CA195

• About CA195
• Syllabus
• Assignments
• Level Design notes
• NN2 notes
  
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See www.studygaming.com for more info about studying game development at MC!

Material on this website is subject to change. Students are required to check this website at least one day before each class to see if any updates have been made.

CA195 - Building Game Worlds: Level Design, Mods and Quality Assurance

Course Description:

This survey course is designed to introduce students to the topics of level design, game modifications ("mods") and quality assurance and testing.

Level design and testing are two of the most common entry level positions in the game industry, and this class exposes students to some of the basic skills involved.

In addition, growing communities of "mod" makers have transformed the interaction between game companies and game players by turning consumers into producers ("prosumers") of new game levels with innovative characters, stories and environments.

Mods, based on existing game engines, vary from individual hobby activities to full-fledged published AAA titles. For example, Counterstrike, one of the most popular online games, began as a mod created by college students, based on an existing game engine. Mods have become a powerful tool in an aspiring game developer's portfolio.

4 semester hours

PREREQUISITE: CA190, or successful completion of the department skills assessment. (CG222 and/or PR225 are recommended but not required -- it will be helpful to have some prior 3D modeling and/or programming experience, but these are not required.)

Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD110.

Objectives

Development and enhancement of non-technical skills

• Speak and write about the course topics with sufficient proficiency
• Apply critical thinking to a variety of topics in the course

Gaming & Simulation industry

• Use common terminology of game development
• Examine the history of game modifications (“mods”)
• Understand the evolution of the “prosumer” concept and its importance in game marketing
• Analyze the evolving interaction between game companies and players and the development of game centered communities

Careers

• Describe the variety of career paths in the gaming industry and identify skills needed for success in some of these different career paths
• In particular, understand the roles of Level Designers & Quality Assurance members of a game development team

Game Software Applications

• Evaluate game engines, level editors and other software used in level design, modding and testing.
• Understand how to choose and apply the above software applications.
• Create and test interactive 3D game worlds with characters, terrain and architecture
• Write interactive dialogue and stories
• Design for different game genres

Game Development, Level Design & Testing

• Develop business, design, teamwork and production skills while learning standard gaming business practices by demonstrating the steps necessary to create levels, mods and test plans.
• Actively participate with others students in the class in order to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of working in a development team situation
• Identify business and legal issues involved in the game creation process.