Committee Meetings and Minutes

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Game Development Institute

Meeting Minutes

Current Status of Minutes: Final
Date	February 5, 2014
Time	11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location	TBA

Members Present
No member attendance has been recorded.
Guests Present
No guest attendance has been recorded.

Item # 1:	Old Business - Welcome and Introductions
Presenter	Gordon Walton
Discussion	Welcome and Introductions: Chair Gordon Walton welcomed the committee and called the meeting to order at 11:53a.m. All members introduced themselves and stated their industry professions. The Chair then called for the next presenter on the agenda, Linda Smarzik.

Item # 2:	Old Business - Overview of Game Dev. Inst. Advisory Committee's Role
Presenter	Linda Smarzik
Discussion	Linda Smarzik thanked the members for attending, explained the their role as a member and gave a brief overview of the Game Development Institute's (GDI) history from the inception on the CE level to the 3 degree paths on the credit side of ACC. She briefly explained the future goals of the GDI with regards to ACC's purchase of Highland Mall and a proposed digital media cluster incorporating all of the creative art disciplines at ACC.

Item # 3:	Old Business - Game Development Institute Updates
Presenter	Garry Gaber and Mary Kohls
Discussion	Garry Gaber gave a brief overview with regards to the following GDI statistics: * GDI started in Fall 2008 with 18 course sections and 180 enrollments (not  students). Has grown to approximately 80 course sections with close to 1000  enrollments (not students). * All of our adjuncts currently work in the game industry. * Competitions – Three teams entered Captivate this past October. One team  won 2nd place and $2500. * Applied Game Lab - A collaboration space for students to do class work or  work on game projects together. * Last summer we had about 40 game art/design graduates and expect about  30 this summer. From 2010-2013 we've had 105 graduates in game design, art and programming. Mary Kohls gave an update of the game programming area: * Smaller number of enrollments (78 in Spring '13), but expects the enrollments will increase once the GDI is moved to Highland Mall with more space. * Gave a brief overview of the CIS accelerated program and its success. * Informed members that industry professionals were needed as adjunct professors since there are not enough adjuncts to fill the increasing number of sections. Rich Vogel asked what the qualifications were and Gordon Walton suggested that open positions or lecturer requests be sent to the members on an as needed basis. Suggested a notification long before semester begins to allow for work schedule planning. Qualification requirements will be sent out to advisory members for referrals.

Item # 4:	New Business - Industry Support
Presenter	Garry Gaber
Discussion	GDI Info Sessions (through meetup.com) - Garry Gaber informed the members of the need for industry support of the GDI. He introduced Colin Blankenship and told the members that Colin has been running the meetup sessions and asked the members for names or volunteers to assist in the monthly meetups held by the GDI. He also asked for assistance in seeking local internships for the GDI students. Members responded that they would send contact information for industry personnel who might be interested in helping. Gordon Walton asked that at least 90 days before students seek internships, GDI should send out a notice to the members and list the qualifications of potential interns. Jennifer Bullard also explained that future employers of interns should be sent a packet and informed of what to expect as an internship mentor.

