Syllabus | Lectures | Resources | Blog | Works

FALL 2008: Week 01
8/25 (M)

  1. Introduction to course expectations, methodologies and assignments
    - Syllabus, Assignments and Schedule
    - Interactive media Blog:
    http://interactive.usc.edu/courses/2008_fall/ctin-401l-interface_.php
    http://interactive.usc.edu/members/tisoyama/
    (Log-in) http://interactive.usc.edu/mt/mt.cgi
    - Lecture notes and other resources: http://www.tomoisoyama.com/usc/ctin401/

  2. Proficiency Survey (handout)

  3. Tell us a little bit about yourself
    - Your major and background
    - Your expectations for this class
    - Your favorite games

  4. Understanding Visual Elements and Hierarchy in Game I: First generation B& W portable games: Nintendo Game & Watch
    - Background, market, and target audience
    - Hardware user interface: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Game_%26_Watch
    - LCD display
    - Screen captures (Ball, Donkey Kong)
    - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_&_Watch
    - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrRdqhCY-4s
    - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64vGtvetGjM&feature=related

    - Simulators:
    http://www.madrigaldesign.it/gwmania/index.php
    http://www.brianapps.net/tossup/

    - Complete list:
    http://www.ka2.koalanet.ne.jp/~bros/

  5. Lab 01
    - Analyzing the games from brochures. Download worksheet from here.
    - Guess the English title, genre, target market, narrative/story, and game play.
    - You can ask up to 3 questions to the instructor to clarify anything.
    - Scan at least 3 images from the brochure that best summarizes the game that you are analyzing, to use at the presentation.

    Here are your word docs and scans form the brochure - refer to these when posting on the blog:
    CTIN401Fall08_lab01_mysummer.doc: mysummer01.jpg; mysummer02.jpg; mysummer03.jpg; mysummer04.jpg
    CTIN401Fall08_lab01_moji.doc: moji01.jpg; moji02.jpg; moji03.jpg
    CTIN401Fall08_lab01_Kamiwaza.doc: kamiwaza01.jpg; kamiwaza02.jpg; kamiwaza03.jpg; kamiwaza04.jpg
    CTIN401Fall08_lab01_IamSmall.doc: IamSmall01.jpg; IamSmall02.jpg; IamSmall03.jpg
    CTIN401Fall08_lab01_chulip.doc: chulip01.jpg; chulip02.jpg; chulip03.jpg; chulip04.jpg

  6. Homework 01 (due: Sunday, 9/07 midnight)
    - Please refer to the video clips below for the game that you analized on Lab 01 assignment. Each clip is posted on CTIN 401 blog, and you are supposed to post your own comment on the game that you analized.

    - ctin401_hw01_chulip01.mp4 (Drew, Michaela, Alec, Ryan)
    - ctin401_hw01_IamSmall.mp4 (Michael Kane, RC Narma, Jonathan Rosenfeld, Gavan Wilhite)
    - kamiwaza.mp4 (Matthew Lee, Alex Sandoval, Sam David)
    - moji.mp4 (Ashley Soriano, Jonathan Cathcart, Katrina Wolfe, Harold Vancol)
    - summerfan.mp4 (Brian Abrams, Blade Olson, John Banayan, Erik Nichols)


  7. Reading (due Monday, 9/08/08)
    - 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