uscschool of ctin404 units: 2 cinematic arts interactive media...

USCSchool of Cinematic Arts

Interactive Media and Games

CTIN404Units:2Spring2015—Mondays—6:00-7:50pm

Location:SCIL114

Instructor:HeatherDesurvireOffice:[email protected]:ArrangeduponrequestContactInfo: [email protected],+13104634603

[email protected]

StudentAssistant:CooperSurrettOffice:[email protected]:ArrangeduponrequestContactInfo:[email protected]+1678-517-4200

ITHelp:InteractiveMediaandGamesDeptforLabrelatedissues.

SyllabusforCOURSE-ID,Page2of5

CourseDescriptionTheemergingfieldofgameuserresearchandplayerexperienceinsighthasbecomeanimportantandnecessarypartofgamedesign.GameUserResearchdrawsonthedisciplinesofcognitivepsychology,human-computerinterfacedesign,gamedesign,communications,filmstudies,education,learningandvisualdesign.Asgamesbecomemoresophisticatedintheirvisualandinteractivedesign,featuresandculturalimpact,thestudyofhowweinteractandunderstandthembecomesanessentialaspectofourmedialiteracy.Thiscourseaddressesconcepts,principles,andmethodsofusabilityandplayabilityassessmentforgames.Theemphasiswillbeonunderstandingthehuman-playerrelatedinteractionsurroundinggameinterfaces,gameplay,mechanics,immersion,amongotherelements,andtranslatingthemintodesignrecommendations.Thisunderstandingisderivedviaseveralmethodsincludinggameheuristicsandthescientificmethodforthesocialsciences.Theclasswillalsoaddressthedevelopmentofgamesasbothaculturalandaestheticpractice.

• Ahandsonexperienceoflearningprinciplesofplayerexperienceü Learnhowtocreateandevaluateagameforbarrierstooptimalplayerexperienceü Learnhowtoplanandcreateaplaytestingandusertesting,interview,reportandpresentü Industryready,learnindustrystandardmethodsanddiplomacyü Guestspeakersshowcasestudiesusingmethodsyouarelearningü Labtouroflocalgamecompany

• Takeawaysü Arsenalofgameresearchmethodsyoucandoü Knowledgeofplayerexperienceprinciplesgivingyouinsightofwhatmakesagamegoodor

not,andalanguageforcommunicatingwithmembersofagameteamTheclasswillbepartlecture,partdiscussion,experientiallearning,andteambasedworkshopswithdirectcollaborationwiththeCTIN484IntermediateGameDesigncourse;alargepartoftheclasswillbefocusedonproblemsolving,identifyingoptimal/poorplayerexperiences,whileexploringthereasoningbehindtheseexperiences.Principlesandconceptsofoptimalplayerexperience,enhancingplayerexperiencesaswellasanoverviewofgameuserresearchmethodswillbethemajorbasisoftheclass.Theclasswillinclude:identifyinganddescribingplayerneedsincombinationwiththegames’goals;user-centereddesign;userevaluationofinteractivemedia,andgamedesignwiththeplayerinmind.Studentsformteamsontheirown,oftwoorthreestudents,withinthefirstweeksofclass.Thosewhodonotfindtheirownpartnerswillbeassignedonebytheinstructor.Youareencouragedtolookoutsideofexistingfriendshipstofindteammateswhoseskillscounterbalanceyourown.Onweek4,studentsareresponsibleforteamingwithagamedesignteamfromtheIntermediateGameDesigncourse(CTIN484/489).Theirgameconceptswillbeavailableonlineandpresentedinclassforstudentstochoose.Agoodgradeispossiblebutnotguaranteed,andwillonlyoccurwithregular,consistentandtimelyattendance,activeparticipation,aswellasthoughtfullyandintelligentlycompletingassignmentsandontime.InstructorBio:HeatherDesurvire,President/FounderofUserBehavioristicsResearch,Inc.isoneoftheforemostspecialistsofUsabilityandPlayabilitywhosepublishedworkonusability/playabilitymethodologyhasbeenusedtosetstandardsforusabilityandgametestingnowperformedinmanygamestudiossuchasEA,DisneyandBlizzard.Asapractitioner,herclientsincludemanyofthetopgamepublishersanddesignstudiosandinteractivemediacompanies,suchasDisney,Sega,LucasArts,THQ,

