CG130 Class Notes

We worked with three different software packages for game design: GameMaker, Scrolling Game Development Kit, and Game Studio A6. Some of the concepts were quite useful to get your mind wrapped around, how different tile sets work, terrain modeling, object paths, collisions, finite state machines, etc... but with three different packages used for projects it felt like we wasted some valuable exploration time in just learning the idiosynchacies of the packages themselves. It was a useful course, but with a little refinement it could be much more inclusive to what you are to get out of the whole program.

If we can get some hard drive space for the program I'll get a variety of
tile sets, models, sound effects, etc loaded there to make finding pieces for projects much quicker.

Recommendation: If you have no coding in your background, maybe take this course after you take
SD110 Computer Programming Logic. The coding is not hard or extensive, but you'll relate to the materials
and software kits easier if you at least have some terms and concepts under your belt.

	Game Journals
	Finite State Machines
	Archicture (Patterns)
	Clasifications of Bugs
	7 Golden Gambits - 3 Lead Balloons

	Notebook
	USB Thumb drive (transporting projects back and forth)
	Pens or pencils - writing implements
	Book: Game Architecture & Design: A New Edition

	GameHippo Freeware Games	Erasmatazz Library of writings on game design, interactive storytelling, etc.
	Game Studies Journal dedicated to games research	Indie Gamer Forums The Business of Gaming
	Slashdot Game News	SpritLib A Sprite Library
	International Game Developer's Association Game Community	IGDA (Twin Cities) Local Twin Cities Chapter
	The Video Game Revolution History of the Game Industry	History of a Video Game Invasion History of the Game Industry (DVD)

	We worked with three different software packages for game design: GameMaker, Scrolling Game Development Kit, and Game Studio A6. Some of the concepts were quite useful to get your mind wrapped around, how different tile sets work, terrain modeling, object paths, collisions, finite state machines, etc... but with three different packages used for projects it felt like we wasted some valuable exploration time in just learning the idiosynchacies of the packages themselves. It was a useful course, but with a little refinement it could be much more inclusive to what you are to get out of the whole program. If we can get some hard drive space for the program I'll get a variety of tile sets, models, sound effects, etc loaded there to make finding pieces for projects much quicker. Recommendation: If you have no coding in your background, maybe take this course after you take SD110 Computer Programming Logic. The coding is not hard or extensive, but you'll relate to the materials and software kits easier if you at least have some terms and concepts under your belt.
	Sample Syllabus