Games Design 1
Week by Week...
Games Design 1 module materials.
Week 1
An introduction to myself, the module and the department
---
Week 2
Your first assignment, a group Prezi presentation
---
Week 3
Presentation week!
---
Week 4
This week we will be starting work on using Unreal Editor. I shall be demonstrating the editor on the board and providing tutorial sheets to work on.
Each session I shall update the following list with new tutorials.
---
Week 5
Continuation of UnrealEd work.
A page containing information on various measurements in UT2004
http://icecreamyou.com/TUT_UTheory.htm
More tutorials...
Task: (Due for Your PRACTICAL session in the week beginning 2nd Nov) Create a level that utilises all of the above tutorials we have covered in UnrealEditor. Have your level ready to show me in your practical session.
---
Week 6
This week you shall be introduced to Personal Development Planning (PDP). Remember to have your level from last week ready to show in your Practical session too!
Games Design 1 PDP Assignment_2009_10.doc
---
Week 7
We will be starting to look at Usability testing. A form of testing where you study the user’s ability to understand and “use” a game as opposed to testing the gameplay itself.
If you use a version of Office older than 2007 you may not be able to open the files above, try these instead...
Games Design 1 Usability Testing Assignment_2009_10_old.doc
---
Week 8
This week, as well as continuing with your usability assignment, you will be learning how to perform research, cite, reference and format documents in a formal manner.
Remember, your first PDP blog entry is due on Friday 20th! 600 words about learning styles (NO SWOT, NO SMART!)
---
Week 9
You shall be starting to learn about game mechanics on Monday. You are NOT required to attend the Thursday or Friday sessions. I will however be in/around University to help with your usability work and answer any questions etc.
Do NOT just think of this as time off, utilise the time wisely to finish your assignments off!.The labs will be available to you for any last minute testing you might need to do.
Your group should book a timeslot with me for next week’s Usability Presentations!
TIMESLOTS
Timeslots for next week can be found here
Read the list carefully to see when your time is!!
---
Week 10
Usability Presenations
---
Week 11
We shall now be starting the work on Mechanics we were aiming to in week 9. Mechanics are a way of looking at the way gameplay is constructed, rules and how a game “works”.
---
Week 12
Last week before Christmas break. You have some time to continue with group work and I shall be showing a video related to your mechanics work in the later week.
---
Week 13
Welcome back from Christmas and New Years! This week we shall be starting on Metrics.
Remember you have some PDP work due in this week too.
---
Week 14
You are only required to attend your MONDAY session this week.
I shall update this website with the timeslots for your mechanics assignment vivas (which are in the first week back). KEEP CHECKING over the semester break just in case your class times change from the current timetable.
UNIVERSITY STARTS AGAIN ON THE 8TH FEB!
---
Week 15 (Week starting Feb 8th)
Mechanics viva week. As per your last time slots for the Usability assignment, you only need to attend your 30minute time slot. Do NOT turn up to classes for this module as there will not be any. DO turn up for your other timetabled modules though.
You MUST have your work ready to give to me at the START of your timeslot, otherwise I shall mark it as late.
---
Week 16
Continuation on metrics work
---
Week 17
This week we shall be starting on the topic of Design Documents. This will be your last group assignment in this module and brings together all the previous topics we have covered.
Lots of links to storyboards!
http://bp0.blogger.com/_OHohk9SeD9Q/R0Mw1OqXYeI/AAAAAAAAACg/hZb6tqbfu4k/s1600-h/storyboard.jpg
(Ratatouille)
http://www.shanezalvin.com/?fa=storyboard§ionid=shrek2
(Misc)
http://www.thestoryboardartist.com/Site/Film.html
(Films)
What not to do! (These convey nothing of use)
http://bp0.blogger.com/_KwD0y5Mqmgs/R-ZPagU6jMI/AAAAAAAAABM/SrC6-uAzYr8/s1600-h/composed+2.jpg
(Misc)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/RaygirlROL/Storyboard2.jpg (Rayman)
---
Week 18
Design Doc assignment - your last group assignment in this module! Remember you also have your individual reports to hand in this week.
---
Week 19
We seem to still have some confusion with referencing, so I shall be covering the topic again and giving you a task to work on and checking them in your lab sessions. These topics will require a bit of research too.
Remember your PDP blog is in for Friday, do NOT ask me what it is about if you haven’t checked the assignment sheet from last semester first. I shall roar at you if you do :P
---
Week 20
In your practical session this week, I’d like to address the issue that I notice lots of groups are heavily focusing towards story/visuals/characters etc. So I want to do an (albeit brief) introduction to the concepts of ludology and narratology.
---
Easter Break
Over the easter break I’d like you to start working on some UT3 tutorials. Specially ones from 3DBuzz (you’ll want to sign up for an account there) that cover the basics of using the UT3 editor, such as:
-
• General UI
-
• Creating a room
-
• Lights
-
• Pickups
-
• Materials
-
• etc
Basically the fundamentals of UT3, much like the things we covered with UT2004 last semester. When you come back from the Easter break we’ll do a quick recap of these and then move on to more advanced topics.
---
Week 22
Welcome back from Easter. This week we’ll start work on your next (and FINAL) assignment. You shall be working in pairs to create a level in Unreal Tournament 3.
---
Week 23
Continuation of your assignment this week. I’ve made a video showing you how to use the scenecapture actor as mentioned late last week.
-
• SceneCaptureActor (at 1:35 I of course mean “texture” and not “material” :D)
---
Week 24
Continuation of your assignment.
---
Week 25
Ideally you should be finishing off your assignments by the end of this week. Which will leave next next to edit together your video etc. If you aren’t honing in on this point yet, HURRY up!
This Friday is the deadline for the last PDP entry you need to do.
Below is a video showing the basics of how to use Adobe Premier to edit your videos
---
Week 26
Below you will find a template to use for your DVD cover. You MUST use this.