VK Computer Games

VK Computer Games

The course Computer games offers the cumulative knowledge focusing on computer game development. Besides basics in mathematics, algorithms and data structures also common patterns and best practice in the area of computer game development are presented. In parallel to the actual course students develop games themselves (in groups of 3) as practical tasks and present them at the end of the semester. The lecture itself takes place mainly in 4 h blocks, whereas in each course block another aspect of game development is chosen as main topic.

Schedule & Slides

Introduction, March 6th, 2009
- Part 1 - Introduction and economics ~ 1.4 MB
- Part 2 - History (see resources)
Game Development Basics
- Part 1 - Game design and game project management ~ 1.2 MB
- Part 2 - The game loop ~ 705 K
- Java Timer Test ~ 2 K
- Worm7Game ~ 14 K
Sprites, Graphics & Sounds, March 27th, 2009
- In-game video: 1942, example for 2.5D techniques
- In-game video: California Games, example for parallax scrolling
- In-game video: Course sample game, parallax scrolling, sprites
- DSP example: SoundViz (part of ChildrensGames)
- Sample game (~430K)
XNA (Max Knor), April 1st, 2009 - 2-4pm HS 6
Game physics (Horst Pichler), April 3rd, 2009 - 9am~12pm, HS 2
- Materials (~ 5.4M)
- Game Resource Pack (~ 20M)
3D (Andreas Bollin), June 5th, 2009 - 10am-12pm, HS1
- Materials (~ 3.4M)
HCI (Rudolf Melcher), June 5th, 2009 - 12pm-14pm, HS1
Project Presentations, June 12th, 2009 - 8am~18pm, HS2

Presentations Schedule

08:30-09:30 Exam
09:30-10:00 Break
10:00-11:30 Block 1
- Lettmayer & Münzer - Magna Calibra
  - Video
  - Postmortem
- Pairitsch, Rainer & Winkler - Chromatophobia
  - Video
  - Postmortem
- Dieber, Grassauer & Mayring - GeoBashing
  - Video 1, Video 2
  - Postmortem
11:30-13:00 Break
13:00-14:30 Block 2
- Nagele, Warum & Moser - Switchboy
  - Video
  - Postmortem
- Blackert, Liebenberger & Reidlinger - Magneto
  - Video
  - Postmortem
- Dittrich, Mihelcic & Telsnig - Kontiki
  - Video
  - Postmortem
14:30-15:00 Break
15:00-16:30 Block 3
- Granitzer, Harder & Unterkreuter - Darth Invaders
- Katzian & Primus - Dangerous Worms
  - Video
  - Postmortem

Further available for the games are

Fotos of the event can be found here.

Topics

Basics, history & context
Game design & game project plans
Game development principles
Graphics and sound
Game physics and collisions
Multiplayer & networking
Game input and output devices
Artificial intelligence

Modalities

For the final grade two projects, a final test as well as a presentation of the final project are taken into account. Projects are done in groups of three.

Project A: Development of a simple Java game with

Animated sprites
Parallax scrolling in 3+ layers
Sound (background and events)
Collision detection
Physics (one of these or similar)
Bounce, Gravity or (De-)Acceleration
Submit ‘till April 20th 2009

Project B: Design and implement a game of your choice

Have an idea
Choose implementation platform
Write a project design & plan
- As given in the slides
- Or use this template(taken from the Gamemaker 7.0 tutorial)
Submit plan until May 15th 2009
Finish your project
Present your game on June, 12th 2009
- You have 20 Minutes presentation time and 10 minutes discussion time
- Each group member should actively participate in the presentation
Submit Postmortem until June, 12th 2009
- Follow structure and style of reading [2]
- See also slides of 2nd block