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COMP30540

Academic Year 2024/2025

Game Development (COMP30540)

Subject:
Computer Science
College:
Science
School:
Computer Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Abey Campbell
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module will provide an introduction to the essentials of computer game development.
The process of development by small independents, even single individuals, shares important features with development by large companies: innovation, creativity, storyboarding, software development, testing, deployment and (sometimes) marketing.
Topics to be covered include: the economic importance of the computer game industry; common genres of games; the development of game software using specialized tools which promote rapid development through their integration of numerous prepackaged components; techniques for representing objects in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional space, and determining whether they collide; techniques for equipping non-player characters with AI; techniques for producing special effects;gamification, that is, the provision of enjoyably gamelike experience to promote education or customer loyalty or other purposes.
Practical work will give experience of small-scale game development using specialized software tools.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to
- demonstrate an understanding of the main techniques involved in game development
- use at least two suites of tools to develop a new game from concept through to delivery

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

48
Autonomous Student Learning

48
Lectures

24
Total

120

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Task-based learning
Lecture based

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students should have satisfactorily completed most of Stage 3 of UCD Computer Science or equivalent.

They should have completed at least one JAVA introduction course before taking on this module as the first assignment ( 25%) grade is a JAVA Swing games framework.

Learning Recommendations:

The student should have a working knowledge of Java and Object-Oriented programming.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Additional Information:
The students need to have done at least one course in JAVA before taking the course.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Presentation/ Interview for their Assignment 1 project Week 7 Graded No
25
 No
Exam (In-person): Presentation/ Interview for their Assignment 2 project Week 12 Graded No
25
 No
Exam (In-person): Final Exam for the course. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback during Interview with the students if they pass or not for the second assignment. Letter grades not given if they pass, but feedback on what elements of their project were strong or weak.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 15:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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