Introduces theory and techniques of 3D computer graphics. Topics include: capabilities of modern graphics hardware; 3D coordinate spaces; modeling with polygons; NURBS and subdivision surfaces; applying textures and materials; lighting; and simple effects. Students develop proficiency in 3D modeling via lectures and assignments focused on the use of a 3D modeling tool. (Formerly Computer Science 25, Introduction to Computer Graphics: 3D Modeling.)
Introduces theories and techniques of 3D computer animation. Topics include: character animation; rigging; simulation of cloth, liquids, and fire; motion capture; rendering; and editing animated scenes. Students develop proficiency in 3D animation via lectures and assignments focused on the use of a 3D animation tool and use of motion-capture software. (Formerly Computer Science 26, Introduction to Computer Graphics: 3D Animation.)
Introduction to common data structures, algorithms that operate on them, and techniques for implementation. Uses digital authoring of interactive media as a frame to motivate asymptotic (big-O) analysis of design scalability. Students will program in a strongly typed language.
Overview of the physical, psychological, cultural, and psychosocial aspects of disability and how they impact game play. Discusses implications for universal and accessible game design.
A generally accessible course in which students explore how video games (and games generally) shape experiences and express ideas. Students develop novel games, engage in game interpretation, and survey related topics (e.g., game history, technology, narrative, and ethics) through lectures and readings. Programming experience is not required.
Provides a framework for leadership in entrepreneurial organizations. Topics include leading with authenticity, motivation and personality, storytelling, teamwork and management, organizational culture and processes. Learning is integrated with practice through deep engagement with entrepreneurial leaders and a time-intensive entrepreneurial project. (Formerly Technology and Information Management 80L.)
Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Teaches the concrete programming and collaboration skills associated with making a digital game from start to finish, including but not limited to: establishing a team, concepting, storyboarding, prototyping, producing, and testing a game for release. Students are organized into groups and work together to create and produce a playable game. This course is taught in conjunction with Art 120G which covers the skills required to design and critique digital games.
Introduction to construction of games using game engine technology, using a specific game engine as a focus. Covers major game engine features: input, collision, animation, model import, lighting, camera, rendering, textures, particle systems. Introduction to a specific game scripting language, custom game logic, game programming patterns.
Theories and practices for approaching the design problems of interactive media holistically, beyond usability and accessibility. Includes hands-on learning, application of human-centered design and evaluation skills in group projects, and peer critique.
Course provides a comprehensive introduction to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in computer games. Building on fundamental principles of AI, course explains how to create non-player characters (NPCs) with progressively more sophisticated capabilities. (Formerly Computer Science 146.)
Introduces generative methods for design. Uses algorithmic techniques to generate and evaluate game content (images, sounds, map designs) along with mechanics and progression systems. Search-based and learning-based techniques with connections to artificial intelligence are also covered.
Covers a range of design approaches and technologies including storytelling in games, interactive fiction, interactive drama, and artificial intelligence-based story generation. Through a mixture of readings, assignments, and project work, students explore the theoretical positions, debates, and technical and design issues arising from these approaches. (Formerly Computer Science 148.)
Introduces digital sound recording and editing technologies, sound synthesis, and concepts in sound design for media production. Covers the basics of sound capture, microphones, audio manipulation and editing, effects, sound formats, mixing and dynamics, synthesizers, audio software, and game audio.
Introduces compositional techniques and procedural audio as exhibited in the sound and music of video games. Surveys different styles of music implemented in video games and associated compositional approaches. Students develop skill in procedural audio via a series of workshops and assignments.
Introduces real-time, hardware-accelerated graphics programming suitable for game development, visual effects, and interactive multimedia projects. Emphasizes contemporary shader-programming techniques and developing custom effects using game engines and multimedia software.
Covers the graphic elements in computer games. Topics include modifying, optimizing, adding components, and building a game engine. Course evaluation based on exams and several programming projects, including a game built using the student's game engine. (Formerly Computer Science 164.)
Provides hands-on experience in using, designing, and building game engines. Students also explore different special effects, such as particle systems, spring systems, and game physics. (Formerly Computer Science 164L.)
First of a three-course capstone sequence for the computer game design program. Students work in teams to develop a comprehensive game design for a substantial computer game, including detailed storyline, level design, artistic approach, implementation technologies, and art-asset pipeline. Emphasis placed on creating novel, artistic game design concepts. Includes design reviews and formal presentations. Companion lectures cover advanced topics in game design, game programming, and software project management. Students are billed a materials fee. (Formerly Computer Science 170.)
Second of a three-course capstone sequence for the computer game design program. Students work in teams on the software design, implementation, and testing of the computer game designed in course 170. Includes design reviews, progress reviews, and formal presentations. Companion lectures cover topics in software engineering, including design, testing, and project management. Game design and game programming also covered. Students are billed a materials fee.
Third of a three-course capstone sequence for the computer game design program. Students work in teams on the software design, implementation and testing of the computer game designed in courses 170 and 171. Includes progress reviews and formal presentations. Companion lectures cover topics in software engineering, including user and software testing, release engineering and project management; also covered are game design and game programming. Students are billed a materials fee. (Formerly Computer Science 172.)
Presents game design as the interplay of multiple interacting game systems. Surveys various game systems: movement, combat, reward, economic, logistics, quest, information visibility, narrative. Students explore systems via study, design, and play of board, card, and computer games.
