Programming for Interactivity - Fall 2005
http://483.pabit.org
This introductory production class is focused on creating 2D games. We will develop a number of prototypes while learning the technical capabilities and challenges of the game engine, Torque 2D. In doing so, we will prepare ourselves for making a class project- a complete game.
A great amount of time in and out of class will be devoted to learning the world builder, scripting environment and syntax, and the gui editor of T2D. Honing such skills is essential to game development, but this class is not about learning tools. It is about developing playable games, playtesting them, reworking them, and reflecting on what did and didn't work. And yes, we will learn software tools along the way.
The semester-specific topic is “Multi-screen Games”. We will explore the history and practice of games played with more than one screen, whether they are multiplayer or not. This emphasis is meant to act as a framework for experimenting with game mechanics, narrative content, and player agency. We will study relevant topics (sometimes in non-game media), including off-screen space, the split TV/film screen, player/camera perspective, multiplayer roles, perfect vs. imperfect information, physics engines, and cybernetic systems.