Computer Science 306

Course Description

This course will cover aspects of game graphics, physics, sound, input, AI and networking at an introductory level. This course is intended to provide a broad basis in computer game related fields, serving as a primer and providing context for specialized courses in fourth year.

Course Scope

The course will provide an overview of these topics, and address the simplest algorithms to realize each of the components of a core game mechanic. For example, collision detection will be introduced, but only algorithms for simple 2D collisions will be covered in detail.

Prerequisite(s)

CMPT 270 required, Math 264 or 266 recommended or Permission of the Instructor

Instructor Information

Kevin G. Stanley
Room 281.5 Thorvaldson Bldg.
966-6747
kstanley@cs.usask.ca
Office Hours TBD or by appointment

Lecture Information

Three hours of lecture per week
1.5 hour tutorial per week

Textbook Information

Material will be drawn from a number of print and online resources. Two texts are recommended for students who wish additional background material on the mathematics or algorithms.

Recommended texts

  • I. Millington Artificial Intelligence for Games 2009
  • J. Van Verth, L.M. Bishop Essential Mathematics for Games and Interactive Applications 2nd Edition, 2008

Selected Lecture topics

  • Anatomy of a Game
    • Game design and ludological principles
  • Graphics 2D using Sprites
    • Simple sprites and bitmapped file types
    • Coordinate transforms
    • Moving sprites using delta notation
    • Sprite sheets and conditional animation
  • Collision Detection
    • Collision detection for simple shapes
    • Collision detection for polygons
    • Collision resolution using simple physics
  • Game Physics
    • Projectiles
    • Collision mechanics
    • Gravity
    • How to bend the rules without breaking them
  • State Machines and Decisions Trees for Scripted Behavior
    • Simple state machines
    • Case Study: The Zombie Behavioral Decision Tree
  • Path Planning
    • Simple Roadmaps
    • Probabilistic planning
    • Walkable meshes
  • Position and Strategy
    • Threat maps
    • Cost functions for strategic value heuristics
  • Introduction to Game Theory and Chance
    • Game Theory and Game Design
    • Odds and playability
  • Systems Issues
    • Lag Resistant Networking
    • Multithreaded Game Design
  • Input Devices
    • Standard input devices
    • Ubiquitous and mobile games

IMPORTANT! Please read

  1. All students must be properly registered in order to attend lectures and receive credit for this course.
  2. Failure to write the final exam will result in failure of the course.
  3. Failure to complete required course work will result in failure of the course.

 

Student Evaluation

Grading scheme 1

  • Final Exam 35%
  • Midterm 15%
  • Assignments 6%
  • Project 44%
    • Pitch and Game Design 5%
    • Proof of Concept 5%
    • Alpha prototype 10%
    • Final Game 20%
    • Peer Review 4%

 

The three short assignments will cover the implementation of the topics covered in the course. The exams will primarily address the underlying algorithmic and mathematical concepts. Because game development is a process combining both implementation and theoretical elements, the two components are given nearly equal weight. The final project will give students the opportunity to demonstrate they can integrate what they have learned.

Students must complete the final exam to pass the course. Missed examinations are detailed in policy 1 below. Extensions for the final project of less than 3 weeks can be granted under the same conditions detailed in policy 1. Failure to complete the required coursework will result in failure of the course.

Technical information

We will be working with the XNA libraries from Microsoft Inc. During assignments, you will use the XNA libraries and development environment and Visual C# to implement simple games demonstrating the topics covered in class. XNA and Visual Studio is available to all registered students in the undergraduate labs and for download via the web.

Missed Examinations

  1. “Students who have missed an exam or assignment must contact their instructor as soon as possible. Arrangements to make up the exam may be arranged with the instructor. Missed exams throughout the year are left up to the discretion of the instructor if a student may make up the exam or write at a different time. If a student knows prior to the exam that she/he will not be able to attend, they should let the instructor know before the exam.”
  2. “Final exams – a student who is absent from a final examination through no fault of his or her own, for medical or other valid reasons, may apply to the College of Arts and Science Dean’s office. The application must be made within three days of the missed examination along with supporting documentary evidence. Deferred exams are written during the February mid-term break for Term 1 courses and in early June for Term 2 and full year courses.”

(2007/08. http://www.arts.usask.ca/students/transition/tips.php)

Incomplete Course Work and Final Grades

“When a student has not completed the required course work, which includes any assignment or examination including the final examination, by the time of submission of the final grades, they may be granted an extension to permit completion of an assignment, or granted a deferred examination in the case of absence from a final examination. Extensions for the completion of assignments must be approved by the Department Head, or Dean in non-departmentalized Colleges, and may exceed thirty days only in unusual circumstances. The student must apply to the instructor for such an extension and furnish satisfactory reasons for the deficiency. Deferred final examinations are granted as per College policy.

In the interim, the instructor will submit a computed percentile grade for the course which factors in the incomplete course work as a zero, along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure) if a failing grade. In the case where the instructor has indicated in the course outline that failure to complete the required course work will result in failure in the course, and the student has a computed passing percentile grade, a final grade of 49% will be submitted along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure).

If an extension is granted and the required assignment is submitted within the allotted time, or if a deferred examination is granted and written in the case of absence from the final examination, the instructor will submit a revised computed final percentage grade. The grade change will replace the previous grade and any grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure) will be removed.

For provisions governing examinations and grading, students are referred to the University Council Regulations on Examinations section of the Calendar.”

(2007/08 University of Saskatchewan Calendar/Exams & Grades/Grading System)

Department Policy on Academic Honesty

Students are expected to be academically honest in all of their scholarly work, including course assignments and examinations. Academic honesty is defined and described in the Department of Computer Science Statement on Academic Honesty and the University of Saskatchewan Academic Honesty Website.

Students using the E-Handin system to submit an assignment for the first time will be prompted with a declaration of academic honesty. After reading the declaration, you will be presented with three options: “Agree”, “Disagree”, or “Decide Later”. If you choose “Decide Later” you will be prompted again the next time you log into the E-Handin system. Agreement or disagreement applies to all CMPT courses in which you are registered.

For classes that do not use the E-Handin system, each student may be requested to submit a signed paper copy of the Declaration of Academic Honesty to their course instructor.

An instructor, at their option, may ask students to sign the paper declaration, even if their class is making use of E-Handin.

The Department has decided to create a Departmental Academic Dishonesty Panel, which consists of two faculty members appointed by the Department Head and one student member appointed by the CSSS.

If an instructor has reason to suspect academic dishonesty on an assignment, the instructor will not return the original assignment to the student. Instead it will be forwarded along with all relevant evidence to the Department Academic Dishonesty Panel. The Panel will deliberate on the case, possibly requiring testimony from the student(s) involved. The Panel, in consultation with the instructor, will decide whether the case should be forwarded to the Arts and Science Student Academic Affairs Committee for a disciplinary hearing or whether the case should be handled locally within the Department. Should the Panel find no evidence of dishonesty, the case will be excused. In cases where dishonesty is determined, the Panel may decide to issue a warning and delete any mark associated with that assignment. In such cases, a formal warning letter will be sent to the student, copied to the instructor and the Arts and Science Student Academic Affairs Committee, and no other academic penalty will be applied. If the student or instructor is dissatisfied with the Panel's decision, either party may request that the case be reviewed by the Student Academic Affairs Committee.

The Student Academic Affairs Committee treats all cases according to the University Policy and has the right to apply strict academic penalties (see http://www.usask.ca/university\_council/reports/09-27-99.shtml