SyllabusforCOURSE-ID,Page3of5

Blizzard,Spinmaster,ElectronicArts,SonyOnline,BWin,CreativeAssembly,Yahoo,UnitedAirlines,MySpace,Fandango.com,theUSgovernment,andmanymore.SherecentlyworkedonDreamWeddings.com,BingoBlitzfromCaesarsInteractive,andSpinMaster’sBricks.Sheisaskedtospeakatprofessionalconferences,suchasGDC,UPA,andACM-CHI,aswellashaspresentedworkshopsformanygamedesignstudiosanddesignerstoassisttheminmakingbettergames,suchas,LucasArts,UbiSoft,CreativeAssembly,andIGT.ShealsoworkswithaproductivitycompanytocreateasystemofGamificationtomakeworkmoreenjoyable,productive,andaddlevity.Amulitutideofgamesandentertainmentsitesonallplatforms,havebenefitedfromMs.Desurvire’swealthofknowledgeandexperience.Herlatestworkispresentedinthebook“EvaluatingUserExperienceinGames:ConceptsandMethods”,publishedbySpringer.SheisfoundingandboardmemberofGDC/IGDASpecialinterestgroup,andoftheSIG-GameUserResearch(GUR).Shehasco-chairedtheGDC/IGDAGURSummitin2011,andcontinuestoworkwithorganizersoftheseSummits.Sheco-createdtheGameUserResearchworkshopatCHI2012,andFDG2012,whichisnowastapleoftheconferences;sheiscurrentlyco-chairoftheACMCHI2014-2015fortheGameCommunityworkingwithNortheastern’sgamedepartmenthead.

LearningObjectivesTheclasscoversanoverviewofuserresearchdesign,settingupandconductingusertests,andhowtoproviderecommendationsforpositivelyaffectingthegamedesign.Studentswillbeexposedtotheindustrystandardusabilityassessmentmethods,includingHeuristicEvaluation,andtheThinkAloudlaboratorymethod.Theclassincludesguestlecturerscurrentlyinthefieldofgamedevelopmentandplayabilityresearch.Theteamcomponentoftheclassincludespartneringwithclassmates,andcollaboratingwiththeIntermediateGameDesignandDevelopmentcoursegamedesignteams(CTIN484/489).Studentsin404areexpectedtoactivelyparticipateinallcritiquesessions,givingpositiveandcriticalfeedbacktothegamespresented,aswellasstudents’assessmentexercises.Theassignmentsmainlyfocusontheteamprojectassociatedwiththeplayerresearchandreadings.TheMidtermisbasedonthereadings,andthefinalbasedonaPresentationofthetwoiterationsoftheplayerresearchperformedonthegameassociatedwiththe484course,andhowtheirresearcheffectedthegamedesign.Forthisteamcomponentofthecourse,studentswilllearntoworkingroupenvironmentswherethegoalofeachmembermayormaynotbethesame.Diplomacyandcommunicationtechniquesaretaughttoassistintheseendeavors.

RecommendedPreparation:Statistics

CourseNotesStudentswill be using the departments’ game usability laboratory, located in the same building as thecourse.Theywillbeexpectedtolearntouseandadministerthelaboratoryandequipmentviatheclasslabtourandinstructionmanual(availableonline).RequiredReadingsandSupplementaryMaterials1.[HOUT]HandbookofUsabilityTesting:HowtoPlan,Design,andConductEffectiveTests,SecondEdition;Rubin,Jeffrey,WileyPress,2008(AvailableonAmazon.com,and“should”beatthebookstore)2.Assignments(HandoutsandReadings)allonWebsitehttp://uscgameresearch.weebly.com

GameUserResearchandPlayabilityUSCSchoolofCinematicArts 4

RecommendedReading:• ThePsychologyofEverydayThings;Norman,Donald,BasicBooks,• UsabilityEngineering;Nielsen,Jakob,MorganKaufmann,1994.• WhatVideoGamesHavetoTeachusaboutLearningandLiteracy;Gee,JamesPaul,Macmillan,

2004.• GameUsability:AdvicefromtheExpertsForAdvancingThePlayerExperience(2008),Isbister&

Schaffer(eds.),MorganKaufmann• EvaluatingUserExperienceinGames:ConceptsandMethods”,(Human-ComputerInteraction

Series)(9781848829626),(2010),ReginaBernhaupt,(ed.),Springer.2010and2ndedition2012.• QuantifyingtheUserExperience:PracticalStatisticsforUserResearch.JeffSauroandJamesR.

Lewis.• http://www.usability.gov/

• http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=157D6555F8744850A439544F41727402

