Mobile Game Development
(Introduction to Game Development)
Course description
This course is an overview of how to develop interactive games for a variety of mobile devices using Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME).
Logistics
- Instructor
- Dr. Stan Kurkovsky, Professor of Computer Science
- Office
- MS 303-08
- Phone
- (860) 832-2720
- Fax
- (860) 832-2712
- kurkovskysta@ccsu.edu
- Office hours
- MW 3:15 - 5:15 pm and TR 3:00 - 3:30 pm, or by appointment
- Class meetings
- TR 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm @ MS 103
Textbook and other reference materials
- Beginning Mobile Phone Game Programming by Morrison. SAMS 2005, ISBN 0672326655
- Java Standard Edition Development Kit (JDK) 6 available at http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
- Java Platform Micro Edition Software Development Kit 3.0 available at http://java.sun.com/javame/downloads/sdk30.jsp
- Mappy software available at http://www.tilemap.co.uk/mappy.php
- In-class handouts
- Instructor's web site available at http://www.cs.ccsu.edu/~stan/ and other web sites recommended by the instructor
Course objectives
Upon a successful completion of this course the students should be able to:
- Understand the properties and architectural specifics of modern mobile devices;
- Have hands-on knowledge of the basic principles of software development for mobile devices;
- Have hands-on knowledge of the basic principles of game programming for mobile devices.
Tentative schedule
Week 1: January 25 - January 29
- Tuesday: Introduction; course overview and objectives.
- Thursday: Java ME, Java ME SDK
Week 2: February 1 - February 5
- Tuesday: Mobile game skeleton (code)
- Thursday: Lab 0
Week 3: February 8 - February 12
Week 4: February 15 - February 19
- February 12-15 - President Holiday break (no classes)
- Tuesday: Sprite animation (resources, code)
- Thursday: Lab 2
Week 5: February 22 - February 26
Week 6: March 1 - March 5
Week 7: March 8 - March 12
Week 8: March 15 - March 19
- Tuesday: Midterm
- Thursday: Lab 5
- March 19 - Last day to withdraw from full-semester courses without approval
Week 9: March 22 - March 26
- March 22-27: Spring recess (no classes)
Week 10: March 29 - April 2
Week 11: April 5 - April 9
Week 12: April 12 - April 16
Week 13: April 19 - April 23
Week 14: April 26 - April 30
- Tuesday: Game networking essentials
- Thursday: Lab 10
Week 15: May 3 - May 7
Week 16: May 10 - May 12
- Project demonstrations
Week of finals: May 17 - May 22
- Final exam: Tuesday, May 18, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Midterm
Midterm is designed as an elementary evaluation device and to prompt the student to stay abreast of assigned topics. Make-up tests may only be given if a student can provide a written proof of a serious reason for missing a test (such as illness or accident).
Questions on a test may include:
- True/false questions,
- Multiple choice questions,
- Fill in the blank questions,
- Short answer questions.
Final exam
Final exam is a cumulative objective test of representative content of the entire semester's course offerings.
Lab assignments
During the labs students will work on hands-on problems focusing on the material covered in class lectures and reading assignments. Students must work on each lab assignment individually.
Course project
Working individually, students will design and implement a mobile game using knowledge and skills acquired in this course.
Honesty policy
It is expected that all students will conduct themselves in an honest manner (see the CCSU Student Handbook), and never turn in any work which is not their own. Violating this policy will result in a substantial grade penalty, and could result in expulsion from the University. However, students are allowed to discuss assignments with others and receive debugging help from others.
Attendance
All students are expected to attend class sessions regularly. However, recognizing individual differences, each student is responsible for his/her own attendance and for making-up any missed study or work. Limited assistance will be offered to those with plausible reasons for absences; unexcused absences will result in the student being totally responsible for the make-up process.
Help with computers
The University offers some student assistants who may be of value in helping students with basic computer functionality only, not with program writing.
Students with disabilities
Please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs if you believe you need course accommodations based on the impact of a disability, medical condition, or if you have emergency medical information to share. I will need a copy of the accommodation letter from Student Disability Services in order to arrange your class accommodations. Contact Student Disability Services, room 241, Copernicus Hall if you are not already registered with them. Student Disability Services maintains the confidential documentation of your disability and assists you in coordinating reasonable accommodations with your faculty.
Grades and evaluation
Students will be evaluated regularly during the semester and should be aware of their progress continuously during the semester. The final course grade will be reported according to the stated University policy.
The final course grade will be calculated according to the following distribution of points:
| Labs: 10 labs @ 3 points each | 30 |
| Midterm | 20 |
| Course project | 20 |
| Final exam | 25 |
| Participation | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Course letter grade will be determined as follows:
| A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | D- | F |
| 95-100 | 90-94 | 87-89 | 84-86 | 80-83 | 77-79 | 74-76 | 70-73 | 67-69 | 64-66 | 60-63 | 0-59 |