(DUE: Final Exam Day)
ALL PROJECTS must be in 3D
GameStudio
and
must use WED and MED,
unless otherwise approved by instructor. If you need to use other model editors
in your project, you will have to first show that they can be imported into
MED.
This 3D GameStudio project is based on the research done at Cal Tech on learning programming skills through game design. The objective of this project is to design a complete 3D video game, including at least 2 models, a player, an opponent or collaborator, animation, and some type of strategy or artificial intelligence subsystem for the opponent, or competition, or etc.
You will work as a team (2-3 people) to design, build, and complete this 3D video game project.
Each project group will be graded as a team. That is, each person receives the same grade if each person contributes equally. At the end of the semester, I will ask each student how much each team member contributed, including themselves. Lack of participation will result in a lower grade. Great teams have great contributors, each contributing equally. Within the team, you must negotiate on how much and what each person will contribute. Think carefully about your team members: When/Where will you meet? What skills do the different individuals bring to the group (computing, programming, design, evaluation, statistics, etc.)? I would strongly encourage you to form a heterogeneous team full of individuals with varying types of skills.
Guidelines (If members of a group are not contributing)
Game Design Documents
The 15-20 page document you have to create for this group project must have the intention of making a CLEAR game design document. To do this the document should been divided into 3 different sub-documents, the game concept document, game mechanics document and game tech document (use the Game Design Document Template-GDD). This is done with the intention of making a modular document that can be updated and split into the parts, and different versions easily.
Game Design Documents created with your game design scenario should focus upon creation of a well devised game. What your document should not do is try to predict the playability of the game, but instead to define a plan for the game's overall development. It is there for important to consider this document as only one phase in the Game Development process. I recommend that any scenario design be tested with tangible means such as pencil and paper, object, etc, before any major resources are allotted to it. It is also important to understand that this document will act as a starting point and can not replace hands on interactivity and game testing.
The grade for the final group project will be allocated to each task as indicated below.
Each student or group must submit a set of specifications along with a project proposal (see format in Chapter 1 of book).
The proposal is your statement of work, against which your final project will be graded.
You must submit a hardcopy of the proposal and email the proposal as an MS-Word document to the instructor.
Each game proposed must have as a minimum:
1. at least 1 level (2 would be better)
2. at least 2 different models (i.e., opponent and player)
3. an animated player
4. an animated opponent or collaborator
5. some type of strategy or artificial intelligence subsystem/scripts for the opponent or competition
6. A sky somewhere
7. an interior light somewhere
8. a ramp, staircase, or elevator to some elevated area
9. A working door
10. Sound area (rain, lightning, birds, etc)
1. multiple levels
2. nice lighting
3. detailed interiors (chairs, tables, etc)
4. detailed outdoors (trees, shrubs, rocks, water)
5. terrain
6. multiplayer
7. bones animation
8. HUD (lifebars, etc.)
9. shift between levels, transporters
10. Options menu screens, interface
In addition to the basic requirements above, graduate level credit projects must include at least two of the following advanced features.
1. multiple (3 or more) levels with level shifting
2. two terrain maps
3. 3D flight
4. bones animation
5. networked multi-player game
6. other advanced features approved by the instructor
(9 page max, 12 point typewritten, including title page)
See: Game
Concept and Design Document
Your proposal must include:
(Label your sections exactly as below)
1.
Cover page
Title of project and group members.
2.
Executive summary(1/2 page
max)
Briefly describe the game in two paragraphs.
3.
Game Description (7 page max)
Describe the game in greater detail. Include the following 8 subsections(Label your sections exactly as below):
§
Overview: (1/2 page max)
Describe big picture of the game, main quest, main players, etc..
§
The Quest:(1/2 page
max)
Describe the quest in further detail, obstacles, rewards, and the final
objective. Is the game broken into levels or intermediate stages of gameplay?
§
Main Character: (1/2 page max)
Describe main character, powers, change with gameplay,
first-person,third-person?
§
Sketch of Main Character: (1 page max)
A sketch of the Main Character.
§
Opponents: (1/2 page max)
Describe main opponents, intelligence, attack, hide, or evade?
§
Sketch of Opponents: (1 page max)
A sketch of the primary Opponents.
