CS 325 Computer Game Programming                Fall 2008

Dr. Jill Zimmerman
office: Hoffberger 120
phone: 410 337-6227
email: jzimmerm@goucher.edu
http://phoenix.goucher.edu/~jillz

Office Hours:
        10:30 -10:30 MTuWF
        others by appointment

Text: Brackeen, Developing Games in Java.

Class web page: http://phoenix.goucher.edu/~jillz/cs325

Course Description and Goals:
This course will develop tools which can be used for programming games in Java. Topics will include animation, sound, artificial intelligence, and game scripting. The framework for both a 2D platform game and a 3D shooter game will be developed.

We shall attempt to cover the following chapters:

Chapters Topics  
1 Java Threads read on your own
2 2D Graphics and Animation lab1
3 Interactivity and User Interfaces lab2,  project 1
4 Sound Effects and Music lab3, project 2
5 Creating a 2D Platform Game project 3
7-11 3D Graphics topics lab4
12 Path Finding lab5
13 Artificial Intelligence lab6
14 Game Scripting lab7, project 4
  additional topics if time permits

Course Mechanics:

We will cover chapters 2-5 in depth, after which you should be ready to write your own 2D platform game.
We will cover chapters 7-11 at a more abstract level. 
Chapters 12-14 will be covered in more depth.  In small groups you will then develop a 3D shooter game.

All labs and projects should be done individually. (See honor code for definition of cheating and disposition.)

Grading:
Your course grade will be based on the following:
        Labs 25%
        2 Exams (12.5% each) 25%
        Projects 50%