Julian Bleecker

CTIN 492 Experimental Game Topics: Physical Games Workshop

4 Units, MW 2-3:50p

Instructor:
Julian Bleecker

Course outline:
This class will focus on developing a game around a custom made physical interface. Various technologies and techniques involved in Software/Hardware integration and peripheral design will be introduced such as serial I/O, keyboard emulation, I2C protocols for connecting sensors, Arduino, Wii controllers, actuators, displays, and electronics production techniques.

The class will be project based, students are expected to direct their own game project and should have a working knowledge of at least one scripting/programming environment suitable for simple game development such as Flash, Java, XNA, Torque, Open GL, a game modding environment etc.. Collaborative projects are strongly encouraged.

Grading:
30%Class Participation, 20% written critiques, 60% final project.

You are expected to deliver a finished, well thought out, fully debugged. "post prototype" final project. Grading of final projects will be based equally on technical and aesthetic aspects of the completed projects. If the interface component is part of a larger project grading parameters can be discussed at the beginning of the semester on a per project basis.

Required Texts
Tom Igoe, Making Things Talk: Practical Methods for Connecting Physical Objects

Option Texts
Bill Buxton, Sketching User Interfaces
Horowitz and Hill, The Art of Electronics
Paul Scherz, Practical Electronics for Inventors