Item # 5:	New Business - Curriculum
Presenter	Garry Gaber, Sara Farr and Mary Kohls
Discussion	Curriculum Modifications: Game Design: Garry Gaber presented the following proposed curriculum changes in Game Design: * GAME 1406 Design & Creation of Games – modify prerequisites to GAME 1303 Intro to Game Design and GAME 1475 2D Design for Games * GAME 1304 Level Design – modify prerequisites to GAME 1303 Intro to Game Design and GAME 1406 Design & Creation of Games I * GAME 1472 Design & Creation of Games II – modify prerequisites to GAME 1475 2D Design for Games, GAME 1406 Design & Creation of Games I, and GAME 2341 Game Scripting * GAME 2471 Design & Creation of Games III – modify prerequisites to GAME 1472 Design & Creation of Games II, GAME 2341 Game Scripting and GAME 1434 Video Game Art I * GAME 2308 Portfolio for Game Design – modify prerequisites to Special Approval. Garry Gaber then turned the floor over to Sara Farr to discuss Game Art specifically. Game Art: Sara Farr proposed that a few of the courses be rearranged within the degree to allow for prerequisite building skills prior to advanced classes. Also adding prerequisites to existing courses will force students to take the courses in the proper sequence. Proposals were as follows: * ARTV 2471 3D Lighting & Surfacing – modify prerequisite to GAME 1434 Video Game Art I * ARTV 2445 3D Modeling II – modify prerequisite to ARTV 2471 3D Lighting & Surfacing * ARTV 2475 3D Modeling & Rendering III – modify prerequisite to ARTV 2445 3D Modeling & Rendering II, GAME 2409 Video Game Art II and GAME 2477 Technical Art Explorations * GAME 2409 Video Game Art II – modify prerequisite to ARTV 2471 3D Lighting & Surfacing * GAME 2478 Video Game Art III – modify prerequisite to ARTV 2445 3D Modeling & Rendering II, GAME 2409 Video Game Art II and GAME 2477 Technical Art Explorations * Move ARTV 2471 3D Lighting and Surfacing from semester IV to semester III. * Move ARTV 2445 3D Modeling & Rendering II from semester III to semester IV * Move GAME 2477 Technical Art Explorations from semester V to semester IV * Move HUMA, PSYC, and SOCI from semester IV to semester V Garry Gaber asked Mary Kohls if she had any changes to propose in the Visualization and Game Programming area. She stated that there were none to propose as most of the changes were completed at the last advisory committee meeting. Dane Marshall informed the members of current projects added to the game programming project class (augmented reality games on a mobile platform as well as multi-touch interface and real time flying games). With all discussions regarding curriculum being concluded, Gordon Walton asked that a motion be made to approve the proposed curriculum revisions. Tony Bratton made a motion to accept the proposed revisions and Rich Vogel seconded the motion. Gordon Walton asked for a vote. All approved and the motion passed by acclamation. Garry Gaber then informed members that certificates in Technical Art and Character Art were being researched as a possible way for our students to gain extra skills to be more marketable when applying for jobs in the industry. He asked for member feedback: Technical Art: Rich Vogel -All artists need to be technical; -Hiring more generalist instead of specialist, big teams are going away -Texture algorithms are very technical -Would be a great path for current industry artist to go back and retrain in tech art skills -Rigging - technical animator usually does rigging>animator does motion>animator does mocap or animation. -Shader programming, develop stylize look and textures programmatically, C#, scripting elements, graphics from source to in-game (pipeline) -Still need to be a great visual artist -Be aware of art budget Jesse Sosa -A lot of artists have to write their own shaders -Character rigging, Maya, python -Teach real time rendering before they learn zBrush Gordon Walton -Still need to have artist skills. Must be artist first then technical artist -Certificate would be an accelerant to artist Tony Bratton -Asked if the current curriculum should be revised to include technical skills or just offer them in the certificate? Members agreed that some technical skills should be taught in the Associate's but specific technical art skills should be a separate path. -Real time rendering, what is a GPU Jennifer Bullard -Best artists, cream of the crop will come out and get jobs -Middle tier artists should be tech artists Character Art: Rich Vogel -Character art = organic, very important -Hard to find character artists -Good overview of rigging and animation, weighting, knowing the process -zBrush intensive -Sculpting a character Jesse Sosa -Strong sense of form = life drawing, anatomy -Traditional color theory – not additive Photoshop color (RGB); students need subtractive (CMYK). Members were asked if the 15 credit hours in the Enhanced Skills Certificate were enough to train the artists with technical or character art skills. Members responded that dependent on the content of the courses and after research has been concluded, then, a determination of how many courses needed to be completed to ascertain the competency skills of a technical artist would be made. With all discussions regarding curriculum being concluded, Gordon Walton asked that a motion be made with regards to the proposed certificates. Jennifer Bullard made a motion to accept the recommendations of the certificates dependent on number of hours and member approved skillsets and courses. Rich Vogel seconded the motion. Gordon Walton asked for a vote. All approved and the motion passed by acclamation. Production Track: After a lengthy discussion it was decided not to approve the Production track as most producers come from on the job training. However, an entrepreneur track may prove to be more valuable for students. Entrepreneur Track: Members suggested instead of a production track that students should be taught entrepreneur skills, as there are a lot of smaller game companies currently. Topics to include in the entrepreneur track would be: -Crowd funding -Understanding Contracts (patents, game law, etc.) -Budget -Marketing -Leadership -Business Methodologies -Bring in guest lecturers (studio heads) from industry -All business courses must be game related. With all discussions regarding Production and Entrepreneur tracks concluded, Gordon Walton asked that a motion be made with regards to the proposals. Rich Vogel made the motion to not approve the production track, but explore the possibility of a Game Entrepreneur track. Faculty would do research and make proposals of skills and courses at the next advisory meeting. Jennifer Bullard seconded the motion. Gordon Walton asked for a vote. All approved and the motion passed by acclamation.

Item # 6:	Set Date for Next Meeting and Adjournment
Presenter	Gordon Walton
Discussion	Set Date for Next Meeting – Members tentatively agreed to hold the next advisory committee meeting in September 2014. Gordon Walton asked for a motion to adjourn. Tony Bratton made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Nick Macron seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 1:00pm.

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