Videogame programming is one of the most exciting and challenging disciplines in Computer Science as it attempts to combine, in real-time, concepts in computer graphics, human computer interaction, networking, artificial intelligence, computer aided instruction, computer architecture, etc.

In this course students will learn the basics of videogame design and programming, attend specific seminars from field experts, and form project groups to design, build and demonstrate a simple video game.

*** COURSE STRUCTURE ***

Course syllabus
    * Objectives
    * Final project and deadlines
    * Team building

A brief history of videogames and current trends

The structure of games (the designer view)
    * Elements of Design
    * Story, flow, and interaction
    * Game play and player satisfaction

=> Assignment: Game concept

The structure of games (the developer view)
    * Defining games
    * Game elements
    * Engaging the player
    * Design methodologies

Introduction to videogame development
    * Game development process
    * Structure of a development team
    * Agile development and videogames

=> Team building
=> Assignement: game specification document & storyboard

Game development tools
    * Technologies
    * Frameworks
    * Engines

Introduction to Unity

=> Assignement: basic prototype

Game Intelligence
    * Pathfinding
    * Behavior Trees
    * Tailoring game intelligence to specific genres

=> Assignement: advanced prototype

Advanced Game Development
    * User interfaces
    * Audio and sound
    * Computer graphics
    * Networking

=> Final evaluation: final prototype

The final evaluation will be based on a team project consiting in the development of a simple videogame based on a subject proposed by the instructor or the students.

The project is structured in a set of five deliverables that must be provided according to a schedule defined at the beginning of the course.

• Transparencies provided by the instructor.
• Articles from the game literature.
• Tracy Fullerton, Game Design Workshop, Second Edition: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games, Morgan Kaufmann
• A introductory book on UNITY (still to be decided)