jhu gaming initiatives

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Playing Together: Establishing an Interdisciplinary, Interinstitutional Gaming Initiative Mike Reese Assistant Director, CER Joan Freedman Director, DMC

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Page 1: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Playing Together:Establishing an Interdisciplinary,

Interinstitutional Gaming InitiativeMike Reese

Assistant Director, CER

Joan FreedmanDirector, DMC

Page 2: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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

Page 3: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Cast of Characters

Peter FröhlichCS Lecturer

Mike ReeseCenter for Educational Resources

Joan FreedmanDigital Media Center

Sue VazakasResearch Services Librarian

Page 4: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Why play?

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

Page 5: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Gaming Lab

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

Page 6: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Game Lounge

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

Page 7: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Challenges

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

Page 8: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Structure of Course

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

schools (JHU, MICA)

Page 9: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Student Assessments

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

– Mentor feedback– Lab attendance– pARTy demo

Page 10: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Course Project Assignment

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

Page 11: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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

Page 12: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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

Page 13: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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

Page 14: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Lab 1: Design and planning

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

Page 15: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Lab 2:Game rules and play

• Group makes game with physical props

• Writes rules and explanation

• Another group plays game

• Gives feedback

Page 16: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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

Page 17: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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

Page 18: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Labs 6 and 7: 3D modeling

• Demo 3D S Max

• Character creation (low polygon)

• 3D set building with textures and rendering

Page 19: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Instructions and packaging

• Examine packaging and instructions

• Design and layout with InDesign

• Write and test instructions

Page 20: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

http://www.vimeo.com/5295315

Want to see some of the games?

Page 21: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Evaluation Activities

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

Page 22: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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. :)”

Page 23: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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. ”

Page 24: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

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].”

Page 25: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Student Feedback

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

Page 26: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Future Plans

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

Page 27: Jhu Gaming Initiatives

Discussion

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