University of Technology Sydney

31103 Game Design Studio 2

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Information Technology: Computer Science
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): 31102 Game Design Studio 1 AND 78 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10229 Bachelor of Games Development

Description

This studio subject focuses on the practical aspects of game design and development. Students work in multidisciplinary cross-faculty teams following Agile Project Management Principles (learned in 31102 Game Design Studio 1) to create innovative and unique commercial-quality video games. Each student plays a crucial role within their team allowing them to specialise and develop unique skills such as 3D modeling, scripting, level design, and music composition. All of these skills are highly relevant to the continuously evolving games industry. The intellectual property of the games developed belongs to the team and it is encouraged that some teams market their games after completion of the subject.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Follow project management principles to create a new piece of software. (D.1)
2. Reflect on project management principles and apply them to the game development domain. (D.1)
3. Combine the design, programming and artistic skills of group members to form a coherent team. (E.1)
4. Reflect on the work completed to formulate a coherent critique of the work. (F.1)
5. Combine external resources and apply them to the existing project. (D.1)
6. Formulate and create a game that is novel and has been tested on users. (C.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
  • Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
  • Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their performance to improve themselves, their teams, and the broader community and society. (F.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is the second part of a two-teaching session studio-based program consisting of Game Design Studio 1 and Game Design Studio 2. The primarily goal of the program is to create commercial quality games at the end of each teaching session. In this subject, students work collaboratively in cross-faculty multi-disciplinary teams. Each member plays a crucial role in the team and is accountable for a specific aspect of the game such as audio, visuals, design, animation, etc. Students participate in a variety of activities each week that includes planning meetings, brainstorming sessions, constructive criticism, design development, playtesting sessions as well as review and retrospective meetings.

This studio-based subject facilitates active and collaborative learning in an environment that adheres to common game industry processes, while providing in-time support in relevant areas of learning, e.g. Team work, Agile Project Management, Unity techniques and Games Research.

The final game is assessed as a group design and teamwork project as well as by an external industrial developers who can provide extra insight into the industrial requirements for game development.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Sprint 1– Game Design Document

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1

Type: Laboratory/practical
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 2: Sprint 2 -– Playable Game with No Sounds

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1

Type: Exercises
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 3: Sprint 3 -Playable Game with 50% of the Sounds

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 4: Sprint 4 - Playable Game with 100% of the Sounds

Intent:

Improve written communication and critical thinking

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 5: Sprint 5 - Playable and fully functioning Game with Polished Sounds

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

2, 4 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1, D.1 and F.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 20%

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Required texts

No required text

Other resources

Canvas - https://canvas.uts.edu.au/