Game Project 2 (10cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Phase 1: Game concepting and group arrangement. Group roles and responsibilities. Ends in Game Concept Presentations.
Phase 2: Creating the first playable version of the game. Ends in First Checkpoint Presentation.
Phase 3: Pruning excess features, replanning and focusing on making a game which can be published at the end of the course. Ends in an Investor Pitch and public testing session.
Phase 4: Finalizing the game, making sure that there is at least one scene, which can be played from beginning to end. Ends in final presentations and publishing of the game.

Objective

Have you though what skills and completeness are needed in game development project? What are the required personal skills and special expertise related to the project administration (producing), game development processes and pipelines in the project? How difficult it is to communicate efficiently with all the project stakeholders? And how hard it is to combine the skills of developers from different areas and produce something new and unique or maybe something with predefined requirements?

Working in the game industry often takes place in teams (game studios), where everyone has different skills and competences. In this course, you will gain practical experience on the different required specialty roles and responsibilities, and what it is like to work for a game development project.

In this course you will continue your journey from Game Project 1 and delve deeper into your own role in the game studio environment as well as in game industry generally. How to give your best contribution in co-creative work environment, and which work methods and tools fits you the best?

Course competences:
Operating the work place: You are able to work constructively in a work community and promotes own and work community’s wellbeing. You are able to act professionally in communication and interaction situations at a workplace. You are capable to solve problem situations creatively and reforms operating methods together with others.
Ethics: You take others into account and promotes equality and non-discrimination. You take into account the realisation of diversity and accessibility in their actions.
Internationally: You are able to communicate internationally in work tasks.
Business competence: You will understand the meaning of contracts, offers, licences and copyrights in your own work. You can serve a customer if the project acquires this kind of activity.

Game production competences: You can produce content for a game project and can work with the tools in meaningful and systematic way. You can implement assets with a game engine.
You can program with an engine-specific language and understand the role of assets and/or middleware.
You can produce value for a game project while working in a specific specialist role. You can produce and lead a game design team.
Software engineering competence: You are familiar with tools and methods related to software engineering and able to apply the knowledge in practical work. You are able to define, plan, test and/or implement software products. You have general information about ICT systems, software development tools and communication tools. You understand the role of ICT tools and digitalization.
You can design and publish online content for different platforms.

The learning objectives of the course:
After completing the course, you have a deeper understanding of the game development pipeline and in which way a game studio works. You have deepened your co-working skills in creative development process, and you are capable to contribute your own specific materials for your groups project benefit. You are able to be analytical towards your own work through your own specific skills and competences as well as from co-creative work view point.

Content

During this course you will learn more about the phases and life cycles of game development, as well as what should be done in each phase. You will also learn about the game development and administration processes, related specialisation roles with their responsibilities, and expertise skills needed to fill those roles. You will apply your previous knowledge and hone your skills to solve various challenges during development processes with the chosen tools. You will also deepen your skills in project administration, conceptualisation, prototyping, and teamwork. You will be a part of the game development process and creation of a collaborative result.

The course will provide you with a toolkit of personal and group working related skills for understanding a game industry position.

Materials

Student chooses relevant sources of additional information, depending on their superpowers and the project. Instructions for planning and reporting are found in Moodle.

Teaching methods

The Game Project 2 will be delivered as multiple weekly contact sessions and utilize the learning-by-doing method. The contact lessons are dedicated for collaborative work towards the project as well as special lectures on various topics by various teachers. Students will also have weekly individual tasks for working towards the completion of the project.

At the beginning of the course students will choose their own game development superpowers which they will focus on improving during the project. Students will work in groups in their chosen roles to create and publish a minimum viable product of a game. Participants utilize the skills they have acquired during their previous and ongoing studies and learn about game development in a practical environment.

Exam schedules

There will be no exam during this course.

The course assessment is based on the project contribution and group participation and the grading is based on self-assessment, peer assessment as well as the student’s portfolio and written learning summary.

Completion alternatives

You have the right to apply for recognition of your studies if you have prior learning (e.g. university studies completed elsewhere) that can be accredited towards the degree you are currently completing.

The recognition of prior learning is possible in three primary ways: accreditation (replacement or inclusion), recognition of informal learning and studification. More precise info: Jamk Degree Regulations, section 17.

Student workload

One credit corresponds to 27 hours of work, which means that the load of 10 credits is approximately 270 hours.

The 270 hours will divide roughly in the following way:
In-class activities: ~135 hours
Self-study: ~135 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1: You have base knowledge on what different basic parts there are in game develop project. You know the basic parts of the process, and can be a part of the planning on a limited capacity. Your personal skills have developed only a small amount on the roles you have chosen and you have hard time reflecting your know-how. You can work independently on a limited role.

Satisfactory 2: You have knowledge on what different basic parts there are in game project. You can work with others to plan the project. You can solve problems in the project pipeline. Your skills have somewhat developed on the roles you have chosen. Your reflecting skills on your know-how are limited. You can work on a selected role and be productive.

In grade level 1 and 2 you are not capable to be analytical and objective towards your own work and contribution to the group work.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3: You have knowledge of game development basic processes that you can apply to a real life project. You can solve problems in the project pipeline.Your skills have developed on the roles you have chosen and you can reflect your know-how realistically.
You can work on a selected role and be productive and help others.

Very good 4: You have understanding of game development basic processes you can apply to a real life project. You can solve problems and develop procedures within the project and production pipeline. Your skills have developed on the roles you have chosen and you can analytically discuss about your know-how. You can work on different roles and be productive. You are essential part of the teams success.

In grade level 3 and 4 you are capable to be analytical and objective towards your own work and contribution to the group work.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5: You have very good understanding of the game development basic process that you can apply to a to your project 1 artefact. You can question the presented information and give valid options. You can analytically solve problems and develop procedures within the project and production pipeline. Your skills have developed on the roles you have chosen and you can analytically discuss about your know-how. You can work on different roles and be productive. You are essential part of the teams success.

In grade level 5 you are capable to be analytical and objective towards your own work and contribution to the group work. You can understand which kind of things you should concentrate and improve in your professional growth in the future to success in game development field.

Qualifications

The contents of Game Project 1

Enough knowledge from at least one of these fields:
- Game Technology related (e.g. Programming / Testing / Infrastructure / Implementation...)
- Game Content Creation related (e.g. 2D / 3D / Audio / Design / Narrative...)