Using Game Development as Integral Part of Course

Dr. Ernie FergusonNorthwest Missouri State

University

CCSC: CP 2007

Overview

Trends in integration of Gaming and Computer Science Video Game major Concentration or minor Course(s) in Game Development Projects in regular CS courses

Overview of Gaming in upper division/graduate course

CCSC: CP 2007

Overview of Course With Game Development Projects

Component-Based Software Engineering 25 Second-semester graduate students

and 1 undergraduate all but the undergraduate were foreign

students Used C# to develop components Emphasis on the architecture and

reusable components

CCSC: CP 2007

Four Programs Using Tic Tac Toe Decided on this game to simplify the logic Emphasis was on the architecture Interspersed with three other projects for variety1. 2-player on one computer

Console & GUI User Interfaces2. Added 1-player version

Console & GUI3. Built Web User Interface using ASP.Net and C#

Reused Logic Layer 1 player & 2 player options

4. Marshaling of objects for Client/Server 1 player and 2 player versions Current Assignment

CCSC: CP 2007

Results Kept logic simple to focus on

architecture and component interfaces Students readily understand specs Spent too much time on assembly

interface design Next time would spend more time

helping with logic layer design Consider addition of option -- computer

versus computer

CCSC: CP 2007

SIGCSE 2007-Papers Engagement via Games -- Session

A Games First Approach to Introductory Programming

A Multi-Expertise Application-Driven Class at Purdue

Increasing Student Retention in Computer Science through Research Programs for Undergraduates

Computer Games as a Motivation for Design Patterns

Taking Students Out for a Ride: Using a Board Game to Teach Graphic Theory

CCSC: CP 2007

SIGCSE 2007-Posters

Using Games While Keeping Traditional Outcomes in CS1-3

Using Blender and the Blender Gamekit with Python in CS2

CCSC: CP 2007

SIGCSE 2007-Birds of Feather

Games across the Curriculum: Can We Quantify Their Effectiveness

CCSC: CP 2007

SIGCSE 2007-Workshops

Programming with Greenfoot (Or: Introducing Java Via Games and Simulations)

CCSC: CP 2007

SIGCSE 2007-Vendor Sessions

Gaming in CS by Microsoft XNA Game Development by

Microsoft

CCSC: CP 2007

Microsoft Academic Dayshttps://www.msadgd07.net/main.aspx 2006, 2007, and planned for 2008 Mix of video game developers and high

education faculty Disney Caribbean cruise 2006 only invited papers 2007 mix of refereed papers and invited

speakers Charles River Media published four best

papers in Journal Of Game Development

CCSC: CP 2007

Journal of Game Development http://www.jogd.com/

Published quarterly All articles are peer-reviewed Hopefully will help build respect for

gaming research Help make this an area of serious

research

CCSC: CP 2007

Questions related to integrated assignments

Games are thought to increase motivation. Do they?

Are we turning some students off by overuse of games?

Can we assess the actual improvement in student learning because of game assignments?