• Dress professionally.
• Show up early. Make sure every member of your team is present. Remember the schedule: 5:30 arrival, 6:30-8:00 presentations, 8:00-9:00 playing games and mingling. If you haven’t already loaded and tested your materials, arrive as soon as possible (starting at 5:00) to do so.
• Bring your final game CD and hand it in to me before the end of the evening.
• Remember to email me your individual reflection on team roles
• Stay organized. Remember your scheduled presentation time and be ready to go.
• Show off your game. We’ll have projector stations for allowing attendees to play your prototypes.
• Have fun!

If for some reason you cannot attend the final presentations, let me know as soon as possible.

• Have a plan. We’ll be keeping time and watching the 5 minute limit.
• Bring your presentation materials. We’ll save them in organized folders so they’ll be ready to go.
• Be prepared. We will be checking for AV problems, and moving as quickly as possible.
• Be respectful and attentive. Listen to your peers and offer constructive feedback.

Presentation Order (Main Campus Teams)

1. Big Bad World
2. Insane
3. Nom Noms
4. Time Trap
5. Digital Dragon Designs
6. Rail Gun
7. Verse: Words of Power

Presentation Day is May 9th

• Show up early. Make sure every member of your team is present. Remember the schedule: 5:30 arrival, 6:30-8:00 presentations, 8:00-9:00 playing games and mingling.
• Bring your final game CD and hand it in to me before the end of the evening.
• Stay organized. Remember your scheduled presentation time and be ready to go.
• Show off your game. We’ll have projector stations for allowing attendees to play your prototypes.
• Have fun! Don’t forget to invite family and friends.

Before May 9th: Peer and Self-Reflection

Email me a 2-3 paragraph reflection on your role in the group, and your success as a team member contributing to the final project. For each team member, note their responsibilities and contributions. What were your most valuable contributions this semester? What would you have done differently?

Rehearsals and Final Presentations: Business Center Auditorium

On Rehearsal Day

• Have a plan. We’ll be keeping time and watching the 5 minute limit.
• Bring your presentation materials. We’ll save them in organized folders so they’ll be ready to go.
• Be prepared. We will be checking for AV problems, and moving as quickly as possible.
• Be respectful and attentive. Listen to your peers and offer constructive feedback.

On Presentation Day

• Show up early. Make sure every member of your team is present. Remember the schedule: 5:30 arrival, 6:30-8:00 presentations, 8:00-9:00 playing games and mingling.
• Bring your final game CD and hand it in to me before the end of the evening.
• Stay organized. Remember your scheduled presentation time and be ready to go.
• Show off your game. We’ll have projector stations for allowing attendees to play your prototypes.
• Have fun! Don’t forget to invite family and friends.

Class Evaluations

Rehearsals: May 2nd

Final Presentations: May 9th

Survey: Best Times for SDE Faculty Forum

Discussion: Final Goals, Aesthetics and “The Big Picture”

Procedure for Playtesting Prototype Presentations

• One person stays with your game
• Everyone else circulates. If you are not actively playing, watch and give feedback and comments
• I will call for the person actively playing to switch approximately every ten minutes
• The assigned watcher should take notes on any and all problems, and ask the player targeted questions throughout

After playtesting rounds are completed, you will be given time to meet with your team before we reconvene. At that point, we will discuss the aesthetic coherence and final development challenges for each project.

Remember, you should send the address for your web portfolio materials before the start of class tonight. If you have additional job market materials not included on your website, send those documents as attachments.

We will be rotating within groups of four to practice sharing portfolio materials and discussing highlighted work. We will spend 15 minutes on each person’s portfolio within your group. If you are one of the respondents, keep these questions in mind:

• What is the portfolio’s focus? Is the work highlighted consistent with those goals?
• Do you know of any other projects by the presenter that should be included?
• Are the projects presented in context? Are the descriptions complete?
• If a piece presented is part of a team project, is the presenter’s role clear?
• Do you notice mistakes in spelling, grammar or syntax?
• Does the presentation enhance or detract from the work itself?

Check In: Progress towards Final Prototypes + Presentations

In-Class Work Time: Next Deadline April 18th!

Procedure for Playtesting Prototype Presentations

• One person stays with your game
• Everyone else circulates. If you are not actively playing, watch and give feedback and comments
• I will call for the person actively playing to switch approximately every ten minutes
• The assigned watcher should take notes on any and all problems, and ask the player targeted questions throughout

After playtesting rounds are completed, you will be given time to meet with your team before we reconvene. At that point, you are expected to share what you learned and what your next steps are for improving the game.

Reminder: Revised Job Packet Due April 4th

(Check out this playable job application.)

Have your portfolio materials ready: if they are online, be prepared with the website. Make sure to have a printed copy of your resume to hand the interviewer.

1. Introductions by Guest Interviewers
2. Sign-up for Times
3. Work with your group or bring your project or portfolio materials to me for a consultation: arrive back at least 5 minutes before your scheduled time slot.

Remember, our next meeting (March 28th) is the second prototype playtest. Your revised job market packet is due April 4th. Have a great spring break! I will be unreachable via email for the 17th to the 24th.

Procedure for Playtesting Prototype Presentations

• One person stays with your game
• Everyone else circulates. If you are not actively playing, watch and give feedback and comments
• I will call for the person actively playing to switch at least every five minutes
• The assigned watcher should take notes on any and all problems, and ask the player targeted questions throughout

After playtesting rounds are completed, you will be given time to meet with your team before we reconvene. At that point, you are expected to share what you learned and what your next steps are for improving the game.

Reminders on Resumes:

• Emphasize education and skill sections
• Order each section in reverse chronological order
• Never exceed a page
• Limit space spent on non-related work experience
• Consider including a list of relevant courses (full titles)
• Always list your role and software tools with projects
• Include expected date of graduation

No class March 7th — work on your portfolios and job market packets. Remember, March 14th is a mandatory day for in-class interviews with professionals (likely from Firaxis and Breakaway Games).

Discussion: What’s in a resume?

We will be conducting resume reviews today, with peer feedback. You should have a printed copy of your resume to annotate as you receive advice, and you will be turning in that copy at the end of class. During your critiques, every group member will have a chance to share their resume and get feedback. When you are giving feedback, focus on specific details and advice relating to:

• Clarity
• Readability and format
• Coherence
• Skills Emphasis
• Appropriate Information
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar

Thinking Outside the Resume Borders

• Perfect Modern Resume
• Visual Resumes
• Visualize.me

Sample Portfolios to Critique

• Artist: One / Two / Three / Four / Five
• Programming: One / Two / Three / Four
• Design: One / Two / Three

Tools and Requirements for Finishing the Job Market Packet

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.

For each presentation, note down two suggestions you would like to share with the group. You will hand those in to me at the end of class, so make sure your name and the name of the team you are commenting on are clear. I will pass on a summary of these critiques to the teams along with my evaluation.

Remember: We will not be meeting in-person on February 15th. A draft of your resume is due for peer review on February 22nd, and your first stage prototype is due February 29th.