Casual Game Development

Instructor Information

Prof. Tony Jefferson

Teaching Assistant: TBA

Overview

Hopefully you are excited about the material in this class, I am! Read below for details about this course.

Course Description (from course catalog)

This course explores the design and construction of casual game experiences. Topics include modes of casual game play, mechanics for casual games, characteristics of successful games, development processes, and the distribution of casual games. Students will create casual games, and employ technologies to address issues of scalability, presentation, social interconnectivity, and game analytics.

Individual and group programming projects will be required. 3 Credits

Possible Class Textbook

Computer Accounts

You should be able to login to the lab computers with your existing IGM computer account.

Software

Your text editor of choice to author CSS/HTML/JavaScript documents

Your FTP client of choice to transfer files to gibson.

Your image editor of choice to create and optimize digital images.

Course Goals and Outcomes

See course topics and outcomes page.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory and you are expected to be on time. Lectures will start promptly at the beginning of class, and will be followed by an in-class assignment or exercise that you are expected to work on until the end of the meeting (i.e. no leaving early).

Classroom Behavior

You should not be talking to another student while the instructor is speaking. Doing so means that:

• you cannot hear what the instructor is saying ...
• neither can the person you are speaking to ...
• nor can nearby students.

These are all bad things - so please respect this rule, and raise your hand if you have a question.

Keep your voice at a reasonable level:

Typically after the lecture you will be given time to work on an assignment. Quiet discussion and conversation is allowed and the volume needs to be kept at a low level so as to not disturb your classmates. If you are easily distracted by background noise, you may wish to bring headphones to class and wear them while working on assignments.

Excessively checking your email, playing games, surfing the web, or working on assignments during lectures can have negative impacts:

• Performing more than one task at the same time is difficult. While you are paying attention to the computer, you are likely missing out on the content of the lecture.
• You are also distracting neighboring students..
• If your computer screen is visible to the hallway, your behavior is broadcast to a broader audience (students, faculty, administrators, visiting parents, ...) and reflects poorly, especially on you.

Violations of these classroom behavior policies will be dealt with through deductions in your attendance grade.

How to succeed in this class

• Be excited! We're making games!
• Get to class everyday, on time, and be ready to work. Lectures will start promptly at the beginning of class.
• Buy the textbook (if we have one), read it, and complete any Study Guides. Be sure to save the Study Guides after you get them back - future test questions will be pulled from them and the in-class assignments.
• Take notes - either handwritten or electronically (Word Doc or Google Doc). It will help you to pay attention and remember the material.
• Start assignments early! Don't wait until the night before.
• Ask questions in class or by email for clarification.
• Be a valued member of your group.
• See me outside of class if you are having trouble.

Grading

• Projects: 60%
• Quizzes/Exams: 25%
• HW: 10%
• Attendance: 5%

Note: Grade A = superior work, not just satisfactory.
90+=A, 80+=B, 70+=C, 65+=D, 64.999-=F

Note: 1 absence 4/5 points, 2 absences 3/5 points, 3 absences 1.5/5 points, 4 absences 0 points. Each additional absence is 2.5% off of final average. Late is 1/2 absence. Facebooking or similar off-task activity during lectures or demos will count as a absence for the day.

Note: There are no make-ups and no extra credit.

Note: Late homework or in-class exercises are NEVER accepted late without a valid excuse.

Note: Late projects are sometimes accepted.

Note: The MAXIMUM grade awarded on any late project is an 85%

Academic Honesty

ANY instance of academic dishonesty (cheating, collusion, or duplicate submission) will result in a failing grade in the course and will be reported to the chair of the student's home department. This policy includes all assignments, including seemingly trivial ones like homework. There will be no second chances given.

IGM Academic Integrity Policy (pdf)
RIT Academic Honesty Policy

Important RIT Deadlines

• Last day of add/drop is the beginning of week 2.
• Last day to withdraw with a grade of W is the end of week 12.
• You have one semester to challenge your grade. After that, grades cannot be challenged (IGM department policy).