This course is not an introduction to any specific video game engine or framework and will not focus on such. Previous knowledge on any engine or framework will be helpful, but is not strictly needed.In the context of assignments and a practical game project, students shall become familiar with identifying, understanding and iterating on aspects of contemporary games. Additionally, students shall learn to take on organisational and functional challenges of producing a small-scale game project.

Lectures, blended with hands-on exercises in class and open-ended discussions about individual topics.Individual AssignmentsGroup Game ProjectThe course takes place in person and attendance is mandatory. Absence is treated as per the university's guidelines. When missing out on presenting an exercise in class, an additional appointment is required or, regarding the group project, a team member may present the exercise.Please be sure to acknowledge and follow the GSE Code of Conduct (available on the GSE Forum in Moodle), especially in terms of collaboration in groups and plagiarism, including the usage of AI in your work and exams.See the Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations section below for additional information on the usage of AI and plagiarism.

In the context of assignments and a practical game project, students shall become familiar with identifying, understanding and iterating on aspects of contemporary games.In groups, students shall focus on implementing and iterating upon one or more of such aspects in a small-scale game project. These aspects include, but are not limited to:Core Gameplay MechanicsAdvanced Mechanics and SystemsEvolution of Genres, Hybrid GenresAccessibilityTechnical Art and AudioInteractive StorytellingAI in GamesAdditionally, students shall become familiar with the challenges of producing a game project:Tools and TechnologiesRapid PrototypingGame ProductionPlaytesting

This course partially focuses on video game engineering and therefore being proficient in programming will be helpful.Students without any prior programming knowledge will be able to choose appropriate projects or select roles in a team not requiring programming skills.

Chandler, Heather. The game production toolbox. CRC Press, 2020.Schreier, Jason. Blood, sweat, and pixels: The triumphant, turbulent stories behind how video games are made. New York: Harper, 2017.Schell, Jesse. The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses. CRC press, 2008.Madhav, Sanjay. Game programming algorithms and techniques: a platform-agnostic approach. Pearson Education, 2014.Nystrom, Robert. Game programming patterns. Genever Benning, 2014.Brownlow, Martin. Game programming golden rules. Charles River Media, 2004.Link auf weitere Informationenhttps://moodle.aau.at/pluginfile.php/1626728/mod_resource/content/0/GSE%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf

Students will be graded upon individual assignments, a practical group project and their participation in class.

Presented topics on contemporary games, current and future technologies, prototyping, game production, practical game project, project report.

Please be sure to acknowledge and follow the GSE Code of Conduct (available on the GSE Forum in Moodle), especially in terms of collaboration in groups and plagiarism, including the usage of AI in your work and exams.The usage of (generative) AI is not strictly prohibited from this course and may even be encouraged if selected and handled as an aspect of contemporary games for your assignments and/or project. However, the usage of AI must adhere to following rules:Any usage of AI must be strictly marked as such.Effort and merit put into the task by the student(s) must be evident and comprehensible.Project size and focus must accomodate the student(s) skills and knowledge and aim to enhance them.Reports on projects and assignments may be written with the help of AI but must reflect the student's experiences and challenges encountered.