Department of Information and Communication Technology
CS 395 - Simulations and Games
- Course Syllabus -
Dr. Anthony Betrus:
Instructor
Spring 2012
Credit: Three semester hours
Time/Dates: Tuesday/Thursday 2:00-3:15 Jan 24 - May 18
Location: Satterlee 300
Course Description: This course covers topical issues in simulations and games through a
combination of seminar discussions, demonstration and play of seminal works,
and in-class exercises. Students in this class will gain an understanding
of the historical development and critical vocabulary of interactive media,
including both games for learning (Serious Games) as well as commercial games.
This, combined with their own experiences, will serve as a foundation to articulate
and develop their own ideas for interactive experiences. Students in this
course will apply their knowledge in designing a simulation or game.
- Learn and use an critical vocabulary for understanding and analyzing games and interactive entertainment
- Engage with cultural perspectives on games and their place in human societies and groups, both historical and current.
- Understand the relationship of interactive entertainment to other forms of art and media such as film and television.
- Identify the issues that challenge that face the designers of interactive entertainment through the design of their own game.
Required Textbooks:
1) Janet Murray: Hamlet on the Holodeck:
The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace (ISBN: 0262631873)
2) Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game (ISBN: 9780765342294)
Requirements:
Journals: Students in this class will keep a simulations and
games journal, including in-class and out-of-class activities. Be sure to
update your journal daily to reflect the nuances of your experiences.
Reaction Papers: Students will be expected to read the assigned readings and contribute to class discussion each week. When readings are assigned, students will be expected to write a 1-2 page (maximum) reaction paper, in preparation for the class session. Before writing the paper you should be taking notes, highlighting important information, and preparing for the class discussion. Once the reading has been completed, you should use your notes and highlighted reading to write your reaction paper. These should include your reactions to the readings (not a summary of the readings). In your reactions you should demonstrate the connections between the topics discussed in the readings and your life experiences (work, home, school, social life, etc. . . ). You should use at least two experiences from your personal life that you relate to the readings. Click here for a structural example of what you should produce. Reaction papers should be printed and brought to class. Students will lose 1 coin if they do not bring their printed reaction paper to class. The college writing center has published a document that will help you self-correct your reaction papers here. You may also wish to schedule an appointment with the writing center for more personal help.
Game Design/Development Project (Final Project):
Students will design their own interactive experience. This may include a
serious game (game for learning) or a game for entertainment. Depending on
the size and scope of their design, a prototype of their game may be created.
Delivery of instruction will be required if a serious game is developed. This
can be either an individual or group project. All projects must be approved
by the instructor. (200 coins or 2 stars)
Plagiarism: This course adheres to the College's policy on
academic honesty as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism may lead to
grade reduction, course failure, or expulsion from school.
Students with Disabilities: Any students with a disability needing academic
adjustments or accommodations should speak with the professor as early as
possible. Students with disabilities should contact: Sharon House, Coordinator
of Accommodative Services at 267-3267, Sisson 112, or e-mail her at
housese@potsdam.edu for further assistance. All disclosures will remain
confidential.
Grading: Students will be awarded coins for successfully completing course requirements as follows (100 coins = 1 star):
| Reaction Papers | up to 5 Coins per paper (up to 70 Coins) |
| Class Participation | Up to 2 Coins per session (up to 60 coins) |
| Game Journal | up to 70 Coins |
| Game Design/Development Project | up to 200 Coins (2 Stars) |
| Optional Lectures/Activities | up to 5 Coins per activity |
| Stars/Coins Earned | Grade |
| 4 or more Stars | 4.0 |
| 3 Stars; 70-99 Coins | 3.7 |
| 3 Stars; 30-69 Coins | 3.3 |
| 3 Stars; 0-29 Coins | 3.0 |
| 2 Stars; 70-99 Coins | 2.7 |
| 2 Stars; 30-69 Coins | 2.3 |
| 2 Stars; 0-29 Coins | 2.0 |
| 1 Star; 70-99 Coins | 1.7 |
| 1 Star; 30-69 Coins | 1.3 |
| 1 Star; 0-29 Coins | 1.0 |
| Below 100 Coins | 0.0 |
| Date | Class Activities (subject to change) | Assignments, due the following class session |
| Jan 24 | Course Introduction and Overview Discussion: Why study interactive media? Interactive media as technology in business, art, education, and entertainment. What Dungeons and Dragons Character am I? |
-
View The Rise of the Video Game, 5 Part Discovery Channel Special, Levels 1 through 5 (each has 5 parts). [3 hours, 45 minutes] - Begin Game Journals. |
| Jan 26 | Discussion: Rise of the Video Game In-Class Activities: Demonstration of SpaceWar, Pong , Zork, PacMan , Telengard, Super Mario Brothers, and Warlords. Retro game play in Dunn 392. |
|
| Jan 31 | Discussion: Hamlet on the Holodeck, Ch 3. Begin to discuss the unique characteristics of the video game (tropes). |
|
| Feb 2 | Play: Super Press Space to Win View Dot Dot Dot, the kinetic typography video review of Super Pres Space to Win. "Mafia" in class Game (aka "Werewolf") |
- - Optional Activity - Create a |
| Feb 7 | In class acitity: in groups students will design their own "Hamlet" videogame. The game mechanics is the most critical part of the activity, especially the core game mechanic. To get you started, here is a website that lists some typical video game "tropes." |
|
| Feb 9 | Discussion: The Evolution of Interactive Media ; The Crash & Rebirth of the Game Industry. |
RP 4- Read and prepare a reaction paper for " - Continue Game Journals |
| Feb 14 | Discussion: Evolution of
Virtual Spaces. Introduction to computer graphics. Human Computer Interfaces.