DescriptionandAssessmentofAssignmentsParticipation&Attendance:Studentsareexpectedtoparticipateactivelyinboththegivingandreceivingoffeedback/informationinclass.Therewillbemanyopportunitiestoparticipateandinteractinclass.Thisisacrucialpartofthecourse,thatincludesexperimentingwithideas,concepts,analyses,andexperientiallearning.Baseyourevaluationsonprinciplesandconceptsofplayerexperienceandgamedesignwhereverpossibleandthiswillresultinabettergrade.Youwillbeevaluatedandgradeduponyouruseofthese.TeamsandIndividualAssignments:Allassignmentswillbeturnedinasseparateindividualreports,evenwhenyouareworkinginteams.Eachmemberoftheteamwillprovideaseparatereport/presentationforgrading.Handouts:Handoutsareavailableongoogleandthecoursewebsite.TherearetimestheSAprintsthemoutforyourconvenience,however,ItisyourresponsibilitytofindtheHandoutsonline.WeeklyAssignmentsandQuizzes:Therearefrom4to6assignmentsand/orquizzesgivenduringsemester.Eachofthemareofequalweighttowardyourassignmentgrade.FirstIterationUsabilityStudyandReport:ThegradeforyourUserResearch#1istheaveragegradeyougetfromyourfirsttestplan,screener,andtestreportSecondIterationUsabilityStudyandReport:ThegradeforyourUserResearch#2istheaveragegradeyougetfromyoursecondtestplan,screener,andtestreport.FinalPresentation:TheFinalpresentationgradeisbasedonyourpowerpointpresentationofyourtwouserresearchsessions,includingvideoofbothresearchiterations.Howyourresearcheffectedthegamedesign.

Lab• ExpectationofClass#1,youareexpectedtopairupwithapartnerinclasstohelpeachofyouwith

someofthelogisticsinvolvedwithusertestingforthesemester.o Pleaseberesponsibleforgettingtheircellandemailinformation.o IfyouarenotinattendanceatClass#1,apartnerwillbeassignedtoyou.

• TherearespecificUsabilityLabpoliciesthatUSCIMDisenforcing.Besuretoreadthehandoutthatlistswhatallstudentsinthisclassarerequiredwheninlab.

Collaboration• Itisvitalthatthroughoutthecourse,youcontactyourgamedesignerpartnersfrom484andyour404

courseusabilitypartnersalwaysbyphone.o Thisisnottomakethingsmoredifficult,buttoestablishrelationshipswithyourdesigners,

andusabilitypartnersandmimictheteamenvironmentsyouwillfindoutintheworld.o Collaborationrequirestimespentwiththeperson,voiceissecondtobeinginperson.Having

thatmoreintimatecontactinpersonwillavoidanyconfusions,andmisconnections.Wefinditvitaltodevelopingagoodrelationshipstousethephone,ratherthanemailortext.Pleasefollowthis,asitispartofyourrequirementinclass.Ofcourse,usecommonsense,sinceusingtextandemailforlocationanddocumentsendingmakesense.

GradingBreakdownHowwillstudentsbegradedoverall,includingtheassignmentsdetailedabove.Participationshouldbenomorethan20%,unlessjustifiedforahigheramount.Allmusttotal100%.

Assignment) Points %)of)GradeParticipation 20 20Weekly1Assignments1and1Quizzes 20 201st1Iteration1User1Research 20 202nd1Iteration1User1Research 20 20Final1Presentation 20 20

TOTAL 100 100 AssignmentSubmissionPolicy

• UploadallassignmentstoGoogledocs---BesuretosharetheassignmentwiththeHeatherDesurvireandtheStudentAssistant[SeetopofSyllabusforourGoogleDocemails)

• Nametheassignmentsasfollows,e.g.,<assignmenttype><yourname>.doc


AssessmentAssignmentsandExercises:• Readingsassignedondayofclass,areduedayofclass.• WrittenAssignmentsaredueontheSaturdayat6pm;thatis,theSaturdaybeforenextMonday’s

class;unlessotherwiseexplicitlystatedbytheinstructor.Therearenoexcusedlateassignments.Ifyouhavetomissaclass,gettheassignmentfromaclassbuddy.

• LateWork:Ifyoumustmissaclass,youarestillresponsibleforturninginyourassignmentontime(SeeTable1below)

• Weoftendiscusscompletedassignmentsinclass.Beprepared.• Assignmentsturnedinlatewillbegradedasfollows:

Table1.AssignmentGrading

Time Consequence1. OnTime

NormalGrade

2. OneminutetotwodayslateSubtract25points;1⁄4grade

3. Twodays+oneminutetooneweeklate Subtract50points;1⁄2grade

4. Oneweek+oneminutetotwoweekslate Subtract1.o,onefullgrade

5. Morethan2weekslateNocredit–assignmentisgivena0

AdditionalPoliciesNoCellZone• CellPhonesandelectronicdevicesmustbeturnedoff/vibrate.Therewillbenotoleranceofstudents

usingtheircellphonesorelectronicdevicesinclassorleavingclasstemporarilytousetheirphones.Itwillbeconsideredaclassmissed,andthestudentwillbeaskedtoleaveforthatday.Theonlyexceptionisifweusethedeviceforclassroomdemonstrationpurposes.

NoLaptopsDuringClass• Youmaynotuseyourlaptopduringclassfornotetaking,Internetuse,orthelike.Thisistoavoid

distractionandforstudentstoremaininteractiveandpresentwiththeclassitself,ratherthanfocusedontheirdevices.Youmaytakehandwrittennotes.Theonlyexceptionsforusingelectronicdevicesinclass,iswhenwearedoingonlineinvestigations,presentations,gameplay,andonthewebsite/googledocsasprescribedbytheinstructor.

Communication• “Arrangementswithme”,whatdoesthatmean?Thismeansanagreementwithme,eitherverballyor

throughemail.o Leavingmeamessageorwritinganemailinformingmeofyoursituationdoesnotcountasan

arrangement.YouandImustactuallyexchangeinformationforthearrangementtobeapproved.• Ifyouwishtocommunicatewithmethroughe-mailorvoicemail,pleaseallow24-48hoursfora

response:Iwillprobablygetbacktoyousoonerthanthat,butitisnotalwayspossible.


SavingWork• Pleasekeepduplicatecopiesofyourwork,whetheronanotherelectronicdevice,onthecloud,or

paper.ThoughImaysympathizewithstoriesofspontaneouslyerasingdisksandviruses,Iwillnonethelessexpectyoutobeabletoturnyourworkontime(seeTable1).

Changes• Theremaybechanges,additions,orsubstitutionsofassignments/topicsasappropriatetoourwork

andpaceasaclass.MissinganAssignmentDeadline,Incompletes:• Theonlyacceptableexcusesformissinganassignmentdeadlineortakinganincompleteinthecourse

arepersonalillnessorafamilyemergency.AcceptablefamilyemergenciesandillnessisonlyaccordingtotheInteractiveMediaandGamesDivisionHandbook.

• Studentsmustinformtheprofessorbeforetheassignmentduedateandpresentverifiableevidenceinorderforamake-uptobescheduled.

• Studentswhochoosetonotcompleteassignmentswillbeaskedtowithdrawfromclass.• Studentswhowishtotakeincompletesmustalsopresentdocumentationoftheproblemtothe

instructororstudentassistantbeforefinalgradesaredue.

AttendancePolicy:TheseguidelinesarefromtheInteractiveMediaDivisionandGameshandbookregardingabsencesandgradingandapplytoallstudents.

• Punctualattendanceatallclassesismandatory.• Studentsarrivinglateorleavingearlywillbemarkedabsentfromclass.• Latenessisdefinedas5minutespastthebeginningofclass.Itissuggestedyouarriveearlyin

ordertoavoidbeingmarkedabsent.GuidelinesforAbsencesaffectinggrading

• Twounexcusedabsences:lowersyouwholegradefortheclass,1.0fullgradepoint.• Threeunexcusedabsences:lowersyourwholegradefortheclass,1.5fullgradepoints.• Fourormoreunexcusedabsences:requesttowithdrawfromcourse(instructor’sdiscretion).

UniversityMandatedExcusedabsencesare:

• Illness(withadoctor’sverification)• Familyorpersonalemergency(withverification)• Nootherexcuseswillbeaccepted.Imeanandrepeat:thereareNOotherexcusedabsences.

StatementonAcademicConductandSupportSystems

AcademicConductPlagiarism–presentingsomeoneelse’s ideasasyourown,eitherverbatimorrecast inyourownwords–isaseriousacademicoffensewithseriousconsequences.Pleasefamiliarizeyourselfwiththe discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating UniversityStandardshttps://scampus.usc.edu/1100-behavior-violating-university-standards-and-appropriate-sanctions/. Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additionalinformation in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct,http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct/.


Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You areencouragedtoreportanyincidentstotheOfficeofEquityandDiversityhttp://equity.usc.edu/orto the Department of Public Safety http://capsnet.usc.edu/department/department-public-safety/online-forms/contact-us.This is important for thesafetywholeUSCcommunity.Anothermemberoftheuniversitycommunity–suchasafriend,classmate,advisor,orfacultymember–canhelpinitiatethereport,orcaninitiatethereportonbehalfofanotherperson.TheCenterforWomen andMen http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/cwm/ provides 24/7 confidential support,and the sexual assault resource center webpage [email protected] describes reporting options andotherresources.SupportSystemsA number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarlywriting. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose primarylanguage is not English should check with the American Language Institutehttp://dornsife.usc.edu/ali, which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for internationalgraduate students. The Office of Disability Services and Programshttp://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.htmlprovides certificationfor students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If anofficially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Informationhttp://emergency.usc.edu/will provide safety and other updates, including ways in whichinstructionwillbecontinuedbymeansofblackboard,teleconferencing,andothertechnology.

SyllabusCourseSchedule:AWeeklyBreakdown

GameResearch(PlayerExperienceInsights)CTIN404,Spring404,SCIL1146:00-7:50http://uscgameresearch.userbehavioristics.com

uscschool of ctin404 units: 2 cinematic arts interactive media...

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