Syllabus
Game Scripting

Game Scripting

GAME-2341

Credit Spring 2021
01/19/2021 - 05/16/2021

Course Information

Section 001
Distance Learning
Th 18:00 - 20:40
DLS DIL
Dana Marshall

Section 001
Laboratory
Th 20:40 - 21:30
DLS DIL
Dana Marshall

Office Hours

  • M T W Th
    c. 5:00 - c. 5:30
    Online
    Send an email to arrange a time.

Course Description/Rationale

Course Description

The course covers an introduction to game scripting. It will both be an introductory programming course and an intro to game modification and design using scripting languages.

Course Rationale

This course is aimed at the student who is interested in pursuing a career in game development, design, or programming. Students are provided an opportunity to obtain real life experiences. Practicing professionals may upgrade their job skills.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

SCAN Competencies:

 

SCANS=Secretary’sCommissiononAchievingNecessarySkills:

Thiscoursesatisfies

1.1   Manages Times

2.1   Participates as a Members of a Team

3.0   Information

3.1   Acquires and Evaluates Information

3.2   Organizes and Maintains Information

3.3   Uses Computers to Process Information

4.0   Systems

4.1   Understands Systems

4.2   Monitors and Corrects Performance

4.3   Improves and Designs Systems

5.0   Technology

5.1   Selects Technology

5.2   Applies Technology to Task

5.3   Maintains and Troubleshoots Technology

6.0   Basic Skills

6.1      Reading

6.2      Mathematics

6.4      Listening

6.6   Speaking

7.0   Thinking Skills

7.1   Creative Thinking

7.2   Decision Making

7.3   Problem Solving

7.4   Mental Visualization

7.5   Knowing How to Learn

7.6   Reasoning

8.0   Personal Qualities

8.1   Responsibility

8.2   Self-Esteem

8.3   Sociability

8.4   Self-Management

8.5   Integrity/Honesty

 

Readings

There is no official text. The Unity scripting overview page is located at http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/ScriptReference/index.html 

Course Requirements

Grading System

Students will be given programming assignments throughout the semester. These grades provide students with the opportunity to evaluate their standing in the class. It’s the student’s responsibility to hand in or show each completed assignment to the instructor by the due date. Students can contact the instructor during the office hours listed at the beginning of this document if they need to discuss their progress, or to seek additional help. 

Point Total Ranges:

90% - 100% A

80% - 89% B

70% - 79% C

60% - 69% D

0%   - 59% F

Course Requirements 

Grading

First Tutorial 

 5% 

Homework (3) 

30% 

First Game  

20% 

Mid Term Exam 

20% 

Second Game Proposal 

 5% 

Second Game 

20% 

All assignments have a due date. Assignments must be submitted online. Assignments submitted up to one week late may receive a 10% penalty. After one week late assignments may still be submitted but will have a 30% penalty. Grading feedback may not be provided promptly on work submitted late. Extenuating circumstances requiring additional accommodation must be discussed with the instructor. 

Course/Class Policies

Attendance/Class Participation 

Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. 

Withdrawal Policy 

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decides to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records. 

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course. State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog. 

Incompletes 

A student may receive a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) at the end of the semester only if ALL of the following conditions are satisfied: 

  1. The student is unable to complete the course during the semester due to circumstances beyond their control. 

  1. The student must have earned at least half of the grade points needed for a “C” by the end of the semester. 

  1. The request for the grade must be made in person at the instructor’s office and necessary documents completed. 

  1. To remove an “I”, the student must complete the course by two weeks before the end of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in the grade automatically reverting to an “F”. 

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty 

A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. 

See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process. 

Unity is a popular platform and there are many tutorials and code resources available on the web.  The student should take advantage of any resource that can improve their coding skills.  However, students are responsible for writing their own scripts.  If a student hands in a project that contains code from other sources, and it is all clearly identified with comments, then a grade can be given on the project based upon the scripts that the student created.  It is scholastic dishonesty if a student submits a project that contains only scripts that the student did not write.

 

For this course, the penalty for scholastic dishonesty is a grade of ‘F’ for the course. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities 

Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures. 

Statement on Students with Disabilities  

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed. Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from SAS before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student. Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations. 

Safety Statement  

Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. 

Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities. 

Freedom of Expression Policy 

It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions. 

Student Files – Privacy 

Their instructor for educational and academic reasons may view the information that a student stores in his/her student volume in the Computer Studies Labs.

Concealed Handgun Policy Statement

Concealed Handgun Policy The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone or 512-223-7999

Course Subjects

   
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
     
       
       
     
       

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

  Week 1:

Lecture: Introduction to course – Instructor; Syllabus; Overview of game scripting, Transformations, Moving objects.

Assignment due : First game script.

  Week 3:

Lecture: Prefabs , Advanced control structures and types, components, Printf debugging.

Assignment due : Transforms.

  Week 4:

Lecture:  Rotation, input, collision, cameras.

Assignment due: Prefab instantiation.

  Week 5:

Lecture: Sprites

  Week 6:

Lecture: Arrays, Objects, Co-routines

Assignment due: Actor creation, collision

  Week 7:

Lecture: UI and Levels, Audio, Debugging.

  Week 8:

Lecture: AI Pathing, AI Behaviors

Assignment due: Animated sprites

  Week 9:

Assign First Game

MidTerm Exam

  Week 10:

Lecture: Particles, Advanced topics

  Week 11:

Final Project Proposals due.

  Week 12:

Assignment due: First Game

Assignment due: Second Game Proposals

Class Work: Lab Time

  Week 13:

Class Work: Lab Time

  Week 14:

Class Work: Lab Time

  Week 15:

Class Work: Lab Time

  Week 16:

Second Game Due

       Class Work: Present Final Project to class