§
World Description: (1/2 page max)
virtual world in which the game is played, outer space, urban, futuristic, etc.
§
Sketch of World: (1 page max)
A sketch of the level in which the game is played.
§
Menus: (1/2 page max)
initial menu screen and any options include a sketch.
§
Controls: (1/2 page max)
Describe interface (up, down, run, shoot, fast, slow).
§
Sounds: (1/2 page max)
Describe background sound, footsteps, Vehicle, Door, etc.
4.
Summary(1/2 page max)
Briefly summarize your game! This is the final sales pitch.
5. You must submit a hardcopy of the proposal and email the proposal as a PDF document to the instructor.
You must submit a set of printouts of models and levels, sufficient to show that the design is functional.
The design review must include your original proposal in an appendix. You must submit a hardcopy of the design review and email the design review as an MS-Word document to the instructor.
(9 page max, 12 point typewritten body of report, including title page)
Your design review must include:
(Label your sections exactly as below)
6.
Cover page
Title of project and group members.
7.
Overview (1 page max)
as in proposal, but updated for any changes
8. Summary of any changes (1 page max) :
You must include all of the following headings, even if
there are no changes.
If there are no changes, just state so after each heading.
§ The Quest:
§ Main Character:
§ Opponents:
§ World Description:
§ Menus:
§ Controls:
§ Sounds:
9. Printouts:
§ Printout of Main World Level in WED: (1 page max)
§ Printout of Main World Level in a running game: (1 page max)
§
Printout of
§ Printout of Main Character in a running game: (1 page max)
§ Printout of Main Opponent in MED: (1 page max)
§ Printout of Main Opponent in a running game: (1 page max)
10. Appendix:
original proposal
You must include your original proposal
11. Demonstration
You must demonstrate your game, levels, and models
when the report is submitted, and get the instructor's signature on your report
cover page to verify the demo.
12. You must submit a hardcopy of the report and email the proposal as an PDF document to the instructor.
You must demonstrate your final game design.
· You must demonstrate to the instructor:
· The game running
· Levels/World in WED
· Models in MED
· Game File Submission
At the time of demonstration, you must submit the
complete design directory and all design files to the instructor.
· Make-up :
You may, at the discretion of the instructor, fix any errors or problems and be
given the opportunity to re-demonstrate and re-submit design during the final
examination period. Typically done during the final
examination period.
Due at Final Exam Day*
The final report must include your original proposal and design review in two appendices. You must submit a hardcopy of the final report and email the proposal as an MS-Word document to the instructor.
· Final report for each group due on date indicated above
· Format: 12 Page Max. 12 point typewritten body of report, excluding Appendix1 and Appendix 2 (See: Game Concept and Design Document)
Your design review must include:
13. Cover
page
Title of project and group members.
14. Executive
summary(1/2 page max)
Briefly describe the game in two paragraphs.
15. Remaining
Issues(1/2 page max)
Briefly describe any unresolved problems that may remain. <> Game
Description (4 page max)
Describe the game in greater detail. Include the following 8 subsections:
Give complete descriptions, even if there was no change since the original
proposal
Label your sections exactly as below (See: Game Concept and Design Document)
§
Overview (1/2 page max)
as in proposal, but updated for any changes
§ The Quest: (1/2 page max)
§ Main Character: (1/2 page max)
§ Opponents: (1/2 page max)
§ World Description: (1/2 page max)
§ Menus: (1/2 page max)
§ Controls: (1/2 page max)
§ Sounds: (1/2 page max)
16. Printouts:
§ Printout of Main World Level in WED: (1 page max)
§ Printout of Main World Level in a running game: (1 page max)
§
Printout of
§ Printout of Main Character in a running game: (1 page max)
§ Printout of Main Opponent in MED: (1 page max)
§ Printout of Main Opponent in a running game: (1 page max)
17. Appendix
1: original proposal
You must include your original proposal
18. Appendix
2: original design review report
You must include your original design review report
19. You must submit a hardcopy of the final report and email the proposal as a PDF document to the instructor.
LABEL all sections EXACTLY as above, IN ORDER GIVEN ABOVE
(See: Game Concept and Design Document)
*You must
submit a hardcopy of the final report and email
the proposal as an MS-Word document to the instructor.