jhu gaming initiatives

Playing Together:Establishing an Interdisciplinary,

Interinstitutional Gaming InitiativeMike Reese

Assistant Director, CER

Joan FreedmanDirector, DMC

Today’s Game Plan

Lab

Course Project

Gaming Industry Mentors

Digital Media Center

Computer Science

Center for Ed Resources

Sheridan LibrariesOutside Funders

Big Huge Games/ Firaxis

Lecture

Students

Cast of Characters

Peter FröhlichCS Lecturer

Mike ReeseCenter for Educational Resources

Joan FreedmanDigital Media Center

Sue VazakasResearch Services Librarian

Why play?

Credit: http://www.moserware.com/2009/02/rebooting-computing-why.html

Gaming Lab

• 2 custom workstations with NVIDIA cards• Mac and PC w/ DMC standard apps• Surround sound system• Assorted controllers and other toys

Game Lounge

• PS2 and 3 consoles, arcade game table, controlled sound system, wii fit station

Challenges

Pre-course Design Conversations • Structure of Game Project• Format of Labs• Schedule of topics• Balancing Student Teams• R&D: NMC, local schools, industry

Structure of Course

• Lecture (3 X 1hr)• Lab (DMC) (11/4 hrs/week)• Industry Mentors• Students from many disciplines and

schools (JHU, MICA)

Student Assessments

• Biography/Introduction • Blog entries • Game reviews• Course project – make a game• Alpha, Beta, Gold presentations• Optional

– Mentor feedback– Lab attendance– pARTy demo

Course Project Assignment

Game must be/include• Fun• A game• Levels• Graphics• Sound

Lecture Overview

• Hodge Podge of topics– Archetypal Games– Programming 101 (Pygames)– Introductory Graphic design– History of Gaming– Working in the Industry

• Alpha, Beta, Gold Presentations

Lab sections

• Ten teams of four– 2 programmers, 2 artists– Handpicked/Skills Survey

• Lab sections met 1x a week• Mon or Wed, noon – 1:15 pm• Grouped by team when possible• MICA students all together

Lab Objectives

• Expose programmers to media making techniques

• Expose artists to new tools• Introduce new workspace and tools

– Staff– Hardware and software– Work and play spaces

Lab 1: Design and planning

• Deconstruct Super Mario• Recreate planning docs• Treatment, storyboard, timeline, • Character development• Level design map

Lab 2:Game rules and play

• Group makes game with physical props

• Writes rules and explanation

• Another group plays game

• Gives feedback

Labs 3, 5, 11: characters, animation and cut scenes

• Rotoscoping in Photoshop • Animation concepts in Flash• Titles in After Effects• Basic editing in Final Cut

Labs 4 and 10:Sound effects and score

• Listen to sounds in Triplets of Bellville• Discuss how sound enhances visual • Hands on experience w/ Soundtrack Pro

Labs 6 and 7: 3D modeling

• Demo 3D S Max

• Character creation (low polygon)

• 3D set building with textures and rendering

Instructions and packaging

• Examine packaging and instructions

• Design and layout with InDesign

• Write and test instructions

http://www.vimeo.com/5295315

Want to see some of the games?

Evaluation Activities

• Course evaluations• Online surveys• Focus groups• Mentor surveys

Student Feedback

Students Likes• “We got to make games – that was cool!”• “Our mentor was amazing!”• “Humbling what CS can do.” / “Artist are

amazing!”• “We played games - valuable research! And

no, I'm not just saying that, it was. :)”

Student Feedback

Lecture– Finalize syllabus – Assign more homework (really!)– Allow for specialization (offer two courses)“People didn’t learn enough to master anything, rather

just enough to make one a Jack of all trades. ”

Student Feedback

Course Project• “We need more deadlines for project.”• “We did not understand it [grading] – it

seemed totally random.”• Stipulate development framework• “We learned more from each other than the

teachers.”• “There was a lot of disconnect, a language

barrier [b/w artist and programmers].”

Student Feedback

Lab• Focus on labs more than lecture• Lengthen lab meetings• Include more hands-on activities• Allow for team meetings• Use open curriculum

Future Plans

• Sustainability - Tuition dollars• Lab Changes• Post course Recruiting Session• Partnership with other schools

Discussion

Is a gaming program a legitimate curriculum to support in higher education?