Instigated by Nolan Bushnell’s PONG some 30 years ago, the game industry is exploded to a multi-billion dollar market, compara

CIS 350 – FALL 2004: Introduction to Game Programming

(Undergrad. Seminar)

INSTRUCTOR:

Rolf Lakaemper, Wachman Hall 534

Phone: 215 204 7996

OBJECTIVE:

Instigated by Nolan Bushnell’s PONG some 30 years ago, the game industry is exploded to a multi-million dollar market, comparable to the film industry. The technical challenges are immense: trying to simulate real world environments and behavior, many topics in computer game design and programming cross the border from entertainment to science. Algorithms, tools and hardware utilized are cutting edge, the demands to soft- and hardware are becoming one of the driving forces in computer science and engineering.

This course will give an overview of techniques related to computer game programming, covering design, modeling and programming aspects from strategy- to action based games, introducing requirements like Physical Modeling, 2D/3D Graphics, Game-AI.

The projects will include the design and implementation of computer games of different genres.

Languages used will be C++ and/or JAVA.

PREREQUISITES:
cis223 or permission of instructor

TEXTBOOKS (Don’t buy yet !):

Rudy Rucker: Software Engineering and Computer Games, Addison Wesley
Daniel Sanchez-Crespo: Core Techniques and Algorithms in Game Programming, New Riders
Alex J. Champandard: AI Game Development, New Riders
David Brackeen: Developing Games in JAVA, New Riders
Ian Parberry: Introduction to Computer Games Programming with DirectX 8.0, Worldware

COURSE TOPICS:

· The Background: History of computer/video games and hardware

· The Variety: Different game genres and requirements

· Appropriate Tools: Programming toolkits and Languages

· Software and Game Design: Design principles & Storylines

· Data Structures: e.g. terrain/background representation

· Display: 2D and 3D graphics and animation

· Acoustic environment: Sound and music

· The real world: Physical modeling

· The enemy: Game - AI

· The player: User interface design , input devices

· Multiple Players: Network Games

GRADING:
Grades will be based on seminar presentations, projects and an exam. No bonus-grades will be given on highscores playing the games presented.