Overview

This course will teach the design, history, and programming of games. The course will be taught in Flash; some previous programming experience of some kind will be assumed, but no previous experience with Flash will be necessary. The course will have both required reading, in which game designers and others discuss the creation of games, as well as required playing -- excellent examples from the history of video games that exemplify particular genres. The required playing is all free, and in the case of software, available for both Mac and PC. The textbook will be ActionScript 3.0: Game Programming University, which will provide code for some games that you will have the chance to improve using your new design and Flash skills. The course will culminate in a final project.

Grading

Grading will be calculated as follows:

Response Questions and Analog Games	20%
Programming and Digital Games	30%
Midterm	20%
Final Project	30%

Late Policy

Assignments are due before class begins. Do not turn your assignment in during the middle of the class -- it will count as late! You have 5 free late days to use over the course of the semester -- after that, each half day it's late will be -5%. Late days are rounded up to the nearest half.

Office Hours

Whether you're stuck coding ActionScript, or want to know whether your million dollar game idea has ever been done before, or just want to argue whether Sephiroth or Solid Snake is more badass, I'm here for you. Well, at the times listed below, anyway. My office is E104.

Times subject to change as I fly across the nation looking for my next job -- I'll announce changes on the class conference.

Monday	1pm-4pm
Wednesday	3pm-5pm
Thursday	1pm-4pm

Where can I get Flash?

You can get Flash on your own computer for free using the Wellesley license, either for PC or Mac, by borrowing the CDs from the Knapp Center or the Science Library. Do this early -- there will be a run on them when we start teaching Flash! Flash is also on the computers in E101, E160A (ask for the combination), and the few remaining MiniFocus computers, and also in several of the Jewett computer labs. Keep in mind if you spend your weekends at MIT that these are keyed to the Wellesley network.

Game Hall of Fame

Here are some of the most impressive assignments so far from the class, which have been awarded the coveted "S Rank":

• S Ranked Interactive Fiction (assignment 2).
• S Ranked Shooters (assignment 3).
• S Ranked Match Threes (assignment 6).
• S Ranked Platformers (assignment 7).

New! Final Projects

Here are the final projects that were coded in Flash. Great job, everyone!

Schedule

Use "View Source" for a list of picture credits.