Game Development Essentials (5 cr)
Code: 5051259-3006
General information
Enrollment
01.06.2023 - 18.09.2023
Timing
04.09.2023 - 15.12.2023
Number of ECTS credits allocated
5 op
Mode of delivery
Contact teaching
Unit
Engineering and Business
Campus
Kupittaa Campus
Teaching languages
- English
Seats
20 - 60
Degree programmes
- Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology
- Degree Programme in Information and Communications Technology
Teachers
- Alarik Näykki
- Taisto Suominen
Teacher in charge
Taisto Suominen
Scheduling groups
- Aamupäivä (Size: 29. Open UAS: 0.)
- Iltapäivä (Size: 29. Open UAS: 0.)
Groups
-
ICTMODgameSem
-
PTIVIS22PGame and Interactive Technologies
Small groups
- Morning group
- Afternoon
- 21.11.2023 09:00 - 12:00, Group 1, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 21.11.2023 12:00 - 15:00, Group 2, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 28.11.2023 09:00 - 12:00, Group 1, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 28.11.2023 12:00 - 15:00, Group 2, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 05.12.2023 09:00 - 12:00, Group 1, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 05.12.2023 12:00 - 15:00, Group 2, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 12.12.2023 09:00 - 12:00, Group 1, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 12.12.2023 09:00 - 15:00, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
- 12.12.2023 12:00 - 15:00, Group 2, Game Development Essentials 5051259-3006
Objective
After completing the module, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate their understanding the various dimensions (physical, temporal, environmental and emotional) that describe a game world by making use of an appropriate terrain editor to create a limited game world
- Develop a game narrative with scripted dialog for a given game idea or concept
- Understand and manage the complexities of game interface design
- Define core mechanics and explain their role in creating an entertainment experience
- Map out the level design and game balancing process and show an awareness of problems that need to be avoided in the level design process
- Incorporate visual, behavioural and audible character attributes in order to create a compelling and believable character with an industry recognised modelling tool
Content
- Game standard terrain editor
- Creative writing and dialog design tools
- Industry standard processes for designing user interfaces
- Design principles for level and game balancing layouts
- Character design principles and appropriate game art tools
Materials
Unity - Create with Code
https://learn.unity.com/course/create-with-code
Teaching methods
The course will be delivered through onsite sessions at Campus and the core learning will take place in a tutorial fashion.
Although peer-assisted learning is encouraged, students are expected to produce individual deliverable (in other words, no group work).
The course will be using Itslearning as the learning platform and teaching sessions will held in the campus.
Each Tuesday Support is available during the laboratory hours and the student's progress is monitored on weekly base.
Exam schedules
No exam dates;
This course does not have any retake possibilities. Failing the course means that students will have to repeat it the following year.
Students will be required to present their game projects in 3 milestones:
26.09.2023 - Concept project design document presentation of personal project and peer evaluation
07.11.2023 - Prototype presentation of personal project and peer evaluation
12.12.2023 - Final game presentation and peer evaluation
The concept presentations are for monitoring student progress and used as the basis of formative feedback. If you miss this milestone, one grade point will be deducted from the final grade.
The final game presentation is mandatory - failure to present this will cause the student to fail the course
International connections
This course leans on CDIO principles and takes a project-based learning approach.
Completion alternatives
Competence demonstration, ff you have experience from industry or experience that is compatible with the course content. Discuss with the lecturer to arrange the demonstration.
Student workload
This course requires students to work 135 hours and is divided as follows:
- Contact sessions and presentations: 20 to 30 hours
- Independent tutorial work: 40 to 50 hours
- Developing your own game: 60 to 70 hours
All course work is individual
Students will be required to present their game projects in 3 milestones:
26.09.2023 - Concept project design document presentation of personal project and peer evaluation
07.11.2023 - Prototype presentation of personal project and peer evaluation
12.12.2023 - Final game presentation and peer evaluation
The concept presentations are for monitoring student progress and used as the basis of formative feedback. If you miss this milestone, one grade point will be deducted from the final grade.
The final game presentation is mandatory - failure to present this will cause the student to fail the course.
Content scheduling
This course is based on the Online material "Create with Code" presented by Unity. Each week will contain supporting lectures for each week topic and contemporary game technologies and game industry news.
Students will be expected to work through the material according to the following schedule:
- 05.09.2023: Course introduction and Create with Code...Getting Started & Unit 1
- 12.09.2023.Create with Code...Unit 1
- 19.09.2023: Create with Code...Unit 2
- 26.09.2023: Concept presentation of personal project, peer evaluation
- 03.10.2023: Create with Code...Unit 3
- 10.10.2023: Create with Code...Unit 3
- 24.10.2023: Create with Code...Unit 4
- 18.10.2023: Independent work on your personal project
- 31.10.2023: Create with Code...Unit 4
- 07.11.2023: Prototype presentation of personal project. Peer evaluation. Create with Code...Unit 5
- 14.11.2023: Create with Code...Unit 5
- 21.11.2023: Independent work on your game
- 28.11.2023: Independent work on your game
- 05.12.2023: Finalize your game
- 12.12.2023: Final game presentations
Further information
Course lecturers will be present onsite every week during the allocated timetable slot.
The first 30-60 minutes of each session will be used to:
- Share game industry news
- Highlight some of the latest development trends and technologies
- Open more topics from Create With Code and Unity Learn
- Introduce and Demonstrate tools that can help develop content for your personal project
- Respond to general student queries
The remaining time of each session will be an opportunity for students to work on their own games and seeking assistance and support from the lecturer.
Lecturers will review student progress with the Unity tutorial work on a weekly basis.
Evaluation scale
H-5
Assessment methods and criteria
The game project is evaluated as follows:
- Lecturer overall impression of the game (H-5);
- Peer evaluation of the game (H-5).
The combination of these will give the final grade for the course.
Missing the concept or prototype presentation will result in the deduction of 1 grade point from the final grade.
Attending more than 75% of the onsite sessions will result in positively to the final grade.
Assessment criteria, fail (0)
Failure to produce and present the final game will cause the student to fail the course.
Participating in less than 50% of the onsite sessions will cause the student to fail the course.
Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)
- Project contains a few of the features outlined in the project plan
- Did not really stay on track with their planned milestones
- Did not use their Unity or C# skills in any new ways
- Code and hierarchy are disorganized, using inconsistent conventions
Assessment criteria, good (3-4)
- Project contains most of the features outlined in the project plan
- Stayed mostly on track with their planned milestones
- Used their Unity and/or C# skills in new, but not necessarily creative ways
- Code and hierarchy are mostly neat & commented, using correct conventions
Assessment criteria, excellent (5)
- Project contains all of the features outlined in the project plan
- Stayed on track with their planned milestones
- Used their Unity and/or C# skills in a novel and creative ways
- Code and hierarchy are neat & commented, using correct conventions