Computer Game Design I

Jesse Cecil, Instructor

Welcome to the class introduction page for Computer Game Design I, CSCI 37A. This page refers to the online class being held in the Summer 2008 semester. To register for this online course, please visit the college's registration site at College of the Siskiyous Admissions and Records Office. Please read the following information and contact the instructor via email Jesse Cecil (cecil@siskiyous.edu) if you have any questions. Make sure you use a descriptive subject line for your email so it doesn't get accidentally deleted as spam.

Class begins on Monday, July 7, 2008 (That is when the ETUDES site will be opened to start the class) and ends on August 15, 2008. See the section below on Dates for important information about adding and dropping this class. You need to 'show up' in class in the first five days and complete the first assignment or you may be dropped.

Learning Goals

Student Learning Outcomes

Describe the basic elements of an image and how to manipulate it
Describe types of sounds and how to obtain or create sounds and music
Identify and describe game genres
Identify the elements of good game design
Use Game Maker software to develop a 2D level game

View the complete syllabus

Course Information

Course requirements and grading are located on the Etudes course site. If you have any questions before you register, please email the instructor Jesse Cecil, cecil@siskiyous.edu .
Dates: See the dates listed above for the official start and end dates for this class. COS policy states that late registrations are not allowed once 20% of the class has passed. Due to the nature of this summer class, 20% of the class is approximately 8 days. COS policy also requires that all 'no-show' students be dropped from the class at the first census. If you have registered for the class but have not logged into the class site within the first eight days, you may be dropped from the course.
Time Expectations: Expect to spend approximately twelve to fifteen hours per week over the six week period. You will be required to participate each week, you will not be able to complete the entire course in a couple of weeks. This is not an independent-study class. Lecture notes and assignments will be posted each week. You do have a choice as to the day and time during the week in which you choose to participate, however, you will have to submit your work each week if you want to pass the course. Plan to be online at least three times per week to do the readings and complete assignments.
Textbook: The Game Maker's Apprentice, by Habgood and Overmars, published by Apress, 2006, ISBN 1-59059-615-3

Enter the Etudes online class
https://etudes-ng.fhda.edu/portal
portal here.

New to Etudes?

Login Instructions and tutorials are located at www.siskiyous.edu/online/etudes/

Is an online course right for you?

Online courses are more convenient than traditional face-to-face courses, but they are usually more difficult and require more time and effort. You should be comfortable using the internet, managing files on your computer, and have good time management skills. Since this class is complete in six weeks, you will need to be ready to go on the first day of class. Also...

You must have a reliable internet connection and a backup plan just in case your first connection is not available.
You will be participating in class and submitting some assignments as attachments for the games and some as written responses.
You should know how to use your internet browser program, including making the necessary adjustments as outlined in the System Requirements tab on the main Etudes gateway page.
To help you decide if online instruction is really for you, please take the assessments on "Online Readiness" at the site containing the "Online Survival Guide."