CSC 420

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CSC 420

• Game Programming and Computer Graphics

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Course Catalog Description

• A study of two major areas of programming video
  games graphics and game theory. Students will
  learn the fundamentals of three-dimensional
  graphic programming, including object
  transformations, ray tracing, collision
  detection, and animation as well as the
  components of game theory, including intelligent
  game playing, types of games, and creating
  engaging storylines.

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Topics

• Drawing on applets, windows, and full-screen
• Animation basics translation, scaling, rotation,
  and interpolation
• Advanced Java (where needed) interfaces,
  abstract classes, threads
• Design principles open/closed principle,
  coupling, cohesion, frameworks
• Game programming case studies, interactivity
  principles, usability, story-telling
• 3-D graphics building world models, collision
  detection, light

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Course Administration

• Prerequisite CSC 230
• Skills needed Java programming, especially
  inheritance, creativity
• Several projects and culminating final project of
  a completed game
• Programming projects will be in teams of 2-4.
• No oral presentation needed.

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Course Materials

• Course textbook Developing Games in Java by
  David Brackeen
• Several additional readings (will probably add a
  course pack next year)
• Software any current Java IDE is ok, but Eclipse
  is recommended
• Automatic refactoring and packaging
• ANT is included (used to make JARs)

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Course Assessment

• Homework/Quizzes (15)
• Small, short-term assignments to ensure
  understanding of class material
• Projects (25)
• Programs graded on correctness, design, and
  creativity
• Exams (20)
• Theory
• Final Project (30)
• Same criteria as projects plus ability to work in
  group
• Class Participation (10)
• Based on attendance, eagerness to learn, in-class
  evidence of reading assignments