• Lectures period : 6th Oct 2019 – 19th Jan 2020
• Exam date : 29th Jan 2020
• Course Code : SENG 42313
• Prerequisites : SENG 41323

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course unit, the student should be able to:

• Study and apply game level/environment design
• Demonstration of applying visual effects on games and animation
• Examine quality assurance throughout the game software development
• Design games for multi-player environments

Course Content

• An advanced treatment of Game level/environment design, prototype development testing and comparative metrics. Game Visual Effects – Game Shader and Image Effects, Game Sky box, Environment Effects, Game Particles System.
• Focuses on the application of advanced technical topics as they impact game development.
• Addresses networking and distributed systems issues, including scalability and latency compensation techniques, for designing games for multi-player environments.
• Quality & Testing – Survey game software development through quality assurance and in-depth analysis of the development cycle with a focus on bug testing systems and methodologies.
• Create awareness of the Game Deployment and maintenance stages of the Game design life-cycle.

Lecture Slides

1. Level Design

• Study and apply game level/environment design
• Demonstration of applying visual effects on games and animation
• Examine quality assurance throughout the game software development
• Design games for multi-player environments

Download PDF Download PPT

2. Graphics in Games

• Introduction to Graphics in Games
• Shaders
• Graphics pipeline
• Image effects
• Skybox and particle systems

Download PDF Download PPT

3. Game Feel

• Defining Game Feel
• Game feel concepts
• Game polishing techniques

Download PDF Download PPT

4. Multiplayer Games

• Types of Multiplayer Games
• Networking Model
• Routing and Object serialization
• Types of network games
• Handling network problems

Download PDF Download PPT

5. Game QA and Testing

• History of game QA
• Types of bugs in games
• Game QA lifecycle
• Game testing

Download PDF Download PPT

Must Read!

1. Multiplayer in Game Engines – Download
2. Types of Bugs in Games – Download

Must Watch!

1. Juice it or Loose it
2. The art of screenshake
3. Post processing stack – Image effects
4. Shaders 101/102/103
5. 12 principles of animation

Spot Tests

1. Spot Test 1
2. Spot Test 2

Additional Content to Watch

Helping the players feel smart by Randy Smith – Link

Additional Reading

• Game Development Essentials: Game Level Design, Jeannie Novak, Travis Castillo
• Game testing all in one, C. Schultz, R. Bryant, T. Langdell. Thomson course technology, ISBN 1-59200-373-7
• Levy, L, and Novak, J. (2009), Game development essentials: game QA & testing, Delmar Cengage learning.
• Glazer, J. and Madhav, S. (2015), Multiplayer Game Programming: Architecting Networked Games (Game Design), First Edition, Addison-Wesley Professional.
• Steve, R. (2009), Introduction to game development Charles, River Media; Second Edition.