GAM 230 Intro to Game Production
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Summary
Course Description
This course will provide an introduction to the role of producers in the five major phases of game development: concept, prototype, production, quality assurance, and publisher submissions. Students will learn project management tools and techniques to manage the people, content, and pipelines of disciplines including art, audio, design and programming in each phase of development. Students will also learn about managing relationships with key departments including marketing, licensing, public relations, legal, and finance as well as publishers and third party vendors. The course will include real-world game production challenges and the strategies producers use to overcome them on small (<10) and large (100+) teams.
Course Objectives
The role of a game producer has traditionally been less defined than other roles in game development (e.g. artist or designer).This course is designed to demystify the role of producers and give students a solid foundation in project management as applied to game development.
Students will learn the skills necessary to manage complex inter-discipline and inter-department relationships, as well as skills to manage the significant amount of content generated during production. Once we cover these topics with real-world examples, students will apply the knowledge by creating their own budgets, schedules, resource allocations, and supporting documentation.
This course is designed for students interested in becoming producers and, in a general sense, students interested in the basics of managing complex, multi-discipline creative projects.
Attendance
Student absences are not expected to exced more than 10% (1 absence) of the number of the classes scheduled for the semester. A second and third absence will result in the lowering of your final grade by 5% for each absence. Any student missing 4 classes will be given a grade of ?F? for the semester.
Tardiness is defined as not in the classroom when attendance is called or departing before the class has been formally dismissed by the instructor. Tardiness that exceeds fifteen minutes will be counted as an absence. Two late arrivals or early departures, or a combination of both, are counted as one absence.
Class Work
As noted in the schedule at the end of this syllabus, assignments will follow a regular schedule. Each subject will begin with in-class material, followed by an assignment due at the next class in which you will apply the concepts covered the previous week.
Software
In this course we will use Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Project, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Dev Game Story. I will give brief demonstrations of these programs in class, but if you need help, see me during office hours or check for tutorials online.
Grading
Grading Subject to Change
10% Participation in class discussions
65% Weekly Papers / Assignments / Quizzes
25% Final Project
A = 100-93, A- = 92-90, B+ = 89-88, B = 87-83, B- = 82-80, C+ = 79-78, C = 77-73, C- = 72-70, D+ = 69-68, D = 67-63, D- = 62-60, F = 59-0.
A indicates excellence, B indicates good work, C indicates satisfactory work, D work is unsatisfactory in some respect, F is substantially unsatisfactory work.
Development Phases
Assignment: Job Sprint Production Plan
Assignment: Job Sprint Burndown
Pitch Phase
Assignment: Job Sprint Burndown
Scrum
Assignment: Group Project
Design and Prototype
Assignment: Group Project
Budgets and Scheduling
Assignment: Personal Budget
Vertical Slice
Assignment: Final Project
Alpha and Beta
Assignment: Final Project
Disciplines
Assignment: Final Project
Final Project Run Throughs
Assignment: Final Project
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296