Project 3

The 2011 679 Game Project

This is the main “overview” page

The goal of this project is to produce a game by working in a team of 4 people. What game you create is up to your team, but is subject to some Rules.

All parts of the project will contribute towards your grade (including your proposal and post-mortem).

Ideas for games must be presented as a Proposal. You team may choose any one of the proposed designs. Even if the design was proposed by someone who isn’t a member of the team.

Teams will be assigned on Monday, November 7tth. Each team will need to choose a game to build, and create a plan in time for a project meeting with the course staff on Friday, November 11th. The games will be built over the following 3 weeks, culminating in a playtesting session when each person will play each game. (expect to give and recveive lots of demos). The following week will give an opportunity to tune the game and produce the final documentation.

The project Phases:

• Game Proposals (Wednesday, November 2nd)
• Project Kickoff (Monday, November 7th)
• Project Plans and Meetings (Friday, November 11th)
• Signs of Life Demos (Friday, November 18th)
• Tech Demos (Friday, December 2nd)
• Playtests (Friday, December 9th)
• Gold Masters (Wednesday, December 14th)
• Festival of Games! (Thursday, December 22nd)

A Brief Discussion of the Phases (with links to each)

Game Design (Proposal) (due Wednesday 11/2)

Pairs of people will propose games for project groups to build. Each pair will give a 3 minute “pitch” to the class, as well as provide a 1-page proposal (which we will post to the course web). The proposal is due before class.

Project Kickoff (Monday, 11/7)

Teams will be announced. Class time will be used for teams to meet, and try to decide what game to build.

Game Plans (due Friday 11/11, 9am)

Each project team will complete a detailed plan. During class time, there will be meetings to discuss the designs (the early deadline is to give the instructor and TA time to read over the plans).

Signs of Life Checkpoint (due Friday 11/18 – demo lab)

Each project team will have to provide evidence that they are making progress towards implementing their plan.

Tech Demo -> Checkpoints (due 12/2, demo lab)

Each project team will give a demonstration of the their “technology” implemented to that point.

Playtests (Friday, 12/9)

In class, we will have a “play testing” session where each person will get to play each other group’s game. Enough stuff needs to be prepared (including documentation) such that people can play the game at class time.

Gold Master (Wednesday December 14th)

The last day of class, “everything” is due (code, documentation, …). Official University Policy says things cannot be due after this. Late projects (up until the final deadline) are negotiable.
While the post-mortems are officially due at this time, there is leniency for them.

Festival of Games! (December 22nd, official class time slot)

We won’t have a final exam. During the final exam time slot, it is my plan to play the games that you’ve built. Note: late projects cannot be accepted after the exam period. Period.