COMP222: Principles of Computer Game Design and Implementation

Staff

To introduce the main issues surrounding the computer games architecture.
To introduce the fundamental concepts underpinning computer games development (game physics, game artificial intelligence, content generation).
To provide practical experience of software engineering associated with computer games.

Have an understanding of different design issues related to computer games development: game structure, game engine, physics engine;
Have an appreciation of the fundamental concepts associated with game development: game physics, game artificial intelligence, content generation;
Have the ability to implement a simple game using an existing game engine.

There will be 26-30 lectures. The lecture notes will appear here one week ahead of the lectures.

There will be two project assignments, which will be disclosed in due course. Each coursework assignment takes 10% of the final mark.

For general game design and implementation, the following books are recommended:

Steve Rabin (Ed.). Introduction to game development. Second edition. Charles River Media. 2010.
Millington, I. & Funge, J. 2009. Artificial intelligence for games (2nd edition). Burlington, M. A.: Morgan Kaufmann/Elsevier
Millington, I. Game Physics Engine Development (Second Edition). Elsiveier. 2010

For the implementation using jMonkey, please refer to the following books:

Ruth Kusterer. jMonkeyEngine 3.0: Beginner’s guide. PACT publishing, 2013.
Richard Reese, Justin Johnson: jMonkeyEngine 3.0 Game Development: A practical Guide. P8tecy, 2015.
Rickard Eden. jMonkeyEngine 3.0 Cookbook. PACT pubshiing, 2013.

Acknowledgement: Most of the materials are inherited from Prof. Boris Konev