STATE UNIVERSITY of NEW YORK (SUNY) Potsdam
Department of Information and Communication Technology
CS 395 / IT 666 - Simulations and Games
- Course Syllabus -
Dr. Anthony Betrus: Instructor
Spring 2011

Credit: Three semester hours

Time/Dates: Wed 2:00 - 4:30 / Jan 26 - May 18

Location: Satterlee 300

Course Description: This course covers topical issues in simulations and games through a combination of seminar discussions, demonstration and play of seminal works, and in-class exercises. Students in this class will gain an understanding of the historical development and critical vocabulary of interactive media, including both games for learning (Serious Games) as well as commercial games. This, combined with their own experiences, will serve as a foundation to articulate and develop their own ideas for interactive experiences. Students in this course will apply their knowledge in designing a simulation or game.

Learning Objectives:

Students will:

- Be exposed to the history of games and interactive media, game genres, seminal works, and significance of various landmarks in the evolution of interactive entertainment.

- Learn and use an critical vocabulary for understanding and analyzing games and interactive entertainment

- Engage with cultural perspectives on games and their place in human societies and groups, both historical and current.

- Understand the relationship of interactive entertainment to other forms of art and media such as film and television.

- Identify the issues that challenge that face the designers of interactive entertainment through the design of their own game.

Required Textbooks:
1) Janet Murray: Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace (ISBN: 0262631873)
2) Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game (ISBN: 9780765342294)

Digital Storage: It is strongly recommended that each student have available a USB portable drive with at least 4gb in capacity.

Requirements:
In Class Activities and Participation - In class activities will consist of seminar discussion, demonstration of seminal works, and in-class exercises. Students are expected to attend and participate in each class session.

Journals: Students in this class will keep a simulations and games journal, including in-class and out-of-class activities. Be sure to update your journal daily to reflect the nuances of your experiences.

Student Led Discussions (Graduate Students Only): Each graduate student will be assigned (individually) to two seminar discussions. Students will create a web site with guiding questions for the in-class discussion, along with links to appropriate support materials for the discussion (videos, additional reading, locations for downloading game demos, etc...). In-class activities must also be prepared, including any technical setup. Graduate Students in charge of a session will also be in charge of judging in-class presentations (see below). (100 coins or 1 star)

Reaction Papers: Students will be expected to read the assigned readings and contribute to class discussion each week. When readings are assigned, students will be expected to write a 1 to 2 page reaction paperin preparation for the class session. You should be taking notes, highlighting important information, and preparing for the class discussion. Once the reading has been completed, you should use your notes and highlighted reading to write your reaction paper. These should include your reactions to the readings (not a summary of the readings). In your reactions you should demonstrate the connections between the topics discussed in the readings and your life experiences (work, home, school, social life, etc. . . ). You should use at least two experiences from your personal life that you relate to the readings. Click here for a structural example of what you should produce. Reaction papers should be printed and brought to class. Students will lose 1 coin if they do not bring their printed reaction paper to class. The college writing center has published a document that will help you self-correct your reaction papers here. You may also wish to schedule an appointment with the writing center for more personal help.

In Class Presentations: During class, students will be divided into groups of 3. Those groups will then collectively discuss their reaction papers and then produce a short 3-5 slide (5 minute) presentation. This is NOT a summary of the readings, rather a short list of synthesized ideas that the group collectively agrees on. This will be presented during class. Scoring of presentations will result in the top scoring team receiving 8 coins, the second scoring team 7, the third 6, the fourth 5, the fifth 4, and the sixth 3 coins. Scoring will take place as follows: presentations will be rank ordered from 1st to 5th by each group (you do not rank your own presentation). The instructor will rank order the presentations from 1st to 6th. The student rankings will count for 50% of the aggregate score for a presentation, and the instructor 50%. The final rank ordering of presentations, after all scores are tallied and aggregated, will constitute how many coins are earned by a particular group for that day (8, 7, 6, 5, 4, or 3 coins).

Game Design/Development Project (Final Project): Students will design their own interactive experience. This may include a serious game (game for learning) or a game for entertainment. Depending on the size and scope of their design, a prototype of their game may be created. Delivery of instruction will be required if a serious game is developed. This can be either an individual or group project. All projects must be approved by the instructor. (200 coins or 1 star)

Optional Lectures/Activities. The may include guest lectures, gaming sessions, or other activities that will occur outside of regular class time. Students may submit their own ideas for optional activities (1 per student, up to 5 coins per activity).

