ClassInfo

The goal of the course is encouraging students to bring innovation to videogame writing. The foundation of the course is the discussion of pre-existing works, identifying what they have achieved, and what problems arise from the interaction between storytelling and game design. These issues will be addressed creatively through a series of assignments, where the students will have to propose different practical solutions.

Grades will be based on:
- Class participation and in-class preparedness 20%
- Individual assignments 30%
- Game Analysis presentation 10%
- Story pitch 10%
- Team assignment 30%
- Grand total of 100 possible points. A=90+ B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F=59 or lower

• As home assignments (i.e. presentations and design exercises) provide the basis for particular units in the course, they cannot be submitted late. Assignments vary in terms of effort they require, but since they are all equally important for the course, they all count the same. Please note that missing an assignment means that you will not be able to do the in-class exercise building upon it and will not get a grade for the in-class exercise either.

• Regular attendance is required to pass the course - not only does it affect the class participation grade, the different assignments also address issues that will be discussed in class. More than 3 unjustified absences will disqualify the student from passing the class.

• Please note that some of the main assignments for this class consist of in-class presentation of your projects. Since these assignments require your presence on the day of presentation, deadlines are fixed and extensions cannot be granted.

• Any written text is expected to be clear, spell-checked, and demonstrate a high proficiency in written English. The Writing Center offers free one-on-one professional advice from published writers about all types of academic, creative, and professional writing and oral presentations. Go to condor.depaul.edu/writing for more information and to set up appointments.

• Email: Email is the preferred means of communication between faculty and students enrolled in this course outside of class time. My email is mhiessbo@cdm.depaul.edu.

• Plagiarism: It is your professional responsibility to ensure that all submitted work is your own. Please read DePaul's policy on plagiarism and other academic integrity violations.

• Student rights: You have rights as a student. To learn about these rights please read DePaul's policies for students regarding student rights.

• Incomplete: An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete request must be made at least two weeks before the final and approved by the Dean of the School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems. Any consequences resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for such a request.

• Students with disabilities: If you feel you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential. To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact me as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted either:
  • PLuS Program (for students with LD or AD/HD)
  • The office of Students with Disabilities (for all other disabilities).