Multimedia Games Development COM429

1
Multimedia Games Development COM429

• Module Overview

2
Times and Locations

• Lecture/practical
• Tuesday 9.15 - 14.15 Room MG122

3
Contact Details

• Michael Callaghan
• MS132
• Email mj.callaghan_at_ulster.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]

4
Online Resources

• Details of Module specification, learning
• outcomes, marking schemes and other
• resources can be found online here
• Module website
• http//isrc.infm.ulst.ac.uk/michael/mgd/
• Module handout
• http//isrc.infm.ulst.ac.uk/michael/mgd/modulehand
  out/
• Module specification
• http//scis.ulster.ac.uk/administrator/files/modul
  especs/com429.pdf

5
Module aims

• The aims of this module are to
• To provide students with a thorough understanding
  of the fundamental concepts of the game design
  and development process.
• To develop the students ability to create
  multimedia content for games.
• To enhance the students skills and introduce them
  to industry standard game content authoring tools
  and game engines.

6
Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate their ability to create appropriate
  multimedia content for use in computer games,
• Identify and apply an appropriate approach to the
  design and implementation of interactive
  multimedia games, including requirements
  gathering and critical evaluation of multimedia
  solutions,
• Demonstrate their ability to create game
  prototypes, incorporating multimedia assets
• Demonstrate an understanding of industry standard
  game authoring tools and platforms.

7
Main Topics

• Game design/planning/implementation process
• Gamebryo tools and art pipeline
• 3DS Max
• Photoshop

8
Emergent Gamebryo Element
9
Schedule
10
Assignment weighing submission deadlines
100 Coursework
11
Submission Deadlines

• Assignment 1 17/02/09 (Week 4)
• Assignment 2 10/03/09 (Week 7)
• Assignment 3 20/04/09 (Week 12)

12
Assignments Overview

• Three individual assignments with a progressive
• common theme (Game level planning and design)
• Propose, assess and critically evaluate
• Plan and design
• Implement

13
Assignment 1 Overview

• Assignment 1 Pitch and present an innovative
• game
• Total available marks 25
• Group assignment (2 x Students)
• 1 x BEng and 1 BSc
• Assignment 1
• Due 17/02/09 (Week 4)

14
Assignment 1

• Create a short pitch document/presentation for an
  innovative game you are going to create that you
  feel would be successful in the Dare competition
• Ensure that your game idea could be implemented
  within the constraints of the competition
  duration and team size/composition
• Structure of the document is closely based on the
  previous application form for Dare to be Digital
  
• Pitch document generated should follow the format
  given. Word limits will be strictly adhered to!

15
Pitch Format

• Pitch document should be comprised of the
  following
• Concise game description (maximum 100 words)
• Description of core game play (maximum 100 words)
• Discussion of market potential of title (maximum
  100 words)
• Discussion of target audience (maximum 100 words)
• Description of innovation and creativity (maximum
  100 words)
• Discussion of which technology you are using and
  why? (maximum 100 words)
• Short work plan clearly showing how you could
  design a level for your game in the next 12
  weeks. (Flexible length but must be concise!)

16
100 Word Games Pitch

• Therell be no trick or treating this Halloween!
• Slyghoul the Hungry has risen and hasnt fed for
  a hundred years.
• He traps the children of Yew-tree Orphanage and
  grows stronger from their
• fears. Only three children escape his grasp, but
  for how long?
• Bound by need and circumstance Lofty, Missey,
  and Rabbit must uncover their
• inner strengths to escape. Light, Sound and
  Friendship are their only weapons
• to defeat Slyghoul and his minions.
• Time is running out, the light is fading, help
  them face their fears and save the
• others...
• Or be trapped forever by the Creeping Dark!

17
Assignment 1 Output

• Report and class presentation.
• Report format
• Size Must comply with the Dare to be Digital
  application form format and must be within the
  stated word limit!
• Font Times New Roman, size12
• Spacing Single line
• StyleTechnical/Formal

18
Assignment 1 Output

• Submission Guidelines for presentation
• Powerpoint presentation of appropriate length.
• Submission Details
• Assignments should be submitted on day of
  presentation

19
Assignment 1 Deliverables

• Hard copy of report and presentation slides
• CDROM containing digital copy of report and
  presentation slides
• Presentation to class in week 4

20
Outcome of assignment 1

• After the class presentations in week 4 the class
  will vote on the best 4 ideas to enter Dare to be
  Digital completion and to be brought forward
  and developed further.
• Eight teams become 4
• 4 teams x 4 students
• 2 x BEng and 2 x BSc
• Tidy up games pitch and upload to Dare

21
Assignment 1 Mark Allocation
22
Assignment 2 Overview

• Assignment 2 Creation of an abbreviated game
• design document (Preproduction)
• Total available marks 25
• Group assignment (4 x Students)
• 2 x BEng and 2 BSc
• Assignment 2
• Due 10/03/09 (Week 7)
• Example document here

23
Assignment 2 (Preproduction)

• Create an abbreviated game design document for
  the game level you will create in Gamebryo for
  Assignment 3.
• Use game ideas from assignment 1
• Structure is based on template/examples supplied
• Report generated should follow the format given
  as closely as possible, example document here
• Be realistic on time constraints
• You must pitch your game to the class in a formal
  presentation

24
Assignment 2 Guidelines

• The document should follow the game design
  document
• structure provided and also include accompanying
  
• support material
• Description of level theme
• Level design concept development material
  (including rough sketches/photographs)
• Level layout design diagram (Level blueprint) and
  game board
• Back of the box description

