Proposed Computer Science Concentration in Game Development
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| Proposed Computer Science Concentration in Game Development
- A Collaborative Proposal between Computer Science and Technology Background and Motivation In recent years game industry has become a multibillion dollar industry. Five years back the market of video and computer games was 7 billion dollars that has grown to become a 9.5 billion dollar industry in 2007. Out of which the computer games sales is $1 billion. In near future the difference between video games and computer games will become fuzzy increasing the sale of computer games further. Computer gaming is not just a teenager phenomenon but is played by different age groups. A market survey shows that 41% of Americans use some form of computer games. There are many well known multibillion dollar industries such as Sony Corporation, Walt Disney and Ninetendo Inc. and Microsoft and Cell phone and PDA instrument makers investing in the development of games. Clearly there is a growing demand of the programmers from this industry who can design computer games. In addition, there is a developing market for 3D interactive learning environment that use computer game techniques to teach virtually any subject. A large number of universities are creating new faculty line and courses to teach game design and programming that can satisfy this fast growing industry. Some of the universities that are already offering courses are University of Michigan, University of Columbia, University of California at Riverside, Portland State University, University of Central Florida, Course Sequence in Concentration The concentration in game development consists of six courses that would be required in addition to those required for a Computer Science Bachelors Degree. Two of the six required courses – CS 37101 Introduction to Animation (cross listed with Technology) and CS 38101 Introduction to Game Programming could be used to satisfy the uppper division electives, CS 44201 Artificial Intelligence, CS47101 Computer Graphics, and CS 48101 Game Engine could be used to satisfy three 4XXXX level electives, and the practicum course CS 49902 could be used to substitute Capstone project CS 49901. Of these course two courses CS 44201, CS47101 are already in the CS catalog, the course CS 48101 has been taught successfully as a special topic course during Spring 2007, the courses CS 49902 has been offered twice as part of the Capstone project CS 49901, the course CS 38101 is slated to be taught as a special topic course ST39995 during Fall 2009
If a suggested project is deemed to be viable within the time frame of the class, the individual suggesting the project will be invited to participate in the class and to provide the necessary content material for the suggested learning environment. It is expected that the projects developed in this class will be pilot projects that could be used by the suggesting individuals to obtain additional funding to complete the project. Where such funding is obtained the students who participated in the pilot project development would be in a position to assist in further development of the project after the completion of this class. This course can be used to satisfy the Capstone project requirement of the students. A version of this course has been offered twice as CS 49901 Capstone Projects, once in spring 2008 and once in fall 2008. The primary difference between the Capstone courses and this course is that the Capstone courses were offered without the prerequisite of CS 38101, Introduction to Game Engine Programming. That necessitate teaching game engine scripting before the class could begin developing its game, so less time was available for the actual project development. Nonetheless, the Spring 2008 class developed three innovative games. The fall 2008 class is still underway, but is making good progress toward completing 2 game projects and 2 educational environment projects. The additional class time afforded by offering the project class with an Introduction to Game Engine Programming prerequisite will permit the development of more sophisticated projects. The junior level game programming course CS 38101, Introduction to Game Programmingis described above. The idea of teaching game engine programming as a separate course that served as a prerequisite for a senior level game development project course, CS48102, Game Development Practicum, was discussed with the spring 2008 Capstone class. An anonymous survey of the students in that class regarding possible improvements in the class' structure showed that the class favored the creation of a junior level game programming class as a prerequisite for a senior level game development project course. Introduction to Game Programming will be offered for the first time in fall 2009. Service Courses for Technology and Educational
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