US 12A — Computer Games as Art, Culture, and Technology

Fall, 2007

Who, When, Where

Instructors: Dan Frost frost@uci.edu office hours Tuesdays 10:00-10:50 (Donald Bren Hall 5058)
Peter Krapp krapp@uci.edu office hours Tuesdays, 9:30 - 10:30 (HIB 212)
Bill Tomlinson wmt@uci.edu office hours Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00 (Donald Bren Hall 5068)
TAs: Garnet Hertz ghertz@uci.edu office hours Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 (Calit2 4300.82)
Eric Baumer ebaumer@uci.edu office hours Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 (Calit2 2006)
Lectures: T Th 11:00-12:20    SH 128  
Labs & Discussions: M, W 9:00-9:50 ICS 192 & DBH 1429  
M, W 10:00-10:50 ICS 192 & DBH 1429  
M, W 11:00-11:50 ICS 192 & DBH 1429  
M, W 12:00-12:50 ICS 192 & DBH 1429  

What and Why

US 12A is part of UCI's First-Year Integrated Program. Throughout the year we will be investigating computer games as artistic, cultural, and technological phenomena. An important theme of this course is collaboration. All but the simplest computer games are created by more than one person, and when we study a computer game we participate in a dialogue or negotiated process of sorts that includes the creators of the game, other players, society at large, and ourselves. We want to promote a collaborative spirit throughout the course, while being aware of the need for each student to master the material individually and to receive a grade based on his or her own performance. At the conclusion of US 12ABC, you will be able to:

  1. identify the genre of a computer game and place the game in an historical context;
  2. understand how computer game technology and techniques are used for purposes other than entertainment;
  3. design new computer games based on a variety of themes, patterns, and genres;
  4. implement simple code, art, and sound/music within a computer game.

Because US 12ABC satisfies part of your lower-division writing requirement, in each quarter you will be writing research-based, college-level papers. You will learn to:

  1. summarize and respond critically to an argument made by another writer;
  2. formulate an argument of your own and explore it fully;
  3. construct an annotated bibliography that identifies and summarizes at least six sources possibly useful to a research question you pose about a topic;
  4. compose a coherent essay that demonstrates critical thinking, analyzes sources, and considers multiple perspectives;
  5. convey your thesis and integrate your research and your arguments in fluent, well-organized sentences and paragraphs;
  6. draw substantive, evaluative conclusions in response to a thesis you put forth.

An essential component of being a good writer is understanding the multi-stage process of composing written work. In US 12ABC you will learn to:

  1. propose, plan, and undertake a research project that involves a number of writing activities;
  2. develop strategies for generating, revising, editing, and proofreading an essay;
  3. be an effective peer review editor, and to receive and integrate peer review comments into your writing;
  4. format an essay in a discipline-appropriate style;
  5. compose a grammatically correct, proofread and edited final draft.

Schedule of Meetings and Assignments

Subject to change:
 
Wk Date Topic Who Readings Notes and Assignments
0 9/27 Introductions;
History of Computer Games		 Frost, Tomlinson, Krapp    
1 10/1 Lab 1: Ucigame Baumer   Lab 1
10/2 History of Computer Games Krapp Read Poole, The Origin of Species (Adobe Reader can rotate the document; check the View menu)
Read the UCI Policy on Academic Honesty		 A-G: Where do the section headings (e.g. "Happiness is a warm gun") come from?
H-M: What is meant by 'soi-disant "simulation"'? Explain the italics and quotation marks, too.
N-Z: Why are sports games called "perverse-looking"?
Post answers on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
10/3 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
10/4 Game Mods Krapp Read Salen and Zimmerman, Rules of Play A-Z: Explain in your own words what the authors mean by "resistance." Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
2 10/8 Lab 2: Ucigame Baumer   Lab 2
10/9 Machinima Krapp    
10/10 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
First paper assigned.
10/11 Interactivity Tomlinson Read Crawford, The Art of Computer Game Design, Chapters 1 & 2 A-L: What attributes does Crawford say characterize all games?
M-Z: Which of the motivations that Crawford lists for game playing is most important to you? Why? Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
3 10/15 Lab 3: Ucigame Baumer   Lab 3
10/16 Programming Frost    
10/17 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
10/18 Programming Frost    
4 10/22 Lab 4: Ucigame Baumer   Lab 4
10/23 Interactivity Tomlinson    
10/24 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
Draft of first paper due.
10/25 Interactivity Tomlinson Read Reynolds, Flocks, Herds, and Schools: A Distributed Behavioral Model How could the "flocks" described in the paper be used in a computer game?
Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
5 10/29 Lab 5: Ucigame Baumer   Lab 5
10/30 Artificial Intelligence Frost   BaldursGateScript.pdf
10/31 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
11/1 Midterm     Take a look at last year's midterm
6 11/5 Lab 6: Ucigame Baumer   Lab 6
11/6 Designing Characters Tomlinson Read Top Ten Hurdles Facing Game Designers Today (make sure you click through to read all 10) Which of these 10 challenges, if fully solved five years from now, would make the biggest difference in computer games. Why?
Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
11/7 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
First paper due.
11/8 Designing Characters Tomlinson Read Lasseter, Principles of Traditional Animation Applied to 3D Computer Animation (from on-campus computer) (local copy) "Overlapping is critical to conveying main ideas of the story." Give an example which illustrates this.
Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
7 11/12 Veterans Day
11/13 Tools for creating art Tomlinson    
11/14 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
First part of character design assignment due
11/15 Game Design Frost Read Crawford, The Art of Computer Game Design, Chapters 3 & 4 A break: no posting required.
8 11/19 Lab 8: Game Development Baumer   Game development project
11/20 Violence in Games Krapp Read Jenkins, Fans, Bloggers, and Gamers Describe one example from the chapter of how a game helps the player see the consequences of violence.
Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
11/21 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
First draft of paper #2 due
11/22 Thanksgiving
9 11/26 Lab 8: Game Development Baumer   Game development project
Lab notes at http://www.ics.uci.edu/~ebaumer/us12
11/27 Game Design Frost Read Using the Hero's Journey in Games (log-in required) Make sure to read Listing 1. Local copy
Drei und Zwanzig
50 Greatest Game Design Innovations 		Name one game you have played, and describe how it has "The Call to Adventure" and "The Road Back". (If you can't think of a game, use a movie other than Star Wars.)
Post responses on the US 12A Noteboard before 11:00 am.
11/28 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
Second part of character design assignment due
11/29 Guest Lecture      
10 12/3 Lab 9: Game Development Baumer   Game development project
Lab notes at http://www.ics.uci.edu/~ebaumer/us12
12/4 Game Project Reviews      
12/5 Discussion Hertz   Discussion notes at http://www.conceptlab.com/uci/us12a/
Final version of paper #2 due
12/6 Game Project Reviews      
F 12/11 FINAL EXAM, 10:30-12:30, SH 128 Last year's final exam


