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Monash University

FIT3145 Games engine programming - Semester 1, 2015

This unit exposes students to a variety of industry standard games engine environments and development techniques. Students will develop an appreciation and basic working knowledge of a number of different platforms used in contemporary games development. The unit aims to provide students with a practical insight into contemporary, industry standard, games development process and games engines.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • Two hours of lectures
  • One 2-hour tutorial

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

  • A minimum of 8 hours independent study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

See also Unit timetable information

Unit Relationships

Prerequisites

FIT2049 and FIT2073

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Derrick Martin

Consultation hours: Wednesday 10am - 2pm

Tutors

Caulfield

Jason Haasz

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The University’s student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:

www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/ and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Based on student feedback this unit is well structured and no changes have been made for this semester.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
  • evaluate the appropriateness of a game engine to a specific game design brief;
  • compare several game engines and rate multiple factors to judge relative value;
  • analyse and research a game engine, then structure and present your findings to an audience;
  • construct a basic game, using programming with a contemporary game engine.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to Game development Engines, historical background to game engines  
2 Unity, Game engine research processes Forum and Lecture Participation weekly, due before midnight each Wednesday, from Week 2 to Week 10
3 3DGame Studio, Gamebryo, NeoAxis Research and Presentation of Findings of a Specific Game Engine Depending on schedule, due during one lecture, from Week 3 to Week 10
4 Crystal Space, FMOD, OGRE  
5 Box2D, Leadwerks, Torque Document describing game (due week 5, worth 5%)
6 CryEngine, Newton, Shiva  
7 Game Maker, PyGame, Unreal  
8 Abyssal Engine, Irrlicht, PhyreEngine  
9 Esenthel Engine, IwGame Engine, Panda3D  
10 C4 Engine, JMonkeyEngine, Visual3D Game Engine  
11 JigLibX, Game Engine Overview  
12 Class Test (Case Study) Class Test (Case Study) Week 12 during lecture. Working prototype due Week 12
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC. Assignment (Game Creation) due 3pm Monday, Week 15
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
This teaching and learning approach helps students to initially encounter information at lectures, discuss and explore the information during tutorials, and practice in a hands-on lab environment.

Assessment Summary

In-semester assessment: 100%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Research and Presentation of Findings of a Specific Game Engine 20% Depending on schedule, due during one lecture, from Week 3 to Week 10
Class Test (Case Study) 20% Week 12 during lecture
Lecture and Forum Participation 15% Weekly, due before midnight each Wednesday, from Week 2 to Week 11
Assignment (Game Creation) 45% (5% for project plan, 5% for milestone completion, 5% for working prototype, 30% for game) Document describing game (due week 5, worth 5%), completion of milestones (due week 10, worth 5%), working prototype with completed key gameplay (due week 12, worth 5%), complete game (worth 30%) in week 15.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Research and Presentation of Findings of a Specific Game Engine
    Description:
    Students will choose a game engine and present research findings related to the engine (see Moodle for game engines and times that each presentation will occur).

    Students will answer questions from peers and staff attending and in the following week on Moodle forums.

    Students are expected to provide a copy of their presentation and presentation notes as part of this assessment task.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Students will be assessed based on clarity, completeness, presentation skills, research quality and answering questions posed by peers during the presentation and in the Moodle forums.

    Due date:
    Depending on schedule, due during one lecture, from Week 3 to Week 10
    Remarks:
    Please refer to Moodle for a detailed description of expectations for this assignment.
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Class Test (Case Study)
    Description:
    Students will be given a case study and will be required to decide which game engine (from the engines discussed during semester) is appropriate for the project.  Students will discuss the reasons behind their choice, benefits and negatives regarding the engine they are proposing and expected game design process and workflow based on the engine chosen.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Clarity and reasoning behind choices, completeness and appropriateness of discussion.

    Due date:
    Week 12 during lecture
    Remarks:
    Please refer to Moodle for a detailed description of expectations for this assignment.
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Lecture and Forum Participation
    Description:
    In the lecture time, students will create written feedback related to each of the weekly presentations done by students and post the feedback on the Moodle forums.
    Weighting:
    15%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Clarity and appropriateness of feedback.

    Due date:
    Weekly, due before midnight each Wednesday, from Week 2 to Week 11
    Remarks:
    Please refer to Moodle for a detailed description of expectations for this assignment.
  • Assessment task 4
    Title:
    Assignment (Game Creation)
    Description:
    Students will design and create a working game and a reflective document describing their thoughts on the game engine chosen for this task.  As part of this assignment, students will create a document describing their game (due week 5, worth 5%), meeting self-described milestones (due week 10, worth 5%), create a working prototype with completed key gameplay (due week 12, worth 5%) and submit a complete game (worth 30%) in week 15.
    Weighting:
    45% (5% for project plan, 5% for milestone completion, 5% for working prototype, 30% for game)
    Criteria for assessment:

    For the project plan, (worth 5%): Completeness, clarity and appropriateness of description and milestones

    For the milestones (worth 5%): Completeness of key gameplay elements of the game, as specified in milestones

    For the prototype (worth 5%):Functioning elements of the game, as specified in the design document

    For the game (worth 30%): Completeness, originality, technical (programming, design, art, etc.) skills shown

    Due date:
    Document describing game (due week 5, worth 5%), completion of milestones (due week 10, worth 5%), working prototype with completed key gameplay (due week 12, worth 5%), complete game (worth 30%) in week 15.
    Remarks:
    Please refer to Moodle for a detailed description of expectations for this assignment.

Learning resources

Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html

Feedback to you

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:

  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Test results and feedback

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an electronic submission). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Other Information

Policies

Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash’s Education Policies at: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Faculty resources and policies

Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis.

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