Computer Games Theory and Practice 2007

Computer games have now exceeded Hollywood movies in global sales. Computer games are now recognized as important cultural and artistic products. This class will look at how computer games are made, why they are made, and how students from all disciplines can interpret and respond to them. Key words include: economics, violence, politics, military, simulation, narrative, and subjectivity. We will not just theorize about games. We will play them! Each student will choose a computer game and play it in depth, relate the experience to game theory and cultural theory, and report back to the class. Students will be introduced to 3D modeling, animation, and game design using 3D GameStudio. Students will produce a final project in their medium of choice.

EACH PERSON HAS 10 MINUTES SHOW AND TELL

Be concise, and hit at least the following bullet points:
- a description of your reasons for doing the project, and the steps you went through to complete it
- a description of the project including display of objects, visual imagery, and/or demonstrations
- the relation of the project to the game world and the wider social field, and
- above all, the lessons you learnt that you can share with the class to further our collective knowldege relating to games whether it be practical or theoretical.

There is no requirement for a Powerpoint presentation. You can just show your final work and talk about it. Any digital work should be shown on the class projector. Please, please practice at least once to make sure you can say everything in 10 minutes.

PLEASE ENSURE ALL DIGITAL MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY ON A FLASH DRIVE OR PORTABLE HARD DRIVE. DO NOT RELY ON YOUR ACCOUTS OR THE INTERNET.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10
- Ashley LaBelle
- Sandra Lopez
- Megan and Marc (AFTER THE BREAK IN THE ATRIUM ~1:30PM FOR 20 MINUTES)
+PLUS ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO GO

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
[ORDER IS REVERSE OF MID TERM]
Emily Wagner
Timo Sutton
Thomas Speicher
Reynaldo Raquel
Huong Nguyen
Ed Ng
15 MINUTE BREAK
Cavlin McDermott
Michelle Mucker
Anh Nguyen
Christopher Chambers
Noah Balmer

REMINDER
By Friday December 14 you will blog a summary of your project which will address the same topics asabove. You must include at least one good image relating to your project. If you did a 3DGS project please upload a zip of your working directory.

Download file

- Watch XPlay from 11/21 which includes reviews of Assassin's Creed and Guitar Hero III

- Andy will demo Tutorial 6 - import a Quake model into 3DGS

- Continue with 3DGS tutorials and final projects

I will not be in class. Continue with 3DGS tutorials and final projects.

Download file

Download file

Download file

- Watch Monday's episode of X-Play

- Anatomy of the main 3DGS script

- Continue with 3DGS Tutorials

- Reminder: blog idea for final project by Friday. I will be looking at the ideas over the weekend and you will each present briefly to the class on Monday.

For those of you who have finished #1 and #2
TUTORIAL #3 - SPRITES, CAMERAS, SHADOWS, SOUNDTRACK, TEXT PANELS