25
Assignment 2 Output

• Report, supporting material and class
  presentation
• Submission Guidelines for report
• As required following format/template given
• Submission Guidelines for presentation
• Powerpoint presentation of appropriate length
• Submission Details
• Assignments should be submitted on day of
  presentation

26
Assignment 2 Deliverables

• Hard copy of game design document
• Print out of back of box design
• CDROM containing digital copy of all
  report/presentation and supporting material
• Presentation/pitch to class in week 7

27
Level blueprint game board
Level blueprint and game board from Level Design
for Games, Phil Co
28
Back of the box description
Cover Dark Messiah, Ubisoft
29
Assignment 2 Mark Allocation
30
Assignment 3 Overview

• Assignment 3 Create a level in Gamebryo
• Total available marks 50
• Group assignment (4 x Students)
• 2 x BEng and 2 BSc
• Assignment 3
• Due 28/04/09 (Week 12)

31
Assignment 3 (Implementation)

• Design a game level in Emergents Gamebryo
• Level based on the game design document in
  assignment 2
• Level must have external and internal elements
  including terrain
• Must be related to and complement your games
  pitch
• Can reuse content/models available online or
  within Gamebryo provided they adequately
  referenced.
• Assignment includes a presentation where the team
  will detail to the class each stage in
  development and implementation process and
  present their final work

32
Assignment 3 Output

• Source material, Scene Designer level and class
  presentation
• Submission Details
• Assignments should be submitted on day of
  presentation
• Deliverables (submitted on CD-ROM)
• A walkthrough level in Gamebryo
• Source code and support material (E.g. Textures,
  3DS Max models etc)
• Copy of class presentation (Powerpoint)

33
Assignment 3 Mark Allocation
34
Assignment 1 Teams

• Team 1
• Gavin Arbuckle
• Ryan Devlin
• Team 2
• Stephen Cairns
• David McFeely

35
Assignment 1 Teams

• Team 3
• Ciaran Downey
• Kelly Jennings
• Team 4
• Darragh Lydon
• Anthony McTaggart

36
Assignment 1 Teams

• Team 5
• Neil Molloy
• Michael Millar
• Team 6
• Gary O'Kane
• Robert Rea
• Dean Smith

37
Assignment 1 Teams

• Team 7
• David Marshall
• Barry Stanton

38
Deliverables for Week 2

• Review Dare website
• Review last years Dare entries
• Review Gamebryo101 website and register for forum
• Familiarisation with Emergent website
• Read The No Twinkie articles

39
Dare 2008

• Critically evaluate Dare to be Digital
  competition entries from 2008
• Review and critically assess the teams entry
• Gain an insight into the title implementation and
  how the teams managed time/tasks in the
  development process

40
Dare 2008

• Intended audience, genre for the game title
• Quality of 100 words games pitch
• How new or novel was the title?
• Types of game play challenges used
• Composition and roles of team members
• Level of completion of final entry
• Quality of final deliverable e.g. 3D
  models/textures, gameplay etc.
• Overall team experience as shown by their weekly
  video diaries

41
Recommended Reading

• Mastering Unreal Technology The Art of Level
  Design (For general
• reference)
• Author Jason Busby
• Publisher Sams (Jan 2005)
• ISBN-10 0672326922, ISBN-13 978-0672326929
• 3D Game Textures Create Professional Game Art
  Using Photoshop
• Author Luke Ahearn (Mar 2006)
• Publisher Focal Press
• ISBN-10 0240807685
• ISBN-13 978-0240807683

42
Recommended Reading

• Introducing 3DS Max 3D for Beginners
• Author Dariush Derakhshani
• Publisher John Wiley Sons (April 2007)
• ISBN-10 0470097612
• ISBN-13 978-0470097618
• Game Development Essentials
• Author Jeannie Novak
• Publisher Delmar Pap/Cdr edition (9 Sep 2004)
• ISBN-10 1401862713, ISBN-13 978-1401862718

43
Recommended Reading

• Game Level Design
• Author Ed Byrne
• Publisher Charles River Media (Dec 2004)
• ISBN-10 1584503696, ISBN-13 978-1584503699
• Level Design for Games Creating Compelling Game
  Experiences
• Author Phil Co
• Publisher New Riders (Feb 2006)
• ISBN-10 032137597, ISBN-13 978-0321375971

44
Recommended Reading

• Beginning Game Level Design
• Author John Feil
• Publisher Course Technology (18 Feb 2005)
• ISBN-10 1592004342, ISBN-13 978-1592004348
• Introduction to Game Development
• Editor Steve Rabin
• Publisher Charles River Media
• ISBN-10 1584503777, ISBN-13 978-1584503774

45
Recommended sites

• Emergent Game Technologies Gamebryo
  http//www.emergent.net/
• Gamebryo 101 website http//www.gamebryo101.com/
• Game Developer Magazine http//www.developmag.com
  /
• Unreal Engine Tutorialshttp//www.utforge.com
• Ernest Adamshttp//www.designersnotebook.com/
• Game design magazineshttp//www.gdmag.com/homepag
  e.htm
• Dare to be Digital Team Blogs
• http//www.daretobedigital.com/team-information/

46
Questions?

• Any questions?

47
Rest of day

• Dare to be Digital overview
• Lecture Introduction to games
• Lab Introduction to Gamebryo
• Gamebryo overview/resources

48
Multimedia Games Development COM429

• Module Overview