Design and Creation of Games Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

3:00pm - 5:30pm TH (Offered online via BlackBoard Collaborate only)

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

GAME-1306-001 Design and Creation of Games

Prerequisites

Course Description

Introduction to game and simulation development. Includes analysis of existing applications and creation of a game using an existing game engine. In-depth coverage of the essential elements of game design. Also covers an overview of cultural history of electronic games, survey of the major innovators, and examination of the trends and taboos that motivate game design.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

N/A

Supplies

You will need, in addition to your text books:

  • Unity
  • Your Amarillo College Student ID (printed since 2015)
  • A USB Flash Drive or equivalent storage

Unity System Requirements

System Requirements for Unity Authoring

  • Windows: XP SP2 or later; Mac OS X: Intel CPU & "Leopard" 10.5 or later. Note that Unity was not tested on server versions of Windows and OS X.
  • Graphics card with DirectX 9 level (shader model 2.0) capabilities. Any card made since 2004 should work.
  • Using Occlusion Culling requires GPU with Occlusion Query support (some Intel GPUs do not support that).
  • The rest only depends on the complexity of your projects!.

System Requirements for Unity iOS Authoring

  • An Intel-based Mac
  • Mac OS X "Snow Leopard" 10.6 or later
  • The rest only depends on the complexity of your projects!

System Requirements for Unity Android Authoring

  • In addition to the general system requirements for Unity Authoring
  • Windows XP SP2 or later; Mac OS 10.5.8 or later
  • Android SDK and Java Development Kit (JDK)
  • Android authored content requires devices equipped with:
    • Android OS 2.0 or later
    • Device powered by an ARMv7  (Cortex family) CPU
    • GPU support for OpenGLES 2.0 is recommended

System Requirements for Unity-Authored Content

  • Windows XP or later; Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
  • Pretty much any 3D graphics card, depending on complexity.
  • Online games run on all browsers, including IE, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome, among others.

 

Student Performance

This course is an introduction to Game Development with Unity 3d.   At the end of the semester, students should:

  • have an understanding of the factors involved in game development
  • be comfortable with the Unity 3D game engine
  • have created a Game Design Document for an original game
  • have created a prototype of a game level or portion of the original game in Unity 3D

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Attendance will be taken for each class period.  The CIS Departmental Attendance policy is as follows:

1.     Classes meet for 150 minutes per week in a regular semester.  After 150 minutes of absences for any reason, one point will be deducted from the semester average for each additional 50minute absence.  There are no excused absences.  Two tardies equal one absence.  If you leave class while class is being conducted, it will count as a tardy.  If you are more than 10 minutes late, it will be counted as an absence.  (Day and evening classes)

2.     If you miss a lecture or lab period, it is your responsibility to determine what you have missed and take appropriate measures.  DO NOT assume that the instructor will have materials handed out in your absence with him/her at the next class meeting.  It is your responsibility to check with the instructor after class to correct an “absence” to a “late” if you enter the class after role has been taken and you were less than 10 minutes late.  It is also your responsibility to drop the course if you cannot meet course expectations.

3.     All exams musts be taken in the classroom under the supervision of the instructor.  The instructor will set the time for the exam.  Make-up exams will be taken in the presence of the instructor or in the testing lab.  An exam may be taken only one time.

4.     Students are expected to maintain a high standard of individual honor in their scholastic work.  Students who are guilty of cheating, plagiarism, copying, or dishonesty may be excluded from class with a grade of F; or, in flagrant cases, may be suspended from the College.  The faculty of the CIS Department reserves the right to ask a student to verify any portion of a test by reproducing any specific section or the entire test in question.

5.     Any action that compromises the computer systems at Amarillo College, including but not limited to hacking or cracking can result in a grade of “F” in this course and possible further disciplinary action.

6.     Cell phones MUST be turned off or set so ringing cannot be heard for the duration of the entire class.  If a cell phone can be heard in class during class time, points may be deducted from the final course grade.  Emergency calls may be left with campus security, who will then contact the designated student.

 

Computer Lab Printing Policy

Access to Business Division printing resources are a privilege granted to faculty, staff, and students of the Amarillo College Business Division. The Department reserves the right to limit, restrict, or extend these privileges.

The following regulations apply to all printers in the Business Division.

  1. Printing is restricted to students who are currently enrolled in Amarillo College Business Division classes.
  2. Students may only print course work related to Business Division classes.
  3. Printers should be used in a responsible, non-abusive manner.
  4. Excessive printing is not allowed. Printing of online books and manuals is restricted. PowerPoint presentations should be printed in “handout” layout with six slides per page.
  5. Students should not change any printer configuration; any malfunctioning equipment should be reported to a lab assistant or supervisor.
  6. For security, maintenance, and enforcement of this policy, students should expect NO PRIVACY concerning any printed materials.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in a preliminary warning. Subsequent infractions will result in loss of lab privileges and campus disciplinary action.

Grading Criteria

The final average consists of the following categories:

  • Exams at 10% of the overall final average,
  • The Comprehensive Final Project at 40% of the overall final average,
  • Assignments at 45% of the overall final average, and 
  • Participation at 5% of the overall final average

Makeup exams will not be given unless arrangements have been made before the test.

The course letter grade is assigned, after rounding to the tenth decimal place, using the following scale:

  • A: 89.5 to 100
  • B: 79.5 to less than 89.5
  • C: 69.5 to less than 79.5
  • D: 59.5 to less than 69.5
  • F: Less than 59.5

Many times the solution to homework will be discussed on the day the homework is due.  Therefore, no late work is permitted. Additionally, the assignment with the lowest grade will be dropped.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend every class as discussed (we’ll talk more about this in-class).

Roll will be taken at the beginning of class.

Makeup exams will not be given unless arrangements have been made before the test.

If you stop attending class and your average drops below a 60 and you do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an F for the course.

This course requires work AND independent study outside of class.

The computer labs, located 2nd floor BYRD, are open according to the lab hour schedule found at http://cis.actx.edu/

The computer labs have lab assistants available to help you.  Additionally, some classes have course work to be completed online -- consult with your instructor.

Calendar

Tentative Schedule

Week 1, Intro and Unity Exploration
Week 2, Unity Chapters 3 and 4
Week 3, Exam 1, and Unity Chapter 5, and Semester Project is assigned
Week 4, Unity Chapters 6 and 7
Week 5, Unity Chapters 8 and 9
Week 6, Unity Chapters 10, 11, and 13
Week 7, Unity Chapters 15 and 16, and Semester Project Class Time
Week 8, Semester Project Class Time and Submission

Additional Information

CIS department website:  http://cis.actx.edu/

Syllabus Created on:

10/27/19 10:42 PM

Last Edited on:

10/29/19 10:51 PM