Play browser-based mmog’s: Puzzle Pirates, Whyville, NeoPets, Sissy Fight or other
What is the social metaphor of the game? How does it carry forward the game mechanic?
Reading: DiPaola, S. & Collins, D. (2003). “A Social Metaphor-based 3D Virtual Environment.” In SIGGRAPH 2003 Conference Proceedings.
Assignment: Write comparison of two games played in first class (Monopoly, Scrabble, Dominoes, Set); describe differences in social dynamics of each. compare to LamddaMOO text-based MUD http://www.lambdamoo.info/
Reading: Dibbel, J. (1998). “A Rape in Cybersapce.” In My Tiny Life: Crime and passion in a virtual world. New York: Henry Holt & Company. http://www.juliandibbell.com/texts/bungle.html
MultiPlayer Game Design
USC School of Cinema-Television, CTIN 482
Interactive Media Lab, G142 Main Room (below the Carson Stage)
Monday 1PM – 2:50PM
Instructor: Celia Pearce
Contact info: +1 310 390-8014/celia@cpandfriends.com
Office hrs: Mondays 3:00-5:00 pm (by appointment)
Course blog: http://interactive.usc.edu/courses/2005_fall/ctin-482-designing_.php
Course Description:
This course explores the many facets of designing multi-player games. We’ll start by looking at the history and core concepts of MP games – including sports, table games, game worlds, FPSs, and MMOGs and their origins in tabletop role-playing and text-based MUDs. We’ll bring these concepts to life by playing and analyzing a select group of MP games. Students will then work together in teams to conceptualize, pitch, develop and refine a multi-player game design project; they will be provided with space within the Second Life online game world < www.secondlife.com > in which to rapidly prototype and test their game concepts. During this iterative design process, students will also reflect on their experience and learning process through regular blog postings.
During the first six weeks of the class, you keep a game journal in the form of a blog. Each week, you’ll will be asked to play games of a particular genre, then write about your experiences as they relate to the weekly reading. Having honed your skills as a critical player, you’ll spend the last nine weeks devoted to working in teams on iterative design, presentation and rapidly prototyping and testing of an original game project.
Guest speakers will be included on an as-available basis.
Pre-requisites: NA
Course requirements: All students must obtain an account in Second Life and send their avatar name to the instructor by week 5. Students must also pick up the course reader at the Instruction Media Building by week 2.
Evaluation of student performance:
a. Assignments (see full descriptions below):
1. Weekly Blog Post
2. Initial Game Pitch
3. Final Game Design Document
4. Game Prototype
5. Game Test Results
b. Criteria for grading:
In-Class Participation 10
Game play and Analysis 20
Blog Assignments 20
Pitch Presentation 10
Teamwork 20
Final Game Project 20
Total: 100
Click here for full syllabus: Download file