siggraph 2007 igda presentation
TRANSCRIPT
So you want to start a game program?
IGDA Education SIG presents the
Curriculum Framework Initiative
& Curricular Models
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Who are we and why are we here?
• Tracy Fullerton
Assistant Professor USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media DivisionCo-Director, Electronic Arts Game Innovation [email protected]
Who are we and why are we here?
• Magy Seif El-Nasr
Assistant ProfessorSimon Fraser UniversitySchool of Interactive Arts
& Technology
Who are we and why are we here?
• Susan GoldAcademic CoordinatorGarage Games
• But ALSO
Chair of IGDA Education SIG
IGDA Education SIG
• One of many special interest groups from within Game Development
› * Alternate Reality Games (ARGs)› * Artificial Intelligence› * Casual Games› * E d u c a t io n› * Game Accessibility› * Game Preservation› * Human Resources› * Indies› * IP Rights› * Mobile Game Development› * Online Games› * Production› * Quality Assurance› * Sex in Games› * Students› * Tools› * Women in Game Development› * Writing
Mission
To create a community resource that will strengthen the academic membership of the IGDA while enhancing the education of future and current game developers.
Education Workshop at GDC
• http://www.igda.org/education/workshop
Curriculum Knowledge Base
• http://www.igda.org/index.php/Curriculum_Knowledge_Base
2002-20032002-2003
• Academic Summits are held at the annual Game Developers Conference
– 2003 the IGDA Curriculum Framework (version 2.3 beta) is published
• Adoption into curricula around the world
What is the framework?
• Core Topics
– Critical Game Studies - Criticism, Analysis & History
– Game Design - Principles and Methodologies
– Game Programming - Aspects of CS + specific areas that address gaming
– Visual Design
– Audio Design
– Interactive Storytelling
– Game Production
– Business of Gaming
A Key Component: Soft Skills
• Speaking & Communication
• Writing
• Collaboration
Interdisciplinary Work & Courses
• The ability to understand and work with a team of different disciplines
• Acknowledging and respecting those disciplines
• Communication Skills
• Breadth of Medium
Programs Overview
• Many different programs
• Based on different disciplines– CS– Design– Film– Sound & Music– Architecture, etc....
• Philosophies– Experimental design focused– Industry pipeline focused– Research oriented– Serious games
Game Curricula:Some Highlights from
Current Programs
Cloud, USC IMD
Pac-ManhattanNYU-ITP
Original, Innovative Student Games
Original, Innovative student games
Darfur is DyingUSC IMD
Peace Maker, CMU ETC
Homeless: It’s no gameSFU - SIAT
Original, Innovative Student Games
Film Noir Style GamePenn State - IST
flOw on PS3
Original, Innovative Student Games
JEDDAH: A Dystopian Dream's Interface: The Cursor as a Narrative Element
SFU - SIAT
Original, Innovative
Student Research Ideas
And List Goes On...
• Warm Control The Global Warming Project– DePaul University
• Fashion Designer – CMU/ETC
• Mermaids - GA Tech
• Agamemnon's Curse, RumbleBox – DigiPen
• Eclipse– SMU Guildhall
• Tragedy Tennis– Northwestern
Programs Overview
• Programs have many concepts in common:
– Emphasis on interdisciplinary
– Group work
– Experimental
Collaborative projects
Advanced game teams, USC
Game design: paper prototyping
Alex Mitchell, NUS, Singapore
Kevin O’Gorman, American InterContineåntal University
Game design: Playtesting
EA Game Innovation Lab, USC
Game Critique
Girls and Games
Penn State - IST
Theory and Criticism of Games
Jose Zagal, Georgia TechJim Whitehead, UC Santa Cruz
“Game appreciation” courses,theory and criticism of games
Alice Robison and Henry Jenkins, MIT
Pitches, presentations & shows
Carnegie Mellon ETC, Virtual Worlds Show
Pitches, presentations & shows
Intermediate game pitches, USC
Industry Involvement
Advanced Games, USC
Industry Involvement
“Big” Games
USC IMD
Game jams
Parsons Mobile Game Mosh
Nordic Game Jam
Improvisation
Lori Shyba, University of Calgary
Bernie DeKoven, Deepfun.com
Traditional & Virtual Theatre
Penn State – IST
“Live” Games
Deborah Solomon, Montgomery College, MD
Community building between programs
USC vs CMU Game Challenge
Student and Indie Game Competitions & Festivals
Slamdance
IndieCade E3 Showcase
Looks Great, Lots of Success Stories...
But it’s not that simple
Challenges
• University setting – Silos
• Getting industry involvement
– Advisory board
– Feedback in game demos, fests, shows
• Finding skilled people to teach
• Undergraduate or graduate?
• Development of a course or a program?
• Major, Minor, Degree?
• Course structure?
• Technology
Question & Answer Time
Thank You