The magic circle. Designing complex systems and "infinite"
possibility spaces. Virtual Reality. In-Class Activities: First Lego League Simulation (FLL). First Tech Challenge. |
|
| Feb 16 | ||
| Feb 21 | Discussion: Participation
and Engagement. The role of the user in interactive entertainment. Structuring
participation for player interaction. Suspensions of disbelief, agency
and authorship in interactive entertainment. In-Class Activities: Screening: "The Game" |
- Continue Game Journals |
| Feb 23 | Continued: In Class Screening: "The Game" | - Continue Game Journals |
| Feb 28 | Discussion: Characters and
Controls. Who am I? The relationships between avatar and player; character
and avatar. Empathy, Action and Control. In Class Screening: "The
Guild" In Class Activities: Second Life, World of Warcraft, The Sims 2, Halo Reach |
|
| Mar 1 | Discuss Final Project Ideas & Review Game Journals | - Continue Game Journals |
| Mar 6 | ||
| Mar 8 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| Mar 13 | ||
| Mar 15 | No Class: Spring Recess | |
| Mar 20 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| Mar 22 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| Mar 27 | - Continue Game Journals | |
| Mar 29 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| April 3 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| April 5 | Play Darfur is Dying View Joseph Campbell: A Heroes Journey. Key concept: A Hero With a Thousand Faces, Serious Games | |
| April 10 | - Continue Game Journals | |
| April 12 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| April 17 | Discussion: Ender's Game, Chapters 9-15. Ender's Game "The Game" group pitches. | |
| April 19 | - Continue Game Journal |
|
| April 24 | ||
| April 26 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| May 1 | ||
| May 3 | - Continue Game Journals |
|
| May 8 | Discussion: Experimental and Independent
Games. Games outside the mainstreams of distribution and expectation.
Gamelab, Indy Game Jam, Game Innovation Lab. In Class Activities: Game Jam Games, Cloud, Flow, Flower.
|
|
| May 10 | Discussion: Students' Game Journals In Class Activities: Presentation of Final Projects | |
| May 18 10:15-12:15 | In Class Activities: Presentation of Final Projects: Course wrap-up, course evaluations. | (Alternative Date: Monday, May 14, 5:00-7:30) |
All materials related to use in the course
will be located at the Teaching
Educational Games Resources Open Content Wiki
List of Optional Activities:
1) Pax East, April 6, 7, 8. 1 day pass $35
2) The Smithsonian American Art Museum recently unveiled its "Art of Video Games" exhibition. They have also ran a series of "Gamefest" webcasts on their website that coincided with the grand opening.There are five optional reaction papers on the following topics:
GameFest - A conversation with Hideo Kojima (March 17, 2012)
GameFest - It’s All in the Design with Robin Hunicke (March 17, 2012)
GameFest - Evolution of Video Games - Pioneers (March 16, 2012)
GameFest - Evolution of Video Games - The Future (March 16, 2012)
GameFest - Nolan Bushnell: Video Games in Retrospect (March 16, 2012)
Office Information:
E-mail: betrusak@potsdam.edu
Office: Dunn Hall 393
Phone: (315) 267-2670
This page created 1/23/2012 by Dr. Anthony Betrus. Last updated 5/18/2012