MIDTERM: None.

FINAL: Students will create their own interactive multimedia game using Adobe Flash CS3, Actionscript 3.0 (Max stage size 800×600, Max shocked file size 2,048 kb). This shocked game must be designed and implemented to be pleasing and engaging to the end player with custom graphics and sounds; it must also keep track of game time, and constantly display the player’s score. This game should have a 2:00 - 5:00 minute time limit with a count down timer. This final can be satisfied by replicating & customizing an existing classic, arcade, adventure, or educational game, or by inventing a brand new game. This final project will be delivered via the Internet AND on a functional MAC/WIN Hybrid CDROM.

INSTRUCTORS:

• Jervis Thompson: st966rc2@drexel.edu
• Lee Dash: ldd62@drexel.edu

GRADING:

• 20% Class attendance & participation
• 35% Homework (functionality, content, creativity)
• 45% Final (functionality, content, creativity) [15, 15, 15]

EQUIPMENT:

• “ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University” by Gary Rosenzweig
• At least two forms of backup media (flash drive, server storage, etc)
• Headphones (If you want to listen to music during lab time)

EXTRA CREDIT PROJECTS:

• [+5] Digital Media banners at: www.cgsociety.org
• [+5] Game promotion for album release: www.theswimmers.com

Lecture:

“Welcome… Those of you with weak hearts may want to leave now 8-)”

Topics:

• Course Overview

• Storyboarding and assets preparation
  • Intro screen with instructions
  • Game screen
  • Win screen
  • Lose screen

• Flash basics review
  • Symbols
  • Layers
  • Instance
  • Animation
  • Components
  • etc

• Programming basics review
  • Input
  • Process
  • Output
  • Constants
  • Variables
  • Arrays
  • Step by Step processing
  • Conditional statements
  • Loops

Homework 01:

• Read Introduction, Chapter 1 & 2 of “ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University”
• Due midnight the night before next class:
  • Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm265hwk01s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to 1st draft of the game screens you wish to create including: Introduction screen with title & directions on how to play (start)
    • Intro screen
    • Game screen (timer, score)
    • Win screen (score, replay)
    • Lose screen (score, replay)

Lecture:

HISTORY of game development.

Topics:

• Homework Review
• What makes AS3 better than AS1-AS2?
  • Speed - Up too 10 times faster
  • True OOP - Allows for more complex development
  • Memory - Less memory leaks
  • MORE
• Introduction to Flash 9 - AS3
  • View basic navigation with sound
  • Download basic navigation with sound assets

Homework 02:

• Due midnight the night before next class:
  • Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm265hwk02s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to your alpha flash game.
    • Upgrade your 1st draft game screens
    • Bring them into flash
    • Integrate basic navigation we covered in class
    • Add “Score” dynamic text, in it’s own layer
• Download, backup, and play ALL sample games mentioned in the book from “Flash Game U”
• Bring to class sample flash game(s) from “Flash Game U” that are similar to the game you want to create, with source *.fla

Lecture:

Flash vs Director for Game Development.

Topics:

• Homework Review
• Score and Timer functionality
  • Text fields in the root timeline
  • Dynamically create text fields
  • Game object with time management
• Flash 9 - AS3
  • View basic navigation with sound
  • Download basic Score with Timer assets

Homework 03:

• Due midnight the night before next class:
  • Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm265hwk03s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to your beta flash game.
    • Final game screens
    • Bring them into flash
    • Integrate Score and Timer functionality we covered in class

Lecture:

Disadvantages of using Flash for game development.

Topics:

• Homework Review
• Controlling Sprite Objects with Keyboard
  • Creating sprite objects
  • Adding movie clips to sprites objects
  • Controlling sprite objects
• Flash 9 - AS3
  • View ship mover
  • Download ship mover assets

Homework 04:

• Due midnight the night before next class:
  • Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm265hwk04s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to your final game screens in flash.
    • Final game screens
    • Flash navigation buttons “Play”, “Replay”, “Instructions”, etc
    • Remove all lecture navigation buttons
    • All of your buttons should have different rollover and down states
    • Integrate Score and Timer functionality we covered in class

Lecture:

The POWER of Text control.

Topics:

• Homework Review
• Controlling Text in Flash AS3
  • Static -vs- Dynamic Text
  • Fonts, Size, Selectable, Anti-aliasing, Drop Shadows, etc
  • Control with AS3
• Flash 9 - AS3
  • View ship mover with embedded text
  • Download ship mover text assets

Homework

• Come to class with your ALL relative files and specific questions
• I will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday (July 29, 30)
• Email me before Monday (July 28) if you would like to make an appointment

Lecture:

Collision detection.

Topics:

• Complex collision detection in Flash AS3
  • Hit test object
  • Hit test point
  • Detecting with AS3
• Flash 9 - AS3
  • View Thief complex collision
  • Download Thief complex collision assets

Homework

• Come to class with your ALL relative files and specific questions

Lecture:

Alpha troubleshooting.

Topics:

• Alpha Game Reviews
• Troubleshooting from known too unknown

Homework 05:

• Due midnight the night before next class:
  • Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm265hwk05s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to your beta game in flash.
    • Beta game
    • All of your buttons should have different rollover and down states
    • Integrated Score and Timer functionality
    • Some game functionality (i.e. movement, collision detection, etc)

Lecture:

Beta troubleshooting.

Topics:

• MIW (Making It Work)
• Troubleshooting

Homework

• Come to class with your ALL relative files and specific questions

Lecture:

Beta troubleshooting.

Topics:

• Beta Game Reviews
• Troubleshooting - last call

Finals:

• Due midnight the night before last class (finals week):
  • Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm265finals###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to your final flash game.

• Due the start (first 30 minutes) of our last class (finals week)
  • Early CDROM submittals can be dropped in my mail box UCROSS, Sharon walker and Johni Crosland office
  • Submit a MAC/WIN CDROM (in case) with subject: “digm265finals###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix] written on CDROM
  • Flash file (*.fla), Shockwave file (*.swf). html file (*.htm), & any external files needed to run your game locally from the CDROM are required.