Game Development Project I

Final Project Logistics

We will be in the Business Center Atrium (up the stairs when you enter) from 8:00 to 10:30 PM. Displays and projectors will be provided. Please bring a laptop with your game loaded and ready to go, and any additional controllers / etc. you need. Ideally, at least one team member should arrive early to set up. Tech support will be available until 7!

You do not need to plan a formal presentation, but team members should take turns staying with your game to explain it to others. We’ll also be playtesting games from the development class at Shady Grove.

Feel free to invite friends and family!

Remember to register in 470 for next semester! We’ll be working on resumes, building online portfolios, and finishing up your game.

Have a great winter break, and don’t forget to turn in your blog and any revisions by the 15th–let me know when they are ready to be evaluated.

Reminder: Class Blogs

(If you want your blog included on the list, please email me the URL and confirmation that you are willing to have it listed on our public site.)

Share with us:

• Your prototype
• Your blog (briefly describe what you’ve been documenting)
• Your plan for finishing

Our Final Prototype Presentation Day: 12/6!!!

We will be in the business center (more detailed location info will be posted prior to the event) from 8:00 to 10:30 PM. Displays and projectors will be provided. Please bring a laptop with your game loaded and ready to go, and any additional controllers / etc. you need. Ideally, one team member should arrive early to set up.

You do not need to plan a formal presentation, but team members should take turns staying with your game to explain it to others. We’ll be playtesting games from the development class at Shady Grove.

Feel free to invite friends and family!

Grading:

You will receive a grade on your prototype as submitted on 12/6. You have until 12/16 to complete your blog. If you are unhappy with the grade on your prototype, you can also submit an improved version for extra consideration by that date.

Course Evaluations

Planning your next steps:

• Don’t forget the blog!
• November 15th: in class working day?
• Planning for play-testing
• Scale your prototype: depth vs. breadth.

Prototype Presentations Round Two:

• Show us what you’ve been building!
• What went well?
• What went wrong?
• How are you going to finish it?

Game Design Document Feedback and Grades Distributed

Overall areas for improvement:

• Explaining game mechanics (use examples!)
• Concept art (and why tracing is your friend)
• Player experience versus the back-end
• Game design IS “experience” design

Prototype Presentations:

• Show us what you’ve been building!
• What’s going wrong?
• What’s going well?
• What do you need advice on?
• What’s your goal for next time?

Next check-in for prototypes: November 8th!

Game Design Document: Peer Workshop

In small groups, reflect and respond to one another’s game design document. Ask constructive questions to help you peers refine their designs. Remember, it’s not your job to make their game idea look more like something you would play or create, but it is important to help your peers realize the best version of their idea that is possible.

Each group should include 4 participants, all from different project teams. Plan to spend 20 minutes on each document draft: changes will be announced so that each concept gets sufficient time and feedback. For approximately the first ten minutes, the person being critiqued should share the document and discuss particular innovations or hurdles. Those reviewing should take notes on the presentation, and share their feedback and questions in a discussion for the remaining time.

Remember to put your name on your peer review notes: you will be submitting them at the end of class.

Creating a development blog

Recommended blog platform: WordPress

• Can be installed on a server (http://wordpress.org/) or run through a host (http://wordpress.com/).
• Lots of flexibility thanks to freely available templates and plug-ins.
• Can be integrated as part of a professional portfolio or enhanced through premium services such as a dedicated domain name.

Examples:

• 2D Boy
• The Witness
• GameDevBlog
• Dave Gilbert
• TinyBuild Games

Pitch Presentations

Remember to remain silent during other teams’ presentations, and save all questions and comments until the end. Use the peer review sheets to note additional questions or ideas so that the team has concrete feedback to use when planning their next steps.

Game Design Document Overview

Due 10/4: First Draft of Game Design Documents (at least 5 pages)

For this first draft, sentences can be fragments and ideas can be outlined. Try to identify the key areas for your game and include any sketches or diagrams that explain your ideas. You will be getting both peer and instructor feedback on this draft.

Welcome to Game Development Project I!

Links for the schedule, required readings, and grading information are above. Watch this space, as more information will be added throughout the term. This is the first course in a year-long sequence. Students will develop the playable prototype of their professional game development project, working in teams or individually.

To confirm that you have met the pre-requisites to this course and are on track for graduation, please complete the SDE Student Profile at: http://iat.ubalt.edu/sde/profile/. This information will also be used to help plan course offerings for the spring.

As this is a team-based intensive development course, we will not be meeting in-person every week. During weeks where there is no scheduled meeting, teams can schedule additional optional consultations.

Additional readings will be added based on the projects chosen by the class.