Introduction to Game Programming - Syllabus¶

Estimated time to read: 13 minutes

Students will be introduced to and familiarized with their roles as Game Programmers. The course explores the various disciplines and vocations within game programming, provides an overview of the skills that make a game programmer successful, and presents both industry and academic contexts for their duties. Through hands-on projects using modern game technology, students will gain practical experience in their craft. source

Requirements¶

No requirements

Textbook¶

• No text books

Student-centered Learning Outcomes¶

Upon completion of the Intro to game programming, students should be able to:

Objective Outcomes¶

• Understanding Game Development Roles: Students will be able to identify and describe the various disciplines and vocations within game programming, including different positions and fields within the industry.
• Exploration of Game Development Tools: Students will gain familiarity with modern game development tools, including hands-on experience with game engines like Unity.
• Historical and Industry Contexts: Students will understand the history of game development and current industry trends, challenges, and issues, enabling them to contextualize their work within the broader landscape of the game development industry.
• Practical Application through Projects: Students will develop practical skills by working on game development projects, including prototyping, brainstorming, quality assurance (QA), and testing.
• Effective Communication and Presentation: Students will practice and demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate and present their ideas and projects, both in written and oral formats.
• Insight into Game Development Success Factors: Students will learn about the key skills and attributes that contribute to success in game development, including collaboration, creativity, and technical proficiency.
• Interaction with Industry Professionals: Through interviews and discussions with game developers, students will gain insights into the day-to-day responsibilities and career paths of professionals in the game development industry.
• Introduction to Game Production: Students will be introduced to the basics of game production, learning how to manage and contribute to game development projects from concept to completion.

Late policy¶

Every day an assignment is late your maximum grade will be reduced by 1% up to 25 days, after that you will receive a flat 25% penalty.

My goal is to grade the assignments no later than 1 week after submission, but in exceptional cases where I am struggling with lots of submissions, it could take 2 weeks maximum (in my career this has happened twice). Late submissions will be graded only once I finish grading all the others.

If you have any accommodations and want to use your rights, or if you are facing any personal issues (no need to state what it is), I will grant extra time or grade fairly only if you send a comment on Canvas in the assignment before the deadline. Feel free to book meetings with me if you need to talk about it.

DEI & Teaching Statement¶

• I am a autistic L1 person and I am doing my best to be a good teacher for you;
• I am from Brazil and we are pretty diverse people, I will treat everyone with respect and I expect the same from you;
• I can clearly understand many of your struggles, because I face lots of learning issues too, but sometimes my empathy might run out, and you will have to help me understand your issues so I can effectively help you;
• Please be patient with me, and I will be patient with you in return. I am always open to listen to you and help you succeed;
• I am very good at 1-1 support, so you are welcome to book weekly meetings with me to help you;
• I am a very open person, so you can ask me anything. I will not answer everything, but I will try to help you to find the answers;
• If you feel that you are failing, please reach out to me, remember: I want you to succeed. Allow me to create contingency plans for you.

Schedule for Fall 2024¶

College dates for the Spring 2024 semester: