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Computer Game Design Class

Computer Game Design Class. Dr. H é ctor Mu ñ oz-Avila. Sources: www.wikipedia.org www.gamespot.com My own .

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Computer Game Design Class

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  1. Computer Game Design Class Dr. Héctor Muñoz-Avila Sources: • www.wikipedia.org • www.gamespot.com • My own Disclaimer: I use these notes as a guide rather than a comprehensive coverage of the topic. They are neither a substitute for attending the lectures nor for reading the assigned material

  2. A Brief History of Research on Game AI at Lehigh

  3. Research on AI & Computer Games at Lehigh Alexandra Coman Ulit Jaidee Dustin Dannenhauer Giulio Finestrali Seth T. Denburg Nicholas E. Roessler Nick Wuensch Pete Biencourt Matthew Kilgore Steven R. Stinson Matthew Mitchell Aaron Battalion Todd Fisher Hai Hoang Stephen Lee-Urban Marc Ponsen Megan Vasta Chad Hogg Joe Souto Kit Ming Chang Frank Cremen John Gerace Ben Mautner Chris Olsisnki Jarret Raim Justin Karneeb Kellen Guillespie Matt Dilts http://www.cse.lehigh.edu/~munoz

  4. The Origins • Long term interest on Games • 2002: Aaron Battalion & Todd Fisher wanted to do an Ind. Study on “Game stuff” • 2003: First Installation of Unreal Tournament Bots at Lehigh

  5. First Steps: 2003 • Kit Ming Chang report on Age of Empires Rule-Based System: “CLIPS” • Frank Cremen, Ben Mautner and Chris Olsisnki build Poker game http://www.cse.lehigh.edu/%7Emunoz/projects/AIGames/poker-web/LUPoker.html • Small grant from NRL on game (military simulation-related) research

  6. Continuation - 2004 • Exploratory paper on hierarchical explanation in games • Exploratory paper on using hierarchical planning for controlling a team of Unreal Tournament bots • First class Game Programming at Lehigh • Graduate-level course • Exploratory grant from DARPA on game (military simulation-related) research

  7. Expansion - 2005 • Paper on using hierarchical planning for controlling a team of Unreal Tournament bots in the First International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment • Work on translation of gaming language to AI languages • Paper on Reinforcement Learning in Real Time Strategy Games (at Innovative Applications of AI conference) • Grant from DARPA on game (military simulation-related) research • Donation from Poker Academy http://press.arrivenet.com/tec/article.php/593714.html • AI Game Programming course taught for the second time • Undergraduate (senior) level and graduate level

  8. Expansion II – 2006 - 2008 • Chapter appeared AI Game Programming Wisdom 3 on hierarchical planning for controlling a team of Unreal Tournament bots • First time Game Design Class is taught • Grants from different sources involving game research • Cognitive study on how “fun” is affected by game difficulty

  9. Today • Over 30 articles, book chapters and conference papers on the topic of Game AI • Continuous work on this area: 6 MS thesis over the last years. Some topics: • Learning to play in a turn-based RPG game • Learning to play in a team-based first-person shooter • Mimicking player’s actions • Game design and AI Game Programing taught 4+ times • PC of main conference in the field (AIIDEE since its inception) and Associate Editor in main journal (IEEE Transactions of Computational Intelligence and AI in Games)

  10. Myths About Computer Game Design Myth # 1: Computers have to play as good as possible Myth # 2: Only programmers can design computer games Myth # 3: Succesful games need deep storylines Myth # 4: Computer graphics “make” a game

  11. Myth # 1: Computers have to play as good as possible You know what is an attack “Kung Fu” style? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aTbfxwdYQo • Only 2 enemies are attacking at any point of time • The other “appear” busy • Same idea is implemented in many games

  12. Caveat • But sloppy Game AI programming can lead to player frustration • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWQuDDYq-2w

  13. E S Chase ~S D S Myth # 2: Only programmers can design computer games • In the “old times” it was like that • Modern tools allow the design of “AI” behavior without need of a computer programmer Attack ~E D E Wander E ~E Spawn D

  14. Myth # 3: Successful games need deep Storylines

  15. Myth # 3: Successful games need deep Storylines (II) Storyline: "Murderous aliens have landed in futuristic Los Angeles, and humans suddenly find themselves atop the endangered species list. The odds are a million-to-one, just the way Duke likes it!" Duke Nukem 3d • Released in 1996 • Crude humor • “That's gotta hurt” • Simplistic and predictable storyline http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6JcZv3wPuU

  16. Caveat • Some games are memorable not only because of solid gameplay but also strong storylines

  17. Myth # 4: Computer graphics “make” a game • Tale of two games: Game # 2: • 2D graphics • Turn-based • Graphics highlight: Lead designer appears in the game • Roles a dice to decide who wins combat Game # 1: • Top-notch (for its time) 3D Graphics • Real-time • Dinosaurs! • “beautiful” people • “Realistic” physics encoded in game

  18. Game # 1: some screenshots

  19. Game # 2: Screenshot

  20. Myth # 4: Computer graphics “make” a game • Tale of two games: Game # 2: • Civilization II • Gamespot.com score: 9.2/10 • Graphics are functional • Considered one of the best games of all time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reaROufQ0Pk&feature=related Game # 1: • Trespasser (PC version) • Gamespot.com score: 3.9/10 • Graphics grew old pretty quickly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBRfPrCU0fo&feature=related

  21. Ok So What is a Good Computer Game Design? • We don’t know • No easy answer • So no “recipe” for creating good games • We know that many (most?) games developed fail because of inadequate design • Strong evidence that “gameplay mechanics” have a crucial role in the success of a game: • Civilization • Diablo • World of Warcraft • Heroes of Might and Magic • We are going to study a model inspired by cognitive science and other fields. • We may not agree completely with this model. But provides a good base for discussion into a complex topic

  22. Computer Game Design Class Narrative - storyline Game mechanics – rules of play class Concept art sound graphics

  23. Computer Game Design Class • “Designing/programming games is not a game” • URL of the course: http://www.cse.lehigh.edu/~munoz/ComputerGameDesignClass/ • Text book: • Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals • Author: Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman • Optional text book: • Game Design: Theory & Practice • Author: Richard Rouse III • Available electronically in campus computers • Additional reading: • The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses • Author: Jesse Schell

  24. Student’s Work (I) • Written examinations: • 2 tests (20% each) • A final exam (35%; cumulative) • Material for evaluations: • Classes • Chapters covered from text books • In class we will typically cover only part of a chapter • You are responsible for the whole chapter • Strongly suggest that you read as we cover the topics • Other work: • Design project (15%) • Homework assignments (10%) • Attendance to class is required • This is after all an elective course

  25. Student Work (II) • Design Project: • Select a game of your choice • Write a document (10-15 pages) analyzing its design according o the methodology studied in the course • Class presentation of the design • Groups of 2 or 3 people • Optional: (extra-credit) • Class presentation about a topic of your choice • Creation of a new game (groups of 2 or 3 people) • This may exempt you from the Final Exam. Most students end up taking this option

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