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Interface Design for Games
USC School of Cinematic Arts, CTIN 401L
Instructor: Tomo Isoyama
Contact Info: LVL 113E; 213.821.1336; isoyama@usc.edu, http://www.tomoisoyama.com/usc/ctin401/

Updated: 12/01/2008

Course Description:

This course in an introduction to the aesthetics, terminology, and common trends of interface design and their application for games.  Students will learn various types of hardware and software interface design used in video game through hands-on design and illustration exercises.

Topics such as illustration techniques; character and object design; interface design; user/camera perspective; narrative and level design will be introduced in both 2D and 3D environment, closely examining their relations to respective game genres. 

Emphasis will be placed on the understanding of the hierarchy and the unity of the visual elements within any given environment in relation to their usability and aesthetics, as well as on their cultural, sub-cultural, and international context. Students will be submitting a complete game proposal designed for a specific hardware environment as the final project (TBA).

Meeting Information:

Lecture & Lab: 3 hours (Monday, 6:00pm – 8:50 pm, CSSG 142)
Units: 2

Pre-requisites: N/A

Required Text:

Offline:

• Game Interface Design by Kevin Saunders & Jaennie Novak, Thomson & Delmar Learning, 2006
• The Video Game Theory Reader, edited by Mark J. P. Wolf and Bernard Perron, Routledge, 2003
• The Game Design Reader, edited by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman, MIT Press, 2006
  

Online:

• http://www.gamasutra.com/
• http://www.gamespot.com/
• http://www.moblin.org/
• http://www.marcprensky.com/

And other readings as specified in class

Evaluation of student performance:

Course content (summarized by class meeting):

Week 01 (8/25):  Introduction/Overview

Lecture:  Overview of the course format and assignments. Student proficiency survey. Understanding the Visual Elements and Hierarchy in Game I (Nintendo Game & Watch)
Lab 01: Analyzing games from brochures
Homework 01: Analyzing games from screen shots (blog post)

Week 02 (9/01):  Labor Day Holiday

Reading: www.gamasutra.com
- The Designer's Notebook: The Tao of Game Design: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3765/the_designers_notebook_the_tao_.php
- Game Design Psychology: The Full Hirokazu Yasuhara Interview: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3769/game_design_psychology_the_full_.php
- What Gamers Want: Family Gamers: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3639/what_gamers_want_family_gamers.php

Week 03 (9/08): Graphic Design Concepts in Interactive Genres

Lecture:  Understanding the Visual Elements and Hierarchy in Game II (Arcade Games in 80s)
Lab 02:  Assignment 01 concept & wireframe
Homework 02: Assignment 01 flowchart (blog post)

Assignment 01 due and critique
Lecture: Introduction to UI (HMI & GUI) concepts - placement, function, iconography, practicality, usability
Reading: www.gamasutra.com
- What Gamers Want: Silver Gamers
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3720/what_gamers_want_silver_gamers.phps
- Off With Their HUDs!: Rethinking the Heads-Up Display in Console Game Design
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060203/wilson_01.shtml
- The Megatrends of Game Design, Part 1
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3772/the_megatrends_of_game_design_.php

Lecture:  UI on First Person Shooter games
Lab 03:  FSP GUI design
Homework 03: Assignment 02 concept (blog post)

Week 06 (9/29): Genre and UI survey III

Lecture:  Dawn of the Game Genres and 3D Environment, UI on FPS continued, Using Vector Tools in Photoshop
Lab 04: Assignment 02 concept, wire frame and sketch
Reading: "Genre and the Video Game," Mark J.P. Wolf from The Medium of The Video Game, University of Texas Press (2001), pp113 – 134
Homework 04: Assignment 02 narrative (blog post)