Surveys tactical, structural, contextual, and other methods to enhance creativity and innovation in the design of games and other interactive media. Investigates strategies for creativity and innovation drawn from diverse fields, including interactive affordances, narrative and poetics, biology, contextual inquiry, and design research. To innovate in a field of fixed genres is challenging: the allure of modeling exemplars is strong. Although imitation can be successful in the marketplace, the most creative action occurs on the leading edge of change. Innovation benefits from strategies and methods that are directly aimed at exploring new perspectives and structures to learn through the process of discovery. (Formerly Computer Science 177.)
Students move through a rigorous design-research process involving skills and principles in human-centered design research as well as selected formal research methods. They learn to use tools for ideation, human-centered qualitative research, domestic probes, mock-ups, and prototypes. (Formerly Computer Science 178.)
Provides the opportunity to practice the creation of novel computer games. Students learn a new game-making technology, then create three games using this technology.
Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Intended for majors. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Intended for majors. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
For fourth-year students majoring in computational media. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
For fourth-year students majoring in computational media. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.
Provides a broad foundation in the history, theory, and contemporary practice of computational media, examining its roots in a variety of fields and current structures of participation. Also covers a selection of key critical lenses for understanding computational media.
Overview of computational media research strategies. Includes case studies of how particular projects were defined and completed and how interdisciplinary concerns have been successfully integrated. Considers the expressive and authorial affordances of different system architecture approaches.
Overview of major methods in computational media research. Includes non-numerical methods such as playtesting, arts critique, ethnographic observation, and humanistic interpretation. Also includes numerically oriented methods such as survey instruments, data mining, user experiments, and characterizing expressive/generative spaces.
Students define the topic, approach, and scope for an M.S. thesis or project. Includes discussion of successful past projects and theses, visits from faculty presenting open problems, reviews of related literature, topic and timeline presentations, and critiques.
Covers skills for finding relevant literature for a novel research topic, integrating that literature, and communicating the results. Also covers how to select work for a research portfolio, present that work, and describe contributions. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. Prerequisite(s):
CMPM 201,
CMPM 202, and
CMPM 203 for an understanding of media creation and computer programming; good standing in the PhD program. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.
Presents a variety of evaluation methodologies to assess usability, acceptance, and effectiveness of technology with the intended users. Combines lectures and exercises for students to gain firsthand experiences of these methodologies with real users. (Formerly Computer Engineering 235.)
Provides an interdisciplinary view of computational systems and human interaction, with an emphasis on human-computer interaction and algorithmic economics. Students learn about seminal and cutting-edge research contributions and methodologies, and carry out a quarter-long research project. (Formerly Technology and Information Management 243.)
Artificial intelligence has long used game-playing as a metric for progress. Key algorithms such as alpha-beta and HPA search studied. Computer algorithms for backgammon, poker, and chess examined. There will be individualized projects. (Formerly Computer Science 244.)
Covers wide range of practices including hypertext, interactive fiction, embedded narratives in games, interactive drama, and artificial intelligence-based story generation. Through a mixture of readings, assignments, and project work, explores the theoretical positions, debates, and technical and design issues arising from these different approaches. (Formerly Computer Science 248.)
In-depth exploration of algorithms for the automated generation of 2D and 3D models and content. Covers multiple approaches, including noise, grammars, genetic algorithms and programming, parametric design, and answer-set programming. Includes application of techniques to computer-game content and level design. (Formerly Computer Science 265.)
Graduate seminar with speakers from academia and industry. Covers state of the art research and industry trends in Computational Media and related areas.
Weekly seminar covering advanced topics and current research in generative methods--the field focused on algorithms for creation of 2D and 3D models and content.
Covers advanced topics and current research in human-computer interaction as it intersects computational media. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation. Enrollment restricted to graduate students and by permission of the instructor.
Ongoing participatory seminar toward staying informed about the current state of the art in Human Computer Research, both within the Computational Media department, as well as in the broader field. Course consists of weekly lectures and discussion. Graduate students will take part in giving presentations.
Covers advanced topics and current research in interactive systems for individuals who have special needs. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation.
Weekly seminar series of current research on a special topic in information systems and technology management. The theme of research presented throughout the course selected by the instructor. Topics may include, but are not limited to, knowledge planning, new product development and management of technology. Enrollment with permission of instructor. (Formerly Technology and Information Management 280S.)
Covers advanced topics and current research in digital media—the interdisciplinary field at the intersection of computer science, media authoring, and models of interpretation from the humanities and social sciences. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation. (Formerly Computer Science 280W.)
Weekly seminar covering topics of current research in artificial intelligence applied to interactive art and entertainment, including computer games. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. (Formerly Computer Science 280X.)
Students learn about a current research area in computational media and make a contribution. Each course offering focuses on a different aspect of technical, creative, and/or interpretive work in the field.
Focuses on media, such as computer games, that invite and structure play. Work includes building and critiquing a series of prototypes; studying major examples in the field; and discussing both theoretical and practice-oriented texts. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. (Formerly Computer Science 290J.)
Focuses on enhancing social and emotional capabilities and qualities in interactive systems. Students read research, look at sample systems, and engage in evaluation, design, and prototyping exercises. A research project and helping to lead class discussions are also required.
Focuses on discussion of recent advances in visual storytelling in graphical environments. Major topics covered are: intelligent camera control, shot-compositions, lighting design, interactive storytelling, and computational techniques associated with these applications. Class consists of in-class discussions and student presentations of research papers and a final student project. (Formerly Computer Science 290P.)
Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Thesis research conducted under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Thesis research conducted under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Thesis research conducted under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.