Digital Media Instructor (RSS)265: Scripting for Game Dev.
DIGM 265, Scripting for Game Development, focuses on advanced multimedia-authoring concepts and tools used in the production of self-contained computer interactive games including classic board and card games like Chess, Solitaire, and Monopoly; arcade games like Space Invaders, Packman, and Defenders, and adventure and educational games like Myst and Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? Attention is given to primary production tools used for creating time motion pieces intended for Internet and CD-ROM distribution.
Midterm
NONE.
Final
Students will create their own interactive multimedia game using Macromedia Flash (Stage size 800×600, Max shocked file size 2,048 kb). This shocked movie must be designed and implemented to be pleasing and engaging to the end player with custom graphics and sounds; it must also keep track of and constantly display the player’s score and game time. This game will have a 2:00 - 5:00 minute time limit with a count down timer. This final can be satisfied by replicating & customizing an existing classic, arcade, adventure, or educational game, or by inventing a brand new game. This final project will be delivered via the Internet AND on a functional MAC/WIN Hybrid CDROM.
Grading
- 20% Class attendance & participation
- 35% Homework (functionality, content, creativity)
- 45% Final (functionality, content, creativity) [15, 15, 15]
Equipment
- Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development by Glen Rhodes
- Flash 8 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual Quickstart Guide
- USB Thumb drive/iPod/HD to backup your work
- Headphones (If you want to listen to music while you work!)
06/28.. Welcome… Those of you with weak hearts may want to leave now 
- Introductions
- Lecture: "Welcome… Those of you with weak hearts may want to leave now 8-)"
- Topics:
- Course Overview
- Storyboarding and assets preparation
- Flash/Director basics review
- Symbols
- Layers
- Instance
- Animation
- Components
- etc
- Programming basics review
- Input
- Process
- Output
- Constants
- Variables
- Arrays
- Step by Step processing
- Conditional statements
- Loops
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: “digm265hwk01s###jwt” [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to 1st draft of the game screens you wish to create including:
- Introduction screen with title & directions on how to play (start)
- Game screen (timer, score)
- Winner/reward screen (score, replay)
- Loser screen (score, replay)
- Final grade extra credit questions:
- Submit two printed copies [NOT handwritten] at the start of next class. Include your name, date due, 3 extra credit questions, correct answers, and page references] based on the following reading:
- Read "Flash MX ActionScript for Fun & Games"
- Introduction
- Part I. Flash Elements Used to Make Games and Toys
- Part II. an Introduction to ActionScript
- Review games
07/05.. History of Game developement
- Some cool game sites:
- http://www.addictinggames.com/
- http://www.flashplayer.com/games/
- http://www.shockwave.com/
- http://www.miniclip.com
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: “digm265hwk02s###jwt” [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your beta screens (800×600) on your web site. Draft screens need to be within in a ShockWave Flash file (swf), look professional and have functional screen navigation.
- Introduction screen with title & directions on how to play (start)
- Game screen (timer, score)
- Winner/reward screen (score, replay)
- Loser screen (score, replay)
07/12.. Flash vs Director for Game Development
- Topics:
- Flash object movement
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm265hwk03s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your final interface (with "rollover" and "mousedown" buttons) of the game you wish to create. (800×600) on your web site.
- Introduction screen with title & directions on how to play (start)
- Game screen (timer, score)
- Winner/reward screen (score, replay)
- Loser screen (score, replay)
07/19.. Disadvantages of using Flash for game development
- Topics:
- ActionScript programming global variables
- View stopwatch count UP fla
- Download stopwatch count UP assets fla
- View stopwatch count DOWN fla
- Download stopwatch count DOWN assets fla
- Once you understand the basic logic and syntax of time control with ActionScripting, Modifying these Ultra Control Timers becomes a piece of cake.
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: “digm265hwk04s###jwt” [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your final interface of the game you wish to create. In Flash (800×600 stage size):
- Game screen with functional count down timer
- When the timer reaches zero automatically jump to loser screen
07/26.. Moving objects within a constrained area
08/02.. The Power of sound control
08/09.. Complex games made simple…. Divide and conquer
- Topics:
- Troubleshooting technical in flash
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm265hwk05s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL of your final flash game. In Flash (800×600 stage size):
- Complete expect for main game functionaity
- Winner screen with score text area & replay button
- Loser screen with score text area & replay button
- Detailed list of functional goals in order to complete game
08/23.. Tricks of the Trade
- Topics:
- Flash built-in components
- How to burn true cross platform CDROM’s. [view]
08/30.. Project review!
- Topics:
- Beta reviews
- Last call for troubleshooting
- Course Evaluations
Due midnight the night before last class (finals week):
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm265finals###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL of your final flash game.
Due the start of last class (finals week):
- Submit a CDROM (in case) with subject: "digm265finals###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials] written on CDROM.
- Flash file (*.fla), Shockwave file (*.swf). html file (*.htm), & any external files needed to run the game locally.