Game Program Highlights

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Tracy Fullerton, Magy Seif El Nasr, Susan Gold, 2007 SIGGRAPH

Transcript of Game Program Highlights

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So you want to start a game program?

So you want to start a game program?

IGDA Education SIG presents the

Curriculum Framework Initiative

& Curricular Models

Thursday, August 9, 2007

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Who are we and why are we here?Who are we and why are we here?

• Tracy Fullerton

Assistant Professor USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media DivisionCo-Director, Electronic Arts Game Innovation [email protected]

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Who are we and why are we here?Who are we and why are we here?

• Magy Seif El-Nasr

Assistant ProfessorSimon Fraser UniversitySchool of Interactive Arts

& Technology

[email protected]

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Who are we and why are we here?Who are we and why are we here?

• Susan GoldAcademic CoordinatorGarage Games

[email protected]

• But ALSO

Chair of IGDA Education SIG

[email protected]

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IGDA Education SIGIGDA Education SIG

• One of many special interest groups from within Game Development

› * Alternate Reality Games (ARGs)› * Artificial Intelligence› * Casual Games› * Education› * Game Accessibility› * Game Preservation› * Human Resources› * Indies› * IP Rights› * Mobile Game Development› * Online Games› * Production› * Quality Assurance› * Sex in Games› * Students› * Tools› * Women in Game Development› * Writing

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MissionMission

To create a community resource that will strengthen the academic membership of the IGDA while enhancing the education of future and current game developers.

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ResourcesResources

• http://www.igda.org/education

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Education Workshop at GDCEducation Workshop at GDC

• http://www.igda.org/education/workshop

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Curriculum Knowledge BaseCurriculum Knowledge Base

• http://www.igda.org/index.php/Curriculum_Knowledge_Base

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2002-20032002-20032002-20032002-2003

• Academic Summits are held at the annual Game Developers Conference

– 2003 the IGDA Curriculum Framework (version 2.3 beta) is published

• Adoption into curricula around the world

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What is the framework?What is the framework?

• Core Topics

– Critical Game Studies - Criticism, Analysis & History

– Game Design - Principles and Methodologies

– Game Programming - Aspects of CS + specific areas that address gaming

– Visual Design

– Audio Design

– Interactive Storytelling

– Game Production

– Business of Gaming

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A Key Component: Soft SkillsA Key Component: Soft Skills

• Speaking & Communication

• Writing

• Collaboration

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Interdisciplinary Work & CoursesInterdisciplinary Work & Courses

• The ability to understand and work with a team of different disciplines

• Acknowledging and respecting those disciplines

• Communication Skills

• Breadth of Medium

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Programs OverviewPrograms Overview

• Many different programs

• Based on different disciplines– CS– Design– Film– Sound & Music– Architecture, etc....

• Philosophies– Experimental design focused– Industry pipeline focused– Research oriented– Serious games

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Game Curricula:Some Highlights from

Current Programs

Game Curricula:Some Highlights from

Current Programs

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Cloud, USC IMD

Pac-ManhattanNYU-ITP

Original, Innovative Student GamesOriginal, Innovative Student Games

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Original, Innovative student games Original, Innovative student games

Darfur is DyingUSC IMD

Peace Maker, CMU ETC

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Homeless: It’s no gameSFU - SIAT

Original, Innovative Student Games

Original, Innovative Student Games

Film Noir Style GamePenn State - IST

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flOw on PS3

Original, Innovative Student GamesOriginal, Innovative Student Games

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JEDDAH: A Dystopian Dream's Interface: The Cursor as a Narrative Element

SFU - SIAT

Original, Innovative

Student Research Ideas

Original, Innovative

Student Research Ideas

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And List Goes On...And List Goes On...

• Warm Control The Global Warming Project– DePaul University

• Fashion Designer – CMU/ETC

• Mermaids - GA Tech

• Agamemnon's Curse, RumbleBox – DigiPen

• Eclipse– SMU Guildhall

• Tragedy Tennis– Northwestern

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Programs OverviewPrograms Overview

• Programs have many concepts in common:

– Emphasis on interdisciplinary

– Group work

– Experimental

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Collaborative projectsCollaborative projects

Advanced game teams, USC

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Game design: paper prototypingGame design: paper prototyping

Alex Mitchell, NUS, Singapore

Kevin O’Gorman, American InterContineåntal University

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Game design: PlaytestingGame design: Playtesting

EA Game Innovation Lab, USC

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Game CritiqueGame Critique

Girls and Games

Penn State - IST

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Theory and Criticism of GamesTheory and Criticism of Games

Jose Zagal, Georgia TechJim Whitehead, UC Santa Cruz

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“Game appreciation” courses,theory and criticism of games“Game appreciation” courses,theory and criticism of games

Alice Robison and Henry Jenkins, MIT

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Pitches, presentations & showsPitches, presentations & shows

Carnegie Mellon ETC, Virtual Worlds Show

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Pitches, presentations & showsPitches, presentations & shows

Intermediate game pitches, USC

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Industry InvolvementIndustry Involvement

Advanced Games, USC

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Industry InvolvementIndustry Involvement

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“Big” Games“Big” Games

USC IMD

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Game jamsGame jams

Parsons Mobile Game Mosh

Nordic Game Jam

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ImprovisationImprovisation

Lori Shyba, University of Calgary

Bernie DeKoven, Deepfun.com

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Traditional & Virtual TheatreTraditional & Virtual Theatre

Penn State – IST

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“Live” Games“Live” Games

Deborah Solomon, Montgomery College, MD

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Community building between programsCommunity building between programs

USC vs CMU Game Challenge

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Student and Indie Game Competitions & FestivalsStudent and Indie Game Competitions & Festivals

Slamdance

IndieCade E3 Showcase

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Looks Great, Lots of Success Stories...Looks Great, Lots of Success Stories...

But it’s not that simple

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Challenges Challenges

• University setting – Silos

• Getting industry involvement

– Advisory board

– Feedback in game demos, fests, shows

• Finding skilled people to teach

• Undergraduate or graduate?

• Development of a course or a program?

• Major, Minor, Degree?

• Course structure?

• Technology

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Question & Answer TimeQuestion & Answer Time

Thank You