paper and may result in an F for the course. You are responsible for and expected to follow the Fordham College policy regarding matters of academic integrity.

If you believe that you have a disabling condition that may interfere with your ability to participate in the activities, coursework, or assessment of the object of this course, you may be entitled to accommodations. If so, please schedule an appointment to speak with me immediately or you may go to the Office of Disability Services (Room LL 207, x6282).

This course fulfills the EP 3 core requirement.

Course Objectives: After completion of this course, the student will:

• Be familiar with the history of video games and the principal video game genres.
• Understand the development cycle for video game products.
• Be able to design and document a game.
• Be able to use a game-creation software application to create a working video game.

Schedule of Topics, Readings and Assignments:

Week 1: Jan. 17-20

The game industry. History of computer games. Reading: Moore, chaps. 1-2.

Week 2: Jan. 24-27

Game genres. Overview of game platforms. Reading: Moore, chaps. 3-4.

Week 3: Jan. 31-Feb. 3

Game development cycle. Reading: Moore, chaps. 5-6. Midterm paper proposal due.

Week 4: Feb. 7-10

Game design team roles. Reading: Moore, chaps. 7-8.

Week 5: Feb. 14-17

Game design: storyboarding and outlining. Reading: Moore, chaps. 9-11. Rough draft of midterm paper due.

Week 6: Feb. 24-Mar. 2

Game design: what makes a good game. Reading: McGonigal, chaps. 1-3. Game proposal due.

Week 7: Mar. 6-9

Interface design. Reading: McGonigal, chaps. 4-6. Midterm paper due.

Week 8: Mar. 20-23

Implementing a game: game creation software. Reading: McGonigal, chaps. 7-8. Presentation proposal due.

Week 9: Mar. 27-30

Implementing a game, cont'd. Reading: McGonigal, chaps. 9-10.

Week 10: Apr. 3

Impact of video games on society and children. Reading: McGonigal, chaps. 11-14. Final term paper proposal due.

Week 11: Apr. 10-13

Student presentations.

Week 12: Apr. 17-20

Student presentations. Rough draft of final term paper due.

Week 13: Apr. 24-27

Student presentations.

Week 14: May 1

Student presentations. Final term paper due.

Week 15: May 11 (tentative date)

Review of final papers. Game project due.

(Note that this schedule may need to be adjusted slightly as the course progresses. Any changes will be announced in class and posted on the Blackboard web site.)