COMP 585/585H/185H: SERIOUS GAMES

Introduction

TODAY’S AGENDA Course Differences Who’s in the class? Class structure Introduction to content

COURSE DIFFERENCES

COMP 585 Base course Counts toward the BA or BS Includes team development of a game

for an external client More about this later

COMP 585H Additional requirement

Research on how games can apply to a technology or how a technology can be applied to games

Software development and/or paper Additional meeting on Friday

External speakers Project reports

Who should take it? Need the H to stay in the honors program Want to do the research

Who should not? You think that’s the only way to get into this course

Eligibility: honors program or 3.0

COMP 185H Does not count toward the COMP SCI

major Intended to bring different perspectives Expected top contribute to the

development but not at the same level That’s the honors part

Eligibility: honors program or 3.0

SIGN UP SHEETS If you are registered

Course change or initial If not

Course you want to be in Class that needs to be swapped out

WHO’S IN THE CLASS

TELL US Name When you graduate Major Your favorite game or piece about

games

CLASS STRUCTURE

ASSIGNMENTS Game Critique 30 Minute Presentation Game Development Take Home Final Exam

paper design

GAME CRITIQUE Everyone critiques a serious game

No duplication List of potential games Additions welcome

6 bazaars Short presentation Written critique Time for classmates to come and test it out

Must be able to play it!

RESEARCH PRESENTATION Topic of interest related to games 2 person teams 30 minute presentation Sample topics

last year's calendar

GAME DEVELOPMENT Client Proposals 4-person teams (1 185, 3 585) Preferred platform is Unity but not all appropriate Teams meet with instructor every week Work with client Range of projects (partial list)

Augmented reality games Individual and cooperative games Frameworks and standalones …

Presented at final game fest

THE BUSINESS OF GAMES

GAMES ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS

2009 US revenue $19.7B ($21.4B ‘08) Software $10.5B Hardware $9.2B

Movies: $10B Subscribers

World of Warcraft: 12.5M subscriptions

Second Life: 1B hrs Sept 2009

MMOGS

WHAT IS A GAME?

TYPES OF GAMESComputer games Board games

Card games Parlor games Sports games Miniatures games Role-playing games Alternative reality

games

TOY PUZZLE GAME

PLAY

GOAL RULE

S

GAMES VS. TOYS

What’s the difference? Games: restrictive rules, limit-testing strategies Toys: fantasy and free play.

Children

captivated by versatility of toys Adults

lose interest in toys Create games around toys

tactics, strategies, results (Schiesel 2008)

GAMES…are an activityhave ruleshave conflicthave goalsinvolve decision makingare artificialare safeare outside ordinary

life

provide no material gain are voluntaryhave uncertain outcomeare a representationare make believeare inefficienthave closed systemsare a form of art

WHAT IS A GAME? Play

“work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and … play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.”

Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Pretend The Magic Circle (Huizinga)

Goal Challenges Win, Loss, Termination

Rules Meanings, gameplay, sequence of play, goals, metarules

SERIOUS GAMES ARE games with a serious purpose

beyond entertainment built for serious purpose used for serious purpose

WHAT IS A SERIOUS PURPOSE? Education Training Social change Health education Pain control Rehabilitation Business Art

Learning!

WHO IS A GAMER? Online gamers

middle income ($35,000-$75,000) age 25-44

Casual gamers 76% female 71% 40 or older (47% 50 or older) 46% college graduates (14% adv degree) 53% income $50,000 or more 67% married (53% at least one child )

MOST POPULAR GENRES44%:

card, puzzle, arcade, word games

25%: family-oriented games

19%: RPGs, MMOGs

CAVEAT: lots of contradictory stats