CS 325: Game Design

• Meets: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4:15pm in Art and Design Building L008
• Blackboard: http://mymason.gmu.edu/
• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CS 211

Instructor: Dr. Jan M. Allbeck

• jallbeck@gmu.edu
• http://cs.gmu.edu/~jallbeck/
• Office: ENGR 5324
• Office hours: Tuesdays 9-10am and 3-4pm

GTA: Kshitiz Bhattarai

• kbhattar@masonlive.gmu.edu

Description:

Game design, in various electronic entertainment technologies, involves a diverse set of skills and backgrounds from narrative and art to computer programming. This course surveys the technical aspects of the field, with an emphasis on programming.

We will be using Python and more specifically Pygame for programming assignments. Pygame can be downloaded from: http://www.pygame.org/download.shtml. We will be using Python version 2.7 and therefore you should install this version: pygame-1.9.2a0.win32-py2.7.msi.

Textbook: Fundamentals of Game Design 2nd Edition by Ernest Adams.

Topics:

1. Principles of Game Design
2. Genre-specific Game Design Issues
3. Storytelling and Character Development
4. Level Design
5. Puzzle Design
6. Franchises, Brands, and history
7. Teams
8. Development

Grading:

• There will be mid-term and final exams (40%) , quizzes and class participation (20%), and assignments and presentations (50%).
• Late policy: Each student will be granted 3 grace days that can be used with programming assignments. The smallest unit that can be used is one day.

Course Outcomes:

1. An ability to employ a variety of data structures in a game development and design context.
2. An ability to identify the issues involved in the core mechanics and design of a game and how to solve them with appropriate techniques.
3. An ability to design and implement simple games from the ground up.

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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Mason is an Honor Code university; please see the University Catalog for a full
description of the code and the honor committee process. The principle of academic
integrity is taken very seriously and violations are treated gravely. What does academic
integrity mean in this course? Essentially this: when you are responsible for a task, you
will perform that task. When you rely on someone else’s work in an aspect of the
performance of that task, you will give full credit in the proper, accepted form. Another
aspect of academic integrity is the free play of ideas. Vigorous discussion and debate are
encouraged in this course, with the firm expectation that all aspects of the class will be
conducted with civility and respect for differing ideas, perspectives, and traditions. When
in doubt (of any kind) please ask for guidance and clarification.

MASON EMAIL ACCOUNTS
Students must use their MasonLIVE email account to receive important University
information, including messages related to this class. See http://masonlive.gmu.edu for more
information.

OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see
me and contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474. All academic
accommodations must be arranged through the ODS. http://ods.gmu.edu

OTHER USEFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES:
WRITING CENTER: A114 Robinson Hall; (703) 993-1200; http://writingcenter.gmu.edu

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES “Ask a Librarian”
http://library.gmu.edu/mudge/IM/IMRef.html

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (CAPS): (703) 993-2380;
http://caps.gmu.edu

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
The University Catalog, http://catalog.gmu.edu, is the central resource for university
policies affecting student, faculty, and staff conduct in university academic affairs. Other
policies are available at http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/. All members of the university
community are responsible for knowing and following established policies.