Assignments/Due Dates
______________________________________________

 

1. Personal Game Archeology

Jan 22

 

Archeology and analysis of personal gaming preferences from:

a. childhood and

b. today as an adult.

 

Research and present a short power point or html presentation and demonstration of your favorite game/toy as a child and why it was your favorite, and your favorite game/toy as an adult and why. Include a brief history of the origins of each game, and why this is/was a compelling game experience for you. Include references in your presentation—web links, documentation, the socio-political context of the game/toy you have chosen and its use.

 

 

2. Design the scenario planning game “Yet to Come”
Feb 8

 

Working collaboratively in groups of four, (creating a balanced team consisting of the following talents: visual artist, programmer, sound composer & designer, manager)
use a process known as scenario planning where a group of people share information and judgment to create a picture of the future larger than any individual could produce alone.

 

Create a short game plan proposal, including game design document with as many samples of elements  as possible: (ie. art (sketches, treatments, etc.), how the game will be engineered, time line, sample sounds/programming elements/game play). Envision the future of game simulation or address issues of the future in some way.

 

Using Ernest Adams' Design Philosophy, construct:

the physical space,

the intellectual space,

the emotional space,

the economic space,

and the ethical space of your game concept.

Tell a story or narrative through the use of various multimedia elements which work together to give form to your ideas.

Consider theorist, Roger Caillois' four dimensions of games and play:
- agon (competition)
- alea (chance)
- mimicry (simulation)
- Ilinx (vertigo)
- and also a possible new element, that of repens (or sequentially embedded surprise)

 

Yet to Come, Game Design Deliverables:

High concept document consisting of game design document:

 See rough sample at: gamedesigndocument.htm
text, drawings, or 3D models, or paper game models, etc. in an html or PowerPoint document.
Each person in the group must detail their contributions and include the following:

*Name of Game
* responsibilities of each collaborator

* the premise of the game

* intended audience

* genre (if any)

* unique or distinguishing points

* target platform

* overall storyline

 

 

 

3. Final Project: Experimental Game

Please remember that your completed game project is an innovative, original, purposeful work which goes beyond conventional style gaming paradigms and shows depth of creative goals, sensitivity to social issues, and quality of interaction. The game must be functional, or at the very least demonstrate some dynamic game play with a high end trailer illustrating the core game play concepts, and it must be accompanied by a completed, (web ready, stand alone) game design document and a well designed poster.
see: gamedesigndocument.htm

 

Phase I Proposal & Formal Group Presentation

Feb 22

Rough outline of game design document, rough storyboards, concept ideas, block out time frame of production, and obtain any necessary software, SDKs, and APIs needed. Start research on all technical information needed.

 

Phase II Rough Prototype

Feb 26

Reality check on scope of project, semester schedule for everyone in the group including individual responsibilities and deadlines, more refined game design document, research with artist statement including treatment, narrative, more refined story board, and at least 5 citations of games/ websites/readings/ literature/ films that have influenced you.
(conceptual geography, maps, scenarios, trainers, strategies, symbolism, scoring, rules, etc.)

 

Phase III Game Prototype & Formal Group Presentation

March 1

Definitive schedule for entire project which will be used for milestones for further project development, continuation of incorporating critical feedback, gameplay, polishing and refinement of content, methodology, delivery system, and game design document

 

Phase IV Game Content

March 12

Hooking up assets to game, further development of game play

 

Phase V Refinement

March 15

Refinement for pre-review and three week trajectory for individual team work with assistance in class.

 

Phase VI Further Refinement & Formal Group Presentation

March 22

Formal presentation of group work to date which incorporates suggested improvements from individual critique. Additionally fully updated and perfected game design document is printed and formally handed in.

 

Phase VII Project Work

March 26/29/April 2

Project work and informal critiques on group game which further reflects project progress and testing.

 

Phase VIII Final Project Pre-Reviews & Formal Group Presentation

April 5

Intensive critical analysis of game development, game play, interaction, hardware testing, etc.

 

 

Phase IX- Perfected Game Festival-Ready Games due

April 9/12

Also due:

* well designed game design document

* project blurb & image page

* project posters

Please ensure that all work is spell checked.

It must be printed and also submitted on labeled CD

 

 

:::::::::::::::::::::GAME FESTIVAL & COMPETITION APRIL 13 & 14:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 

Post Mortums

April 16 & 19

 

Phase X – Revised Games Presentations

April 23 & 26

 

FINAL DAY FOR Completed Game Perfected Project Submissions

April 30
submission days for your two cds containing all your work from the semester for final grading purposes
- CD # 1: your perfected game and your completed game design document in html format with all relevant files, + posters, blurbs, etc. in a folder labeled: (your name), final project
- CD #2: all perfected short studies, in a folder labeled (your name), short studies