Plagiarism: This course adheres to the College's policy on academic honesty as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism may lead to grade reduction, course failure, or expulsion from school.

Students with Disabilities: Any students with a disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations should speak with the professor as early as possible. Students with disabilities should contact: Sharon House, Coordinator of Accommodative Services at 267-3267, Sisson 112, or e-mail her at housese@potsdam.edu for further assistance. All disclosures will remain confidential.

Grading: Students will be awarded coins for successfully completing course requirements as follows (100 coins = 1 star):

Reaction Papers up to 2 Coins per session (up to 30 Coins)
Game Journal up to 70 Coins
Student Led Discussion (Graduate Students Only) up to 100 Coins (1 Star)
In Class Presentations up to 100 Coins (1 Star) (8,7,6,5,4 or 3 coins awarded per session)
Game Design/Development Project up to 200 Coins (2 Stars)
Optional Lectures/Activities up to 5 Coins per activity

The Final Grade in the course will be determined by the accumulation of Stars and Coins as follows:
Graduate Students Undergraduate Students Grade
5 or more Stars 4 or more Stars 4.0
4 Stars; 70-99 Coins 3 Stars; 70-99 Coins 3.7
4 Stars; 30-69 Coins 3 Stars; 30-69 Coins 3.3
4 Stars; 0-29 Coins 3 Stars; 0-29 Coins 3.0
3 Stars; 70-99 Coins 2 Stars; 70-99 Coins 2.7
3 Stars; 30-69 Coins 2 Stars; 30-69 Coins 2.3
3 Stars; 0-29 Coins 2 Stars; 0-29 Coins 2.0
  1 Star; 70-99 Coins 1.7
  1 Star; 30-69 Coins 1.3
  1 Star; 0-29 Coins 1.0
Below 300 coins Below 100 Coins 0.0

Course Schedule:
 

Date:

Topic:

Jan 26

Course Introduction and Overview

Discussion: Why study interactive media? Interactive media as technology, business, art, education, and entertainment.

In Class Activities: "Mafia" in class Game (aka "Werewolf")

Assignments for Feb 9:
* Begin Game Journals;
* View "The Rise of the Video Game" 5 part Discovery Channel special (Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5)
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for " Hamlet on the Holodeck "
- Ch 3: From Additive to Expressive Form
- Ch. 10: Hamlet on the Holodeck?

Feb 9

Discussion: The Evolution of Interactive Media ; The Crash & Rebirth of the Game Industry.

In-Class Activities: Demonstration of SpaceWar, Pong , Zork, PacMan , Telengard, and Super Mario Brothers.

Graduate Student Facilitator : Joshua Cartmill

Assignments for Feb 16:
* Continue Game Journals;
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for Ch. 1 of "Beginning Game Programming in C++"

Feb 16

Discussion: Playing with Machines, the relationship among play, rules, software, fun, and learning. Procedural thinking, literacy, and digital models for interactivity

In-Class Activities: Introduction to Game Coding, "The Game Loop" ; The Saga of the Three Little Pigs (version 5 of a game Made by Dr. Betrus for a research study, and if you are interested, the four prior versions v1, v2, v3, v4)

Creating Text Adventures with "Quest" download the "Quest for the Cartridge" (game file). Check out the design docs.

Assignments for Feb 23:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for " The Ultimate Display", by Ivan Sutherland and "Allegories of Space" by Espen Aarseth

Feb 23

Discussion: Evolution of Virtual Spaces. Introduction to computer graphics. Human Computer Interfaces. The magic circle. Designing complex systems and "infinite" possibility spaces. Virtual Reality.

In-Class Activities: Demonstration of Asteroids, Battlezone, and Doom

Assignments for Mar 2:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for: "The Nature and Significance of Play as a Cultural Phenomenon" by J ohan Huizinga, and "The Definition of Play" by Roger Callois

Mar 2

Discussion: Participation and Engagement. The role of the user in interactive entertainment. Structuring participation for player interaction. Suspensions of disbelief, agency and authorship in interactive entertainment.

In-Class Activities: Screening: "The Game"

Assignments for Mar 16:
* Continue Game Journals for Mid-Term Review on Mar 2.
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for " Hamlet on the Holodeck " - Ch 8: Eliza's Daughters and "Players Who Suite MUDs" by Richard Bartle

Mar 9

No Class - Spring Recess

Mar 16

Discussion: Characters and Controls. Who am I? The relationships between avatar and player; character and avatar. Empathy, Action and Control.

