CECS 455    Intro to Game Programming
Syllabus Spring 2010

Dr. Art Gittleman  ECS 534 (562)985-1530  artg@csulb.edu

Office Hours: M 5:30-6:30, Tu 10-11, 1:30-2, Th 1:30-2
Course Hours:   Sem  Code 5749      TuTh 2-2:50 VEC 518
                            Lab   Code 5750      TuTh 3-4:15 ECS 403 
Grading:   Midterm  exam                        Thursday, March 18                                  100 points
                   Final exam                              Thursday, May 20, 12:30-2:30                  100 points
                   Computer projects                                                                           about 200 points
                   Extra credit for games                                                                                50 points  
                   Attendance                                                                                                 50 points
I give no make-up exams without a written medical excuse or the equivalent.  Late projects are not encouraged, and receive at least a 20% deduction.

Text:  Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 Unleashed by Chad Carter, SAMS, 2009.   
           Available online at coast.coast.edu.  Search for XNA.  You will need to log in. See
           http://www.cecs.csulb.edu/~artg/455 for course information and materials.  
          
Labs:  We will use Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0.   The language is C# and the platform is 
            Visual C# Express 2008 (free download).  C# is easy for C++ or Java programmers.  Site 
            materials are available.  The XNA Game Studio enables development of Xbox 360 games, 
            but a Creator's Club subscription (free to students) is required to download the games to the
            Xbox 360.  We have an Xbox 360 for this course.  The wired USB Xbox 360 controller
            works on a PC and can be used along with keyboard and mouse input for games.
	            The lab projects will be designed to learn the game programming using XNA.  The 
            result  will be a PC strategy game.  Those with more time and interest may wish to do extra 
            credit projects which will be complete 2D games (50 points).   Those with a really good        
            background and lots of time may wish to do a 3D project which might receive additional 
            points.  However a good, playable 2D game is a lot better than a so-so 3D game.  3D 
            games may and probably should be group projects but each student must demonstrate his 
            or her contribution in order to get credit.           

Topics:  A complete game curriculum includes design, programming, art, and business.  This
               course focuses on programming.  The XNA framework provides much of the math and 
               graphics so that students can actually produce a game in one semester. Nevertheless 
               there is a lot to learn and the scope of such a game cannot begin to approach large-
               budget commercial games.  The basic goal of this course is to provide a games elective. 
               The lectures, required projects and exams support this objective.  Those interested in 
               game careers should be preparing a game portfolio to show interviewers and may wish to
               do an extra credit project.
Withdrawal Deadline: Friday, April 23