Class meetings are on Tuesday unless otherwise noted.
Contents
Week 1 ~ 1/28/2025
- Course syllabus overview and introduction to topics
- Demo: Godot Basics
- Godot template project
- Scripting: Player controller
- Project 1: 3D Maze Scene
- 3D Game Template on GitHub
- Create a simple 3D game using a game engine
- Using first person, third person or platformer controls
- Use only basic 3d geometry for meshes and colliders
- Limit to simple lighting, textures materials
- Create an experience that leads the viewer through a scene in a defined series of events
- Blog post 1: First Open Lab post, documentation
Week 2 ~ 2/4/2025
- Lecture: Level design techniques
- Demo: Building a level in Godot
- Components (Making the rooms)
- Level building
- CSG Meshes
- Video documentation
- Window review
- Blog post 2: Short video of gameplay
Week 3 ~ 2/11/2025
- Demo: Publishing a game build
- Video: Exporting build, Publishing on itch.io
- Blog post 3: Document level progress
Week 4 ~ 2/25/2025
- Lecture: User testing, video, submitting user feedback video
- User testing workshop 1
- Submit to Maze Jam
- Create a feedback form using Google Forms
- Link to form on Itch page
- Summarize results in blog post
- Demo: Blender intro
Week 5 ~ 3/4/2025
- Lecture: History of 3D graphics
- Demo: Blender to Godot, working with models
- 3D model resources, scroll down to CGI/3D Assets
- Project 2: Garden/Fishtank
- Using 3d models, lighting and design, create a scene that leads the player around to view visually appealing scenery
- Blog post 4: Project 2 concept
Week 6 ~ 3/11/2025
- Demo: Lights, materials, textures and shaders, video part 1 and part 2
- Blog post 5: progress documentation
Week 7 ~ 3/18/2025
- Demo: Navigation areas and NPCs
- Demo: Sound design
- Blog post 6: Video playthrough
Week 8 ~ 3/25/2025
- User testing workshop 2
- Export and publish your game on itch.io
- Submit to Garden/Fishtank Jam
- Test all of your classmates games
- Post documentation of your feedback
Week 9 ~ 4/1/2025
- Demo: Collectibles
- Demo: Physics
- Project 3: Scavenger hunt
- Create a scene where the player has to collect a certain number of objects
- The objects can be different types and lead to different outcomes
- Blog post 7: Project 3 concept
Week 10 ~ 4/8/2025
- Demo: Game states, multiple levels
- Demo: User interface
- Blog post 8: Progress documentation
Week 11 ~ 4/22/2025
- Lecture: Game dynamics
- Blog post 9: Video playthrough
Week 12 ~ 4/29/2025
- User testing round 3
Week 13 ~ 5/6/2025
- Begin work on Final project
- Final project options
- Create a new game with a new premise
- Spend more time finalizing a previous level/project with added levels, UI, sound and other elements
- Combine one or more of the previous scenes into a larger game, adding elements to make the experience cohesive
- Final project requirements
- Game build posted on itch.io for Windows and Mac
- Documentation on Open Lab of the final version of the game, including UI screen shots and game play screen shots, video optional
- Splash screen with instructions for the player
- Demonstrates understanding of level design principles
- Builds on feedback from user testing
- Present final project concept and get feedback
Week 14 – 15
- Final workshop ~ 5/13/2025
- Final project due ~ 5/20/2025