Assignments and Grading

The grade for the quarter will be determined based on your total points. Points are allotted as follows:

Papers
  Paper #1 15
  Paper #2 15 		30
Exams
  Midterm 10
  Final 15 		25
Game
  Character Design 5
  Game 20 		25
Participation
  Labs 5
  Discussions 5
  Office Hour Visit 5
  Noteboard Postings 5  		20
TOTAL  100

The grade will be based on the total points, using a standard "straight" scale: 90's are As, 80's are Bs, 70s are Cs, 60s are Ds, and below 60 is Failing. We reserve the right to change the precise cut-off points.

Except for the Participation components, scores are based on the quality of the work turned in, not on the time spent or the effort expended. Also, note that there is no "extra credit" in US 12A.

Textbooks and Resources

For the writing portion of the class, you should have two books which are also assigned in Writing 39B:

UCI offers several kinds of assistance to writers. The website of the UCI Campus Writing Coordinator at http://www.writing.uci.edu/ has a great deal of information. We particularly recommend the Writing and Library Research Peer Tutors and the Learning and Academic Resource Center (LARC).

We are not assigning a specific textbook on Java programming, but you may find it helpful to have one. All books seem to cover much more of the language than you'll need for this class, so we recommend looking over a few in the bookstore and choosing the one that seems the clearest to you. There are also some valuable on-line resources for Java (however, most of these do assume you have a programming background):

Policies

Academic Honesty

Do not claim as your own the words or ideas of others. When you collaborate with or are helped by a classmate, give credit. When in doubt, talk with a TA or professor before turning in your work. A single act of cheating or academic dishonesty can seriously mar your career at UCI. Familiarize yourself with the UCI Policy on Academic Honesty, particularly Section C, "What is Academic Dishonesty?" and Section D "Procedures for Dealing with Incidents of Academic Dishonesty."

Add / Drop Policy

Students may add or drop US 12A up to the end of the second week of classes (Oct. 12), with the instructor's signature on an "Add" card. Students may add only if they are caught up on all readings and assignments. Students may drop after the second week only in exceptional circumstances.

Communication

Check your UCInetID email frequently; we will occasionally need to get in touch with you by email. Please feel free to send email to the course staff: use your UCInetID account, put US 12 in the subject line, and include your name in the message body. This web page syllabus will be updated over the course of the quarter, so please look at it regularly.

Health

Even though you are young and reasonably healthy, as a user of computers you are at risk for several computer-related health problems, particularly RSI (repetitive-strain injury). Please read and follow the good advice at the Bren School's Computer Health and Safety web page.

Special Accommodations

Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Prof. Frost privately to discuss his or her specific needs. Also contact the Disability Services Center at (949) 824-7494 as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Late Work

The ten week quarter will pass very quickly, and it is essential that all work be turned in on time so you can move on to the next assignment. If possible, contact your TA as soon as you realize an assignment will be late. In general, the policy is a 10% penalty for work up to 24 hours late, 20% penalty for work 25 to 48 hours late, and later work is not accepted without approval from a professor.

Lunch

Not during class, please.

Computers and Cell Phones in Class

In lectures and discussions, you may use a notebook computer to take notes, but you must first disable your wireless connection to the Internet. Playing of games is, alas, strictly forbidden. Turn off cell phones during class.

Disputes on scores and grades

If you think your work has not been correctly or fairly scored, talk with your TA. If you are still not satisfied, talk with Prof. Frost. All score disputes must be brought up within one week after the work is returned. If you have a concern pertaining to your final exam score or your grade, contact Prof. Frost before the end of the first week of the Winter quarter.