Assignment 02 due and critique
Lecture: UI on RPG & 3rd person
Reading:
"Controls and Interfaces" from Game Design Workshop: Designing, Prototyping and Playtesting Games, by Tracy Fullerton, Chris Swain and Steven Hoffman, CMP Books (2004), pp293 - 316
Homework 05:
Reading - "Goals and Considerations: What are we trying to accomplish?" from Game Interface Design by Kevin Saunders & Jaennie Novak, Thomson & Delmar Learning (2006), pp. 19 - 41.
Blog-post - Assignment 02 comments

Lecture: Presentation of Final Project Proposal by CTIN484/489 classes
Lab 05: Midterm Group Project
Homework 06: Midterm Group Project blog post

Midterm Group Project/Presentation due and critique
Lecture: Game Asset List, UI on RPG, 3rd person, Simulation, Action & Open World
Reading: "Archetypes on Acid" by Rebecca R. Tews from The Medium of The Video Game, edited by Mark J.P. Wolf, University of Texas Press (2001), pp169 - 186
"Genres: game styles and interfaces" from Game Interface Design by Kevin Saunders & Jaennie Novak, Thomson & Delmar Learning (2006), pp. 103 - 123.

Lecture: 2D vs. 3D; UI on RPG, 3rd person, Simulation, Action & Open World continued
Lab 06:  Assignment 03 concept
Homework 07: Assignment 03 narrative (blog post)
Reading: "Genres: game styles and interfaces" from Game Interface Design by Kevin Saunders & Jaennie Novak, Thomson & Delmar Learning (2006), pp. 124 - 147.

Assignment 03 due and critique
Lecture: Camera positioning and movement
Reading: On Real-time Strategy Games: http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/

Lecture:  Guest Speaker (TBA),
Lab 07:  Assignment 04 concept
Homework 08: Assignment 04 narrative (blog post)
Reading:; What Gamers Want: Missing Gamers: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3826/what_gamers_want_missing_gamers.php

Week 13 (11/17): Genre and UI survey IX

Assignment 04 due and critique
Lecture: UI on Music and Rhythm games, UI on Sports & Racing games, Analyzing the Audiences (fa436 - week12);
Reading: "Cultural Models: Do You Want to Be the Blue Sonic or the Dark Sonic?" by James Gee from The Game Design Reader, edited by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman, MIT Press (2006), pp. 610 - 639;
The Megatrends of Game Design, Part 2: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3842/the_megatrends_of_game_design_.php

Week 14 (11/24): Work on final project

Lecture:  Guest Speaker (TBA); UI on Portable & online genres, Games in Global Communication Age - Mobile Devices, MMO
Lab 08: Final Project concept
Homework 09: Final project narrative I (blog post)
Reading: www.emergent.net; Engines of Creation: An Overview of Game Engines: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3832/engines_of_creation_an_overview_.php; Building Social Communities For Your Game: A Primer: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3828/building_social_communities_for_.php

Thanksgiving

Week 15 (12/1): Work on final project  

Lecture: UI and emergent game play; Final Project Work-in-Progress Critique
Lab 09: Work on final project
Homework 10: Final project narrative II (blog post)

Final Exam/Presentation:  Monday, December 15, 7pm – 9pm, CSSG 142
Final Project and Exra Credit Assignment Due in A CD-ROM: Monday, December 15, 5pm, LVL 113

Missing an Assignment Deadline, Incompletes:

The only acceptable excuses for missing an assignment deadline or taking an incomplete in the course are personal illness or a family emergency.  Students must inform the professor before the exam and present verifiable evidence in order for a make-up to be scheduled.  Students who wish to take incompletes must also present documentation of the problem to the instructor or teaching assistant before final grades are due.

Note for students with disabilities:

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to us as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301, and is open 8:30am5:00pm Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Academic Integrity:

The School of Cinematic Arts expects the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical performance from USC students.  It is particularly important that you are aware of and avoid plagiarism, cheating on exams, submitting a paper to more than one instructor, or submitting a paper authored by anyone other than yourself.  Violations of this policy will result in a failing grade band be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.  If you have any doubts or questions about these policies, consult “SCAMPUS” and/or confer with the instructor.