Weekly Schedule

Week 1

Lecture Synopsis: Introduction and discussion of course content, multi-user interactive sites, and landscapes.

Introduction to class: An overview of what the class is about, Go over syllabus and course outline.

Discussion: All members of the class introduce themselves. What is your background? Why were you interested in taking this course? What do you hope to get out of the course?

Discussion: What are examples of games, environments, and websites where working together is critical or creates a truly engaging experience? What multiuser sites do you like?

Review projects:
Jason Rohrer: Between, Passage
little big planet
facebook games: Zynga, Ohai
OMG Pop: draw my thing
Red Interactive
rockband
m.u.l.e.
Tail in the Desert
Schizoid

Lab: We will be doing a programming refresher. My goal is to bring everyone up to speed with actionscript 3.0. I want to make sure the whole class is on the same page before moving forward.

Code Covered:
Variables
Frame event loops
Mouse control
Keyboard control
Creating duplicate sprites

Homework: Project 1
Research project report: Games, Networks, Interaction Community and Culture. Groups of 2 or 3. (Include examples) More...

Join Google class discussion group.

Create second life account

Recommended viewing:
Into the Night: Jason Rohrer, Chris Crawford

Week 2

Lecture Synopsis: Programming user interaction basics. How is technology changing us.

Screening: Ted Talk - Clay Shirky on Communication

Discussion: technology, communication, and culture today.
Topics: Twitter. Facebook. Flickr. mobile devices, Second life, WoW, economy, communities, isolation, language, scientific research.

View:
Colbert Report on Twitter: Jeff Goldblum will be Missed
Patrick Stewart on Twitter
Super Brothers - "DESIGN REBOOT HD"

Lab: Programming refresher continued. By the end of this demo we should have a simple shooter created. The main character should have different animated states. Keyboard motion should be smooth. Proper garbage cleanup and memory management should be implemented. Students should gain a comprehension of interaction with multiple movieclips and multiple behaviors.

Code covered:
Hit tests
Character states
Deleting objects properly
Shoots! Scores!
Putting it all together: Building a simple flash game

Homework: Continue working on Project 1

Recommended Viewing: Wil Wheaton: Pax Keynote - Games bring us together

Week 3

Lecture Synopsis: Synthetic Landscapes, and virtual worlds, Second Life, WoW

Student Presentations: Project 1: Research project report on Games, Networks, Interaction Community and Culture

Discussion: Cuture Economy and Science in synthetic environments

what is real? Possessions? Money? Identity?
Virtual goods, real money trading
economy in sl, laundering, taxation, gamboling
US law, International Law. Which country has jurisdiction?
goldfarming newscasts NY Times, BBC
I get paid to make intangible goods... websites.
War in virtual worlds, politics, (eg. Presidential candidates in the US, partisan war in France)
Eve Online - Bad Crazy in Internet Space 10Ton Hammer Article
urban sprawl, ghost towns, demolition prizes in Star Wars Galaxies
Biological studies, plagues in virtual worlds, Second life green ooze, zombie invasion, WoW Corrupted_Blood_incident, scourge invasion

Review Projects:
/hug
Rose Ball
besharded
mods, counter strike, dota? Base Hunter

Lab:
Explore Virtual worlds. Walk through Second life. Explore Sand boxes.
Modeling Demo in Second life. Physical vs Nophysical objects.
Begin simple scripting in LSL. Particle emitter. Simple rotation.
Coding Resources: LSL Portal, LSL Wiki, Hello Avatar

Homework: Project 2
Create A Game within a Game.
Form Groups. Discuss platforms.
more...

Recommended Listening:
Ars Virtua Game the System

Week 4

Lecture Synopsis: Game Engines and Machinima.

Review Projects:
China Tracy: i.Mirror part 3
Confused: Purple Monkey Dishwasher Maze / Soccer
Bowling, a Premium Xxperience
Second Life in real life
Looks Very Tidy
Jimmy: The World of Warcraft Story
Molotov Alva and His Search for the Creator - Ep1
de_vangogh for Counter Strike (Starry Starry Night)
MKDDR
Sportpong - Giesserei
Browser Pong

Lab: Continue exploring virtual worlds. Work on group projects in Second Life.

Discussion: Subverting a game. Reacting to rules

Homework: Continue working on Project 2

Recommended Viewing:
China Tracy: i.Mirror parts 1 through 3