Schedule

Class meetings are on Tuesday unless otherwise noted.

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

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 3: Project 2 concept

Week 6 ~ 3/11/2025

• Demo: Lights, materials, textures and shaders, video part 1 and part 2
• Blog post 4: progress documentation

Week 7 ~ 3/18/2025

• Demo: Navigation areas and NPCs, video
• Demo: Sound design, video

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, video
• Demo: Physics, video
• 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 5: Project 3 concept
• Setting generator

Week 10 ~ 4/8/2025

• Demo: User interface, video
• Demo: Game states, multiple levels, video
• Blog post 6: Progress documentation

Week 11 ~ 4/22/2025

• Optional features
  • Character animation
  • NPC “enemy”
  • Dialog system
  • Checkpoints
  • Pickup objects
  • Particle systems

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