CIS 300: Introduction to Computer Game Design

CIS300 Project Schedule

Task  Deadline
Week 1 Form Groups 9/1
Week 2 Initial Concepts 9/6
Week 3 Final Proposal (Project Kickoff) 9/13
Week 4 Concept Document 9/20
Week 5 Milestone Doc and Functional Spec 9/27
Week 6 Gameplay Prototype 10/4
Week 7 (Initial) Game Script/Wiki *Fall Break* 10/11
Week 8 Technical Prototype 10/18
Week 9 (Initial) Website 10/25
Week 10 Alpha (Code Complete) 11/1
Week 11 Game Maunal 11/8
Week 12 Beta (Feature Complete) 11/15
Week 13 Final Portfolio *Thanksgiving* 11/22
Week 14 Release (Balanced and Tested) 11/29
Week 15 GDIAC Showcase 12/5

CIS300 Course Schedule

[Aug] [Sep] [Oct] [Nov] [Dec]
Note: The schedule is subject to change.

August

Week's Objective

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

24

Lecture 1: What is a Game?

 

25

Lecture 2: What is CIS300?

Form Groups 28

Lecture 3: Players, Designers, and Ideas

 

29

Comm Lab 1: Generating Ideas

30

Lab 1

31

Case Studies - Small Games: Oasis, Zuma, Diner Dash

Sep 1

Lecture 4: Challenges and Genres


September

 

Week's Objective

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri
Generate Ideas 4

Case Studies - Small Games: Roto-Cosmos, Mutant Storm, Abuse

 

5

Comm Lab 2: Feasibility and Originality

6

Lab 2

7

Work Day: Choose a Concept

8

Case Studies - GDIAC Post-Mortems: Sydonis, Blade of Honor, Different Worlds
Proposal & Charter 11

Case Studies - Interfaces: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

 

12

Comm Lab 3: The Concept Document

 13

Lab 3

 

14

Lecture 5: Documents and Development

 15

Discussion: The User Experience
Concept Doc 18

Case Studies - Mechanics: Super Monkey Ball, Viewtiful Joe, Ikaruga

19

Guest Lecture: Matt Brown, EA

 20

Lab 4

 

21

Comm Lab 4: The Milestone Document

 22

Discussion: Story in Games
Milestone Doc & Functional Spec 25

 

26 27 28 29


October

 

Week's Objective

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri
Gameplay Prototype 2

 

3 4 5 6
Game Wiki 9 10

 

11 12 13
Technical Prototype 16

 

17 18 19 20
Game Website 23

 

24 25 26 27


November

 

Week's Objective

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri
Alpha (Code Complete) Oct 30 Oct 31 1

 

2 3
Game Manual 6

 

7 8 9 10
Beta (Content Complete) 13

 

14 15 16 17
Final Portfolio 20

 

21 22 23 24
Release 27

 

28 29 30 Dec 1


December

Week's Objective

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri
Showcase 4

 

5 6 7 8