In Class Screening: "The Guild"

In Class Activities: Second Life, World of Warcraft, The Sims 2, Halo Reach

Mid-Term review of game journals

Assignments for Mar 23:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for Ch 1. "Talking about What We're Looking For" and Ch. 2 "The Guidelines" from The Well Played Game by Bernie DeKoven

Mar 23

Discussion: Conflict, Competition, challenge, obstacles and opponents and the composition of conflict. Games as a dramatic medium. Violence vs. conflict. Violent games, first person shooters. Alternate models for conflict and challenge.

In Class Activities: New Games, Theater Games

Assignments for Mar 30:
*Continue Game Journals
*Read and prepare a reaction paper for "Narrative Play" and "Ironclad" from Salen and Zimmerman Rules of Play (ISBN 0262240459, available via SUNY Potsdam books 24x7), and "Exquisite Corpse (in Wikipedia)"

Mar 30

Discussion: Genre in Interactive Media. Introduction to genre theory. Genre as a double-edged sword for the industry. Looking at game genres: Play mechanics and their relationship to narrative. Analysis of popular genres and the "message" in their mechanics.

In Class Activities: Myst (game) (article), Starcraft (Boxer vs. Joyo: English Commentary, Korean Commentary) (article), Pole Position, Madden

Assignments for Apr 6:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for "I, Mario" from Game Over by David Sheff, "Chapter 1:Together (audio book)" and "Machines at Play (audio book)" from Dungeons and Dreamers by King and Borland

Apr 6

Discussion: Designers vs. Directors. Overview of the careers of important designers: Shigeru Miyamoto, Richard Garriott, John Carmack and John Romero, Will Wright. Relationship of game designers to creative thinkers in other fields: writers, directors, architects and engineers.

In Class Activities: Ultima IV (game) (article) ; Sim City: ( game) (article) ; Zelda Windwaker (game speed run video) (article), Quake (game) (article)

Assignments for Apr 13:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for "Ender's Game" Chapters 1-8

Apr 13

Discussion: Games without Boundaries. Internet games, handheld devices, mobile games, alternative reality games, games that never end.

In Class Activities: Geocaching

Assignments for Apr 20:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for "Ender's Game" Chapters 9-15

Apr 20

Discussion: Serious Games. Games with a message: documentary games, advergaming, games for learning and training, political games.

In Class Activities: September 12, Darfur is Dying, A Force More Powerful (Interview with Game Creator) ; Darfur is Dying (Game)

Assignments for Apr 27:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for "Designing Interactive Theme Park Rides: Lessons from Disney's Battle for the Buccaneer Gold" by Schell and Shochet

Apr 27

Discussion: Location Based Interactivity. Theme parks as an emerging venue for interactivity.

In Class Activities: Field Trip to "La Ronde" in Montreal or "The Great Escape" in Lake George. Location/Date/Time TBA

Assignments for May 4:
* Continue Game Journals
* Read and prepare a reaction paper for "Long Live Games, part 1 & part 2" by Greg Costikyan

May 4

Discussion: Experimental and Independent Games. Games outside the mainstreams of distribution and expectation. Gamelab, Indy Game Jam, Game Innovation Lab.

In Class Activities: Game Jam Games, Cloud, Flow, Flower. Ganesha

May 11

Discussion: Students' Game Journals

In Class Activities: Presentation of Final Projects

Presenters: Ben Houck / Brandon Horishny; Josh Cartmill / Mark Misiak; Adam Wells; Chris Liu; Josh Briggs / Casey Grey; Jesse Frederick
May 18

8-10am and
3-4:30

 

In Class Activities: Presentation of Final Projects: Sam Bouabane; Bryan Mekeel; Bill Kline; Steve Green / Isaiah Steward; James Nachamkin; Bryan Leo; Greg Cross; Ifeanyichukwu Osuji (E)

Course wrap-up, course evaluations

All materials related to use in the course will be located at the Teaching Educational Games Resources Open Content Wiki

List of Optional Activities:

1) The Conami Code (April) - Contact: Adam Wells
2) Lake Placid Film Festival - Submissions due April 15
3) Optional Lecture - Andrew Zaferakis, 5:30 Tuesday, April 5 in CAMP 176. (Press Release)

Office Information:
E-mail: betrusak@potsdam.edu
Office: Dunn Hall 393
Phone: (315) 267-2670

This page created 10/4/2010 by Dr. Anthony Betrus.  Last updated 5/4/2011