Computer Graphics and Game Technology

Class Information

  • Instructor: Edgar SIMO-SERRA
  • Dates: Apr, 2025〜Jul, 2025
  • Lectures: Monday, 5th Period (17:00〜18:40)
  • Room: TBA
  • E-mail: ess@waseda.jp

Overview

This tries to cover game design in a hands-on format to teach students how ta make games from ideation to completion. The class focuses on the concepts behind games and has students gain experience by making three game prototypes during the entire course.

Students are expected to have basic knowledge of programming and computer science. A computer that can run godot 4 is also necessary.

What this course tries to do:

  • Try to categorize and explain the different aspects of games
  • Give experience making games through “game jams”
  • Cover some game research and different approaches that can be useful in games
  • Teach how to analyze existing games and mechanics

What this course isn’t:

  • An introduction to programming
  • A good way to break into the games industry and find a job
  • A comprehensive course on all the skills needed for game development
  • A course that focuses on proprietary tools such as Unity or Unreal Engine
  • A way to learn about marketing and other techniques necessary to be successful in the game industry

Objectives

  1. Foo.
  2. Bar.

Class Schedule

  1. Introduction slides
  1. Introduction
    • Overview of the Course
    • Definitions and Examples of Games (GDW Chapter 2, 3, ROP Unit 1)
    • Introduce Godot
    • HOMEWORK: Ideas
  2. Game Design Fundamentals
    • Elements (GDW Chapter 3, 4)
    • Ideation (GDW Chapter 6)
    • Prototyping (GDW Chapter 7, Godot)
    • HOMEWORK: Game System Analysis
  3. The Player Experience (AGD Chapter 9, 10, 11)
    • Psychology of games
  4. Game Mechanics
  5. JAM1
  6. Procedural Content Generation
  7. Playtesting
  8. Balancing
  9. JAM2 10. 11. 12. 13.
  10. JAM3 - The End

Resources

  1. Game Design Workshop
  2. The Art of Game Design
  3. Godot Documentation
  4. Procedural Content Generation in Games

Keywords:

  • hands-on
  • game jam
  • game design
  • creativity

Frameworks:

  • Godot? <- probably best for now
    • https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/getting_started/first_2d_game/index.html
  • Love2D?

Activities:

  • Game Journal
  • Game System Analysis - formal / dramatic / dynamic (Ex. 6.2, pg 179)
  • Exquisite Corpse (Ex. 6.5, pg 192)
  • Brainstorm - give topic, sort of like game jam? (Ex. 6.6, pg 194)

Game Examples:

  • Slay the Spire
  • Tower of Goo
  • Baba is You
  • Faster Than Light
  • Darkest Dungeon
  • Undertale
  • Celeste
  • Crypt of the Necrodancer
  • Dead Cells
  • Transistor
  • Untitled Goose Game
  • Hollow Knight
  • Terraria
  • Cave Story+
  • Enter the Gungeon
  • Portal
  • Deus Ex
  • Half-Life
  • Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
  • Chrono Trigger
  • Final Fantasy VI

Unplayed

  • Papers Please
  • Into the Breach
  • Stray
  • Night in the Woods
  • Disco Elysium
  • Spiritfarer
  • Hyper Light Drifter
  • Omori
  • Spelunky
  • Cuphead
  • Minecraft
  • Braid
  • Hades
  • Shovel Knight
  • Journey

Reference:

  • CS 325: Introduction to Game Design (Yotam, Game Design Workshop) https://cragl.cs.gmu.edu/teaching/cs325/

Resources:

  • https://sonniss.com/gameaudiogdc/ -> sounds
  • https://game-icons.net/ -> icons