Description
ECE 495/595 & CS 491/591: Topics in Computer Games and Interactive
Simulation
Fall 2005 T 11:00-12:00 AM, ECE Rm 210
Computer game technology spans a range of applications from interactive
games for home use to simulations for homeland security and medical
training. From a computer science and engineering perspective
game technology not only uses the latest advances in computer graphics
but is also driving the development of specialized graphics processors
that are supercomputers on a chip. From the art perspective, game
technology is providing new venues and tools for artistic expression.
From a business perspective, the computer game market is larger than
the film market and presents new challenges and opportunities for
entrepreneurial ventures.
This topics class will explore many facets of the this field through lectures, readings, and participation of outside speakers from the game community. During the semester students will form interdisciplinary teams that will develop project proposals. These proposals can take the form of business plans for new ventures, proposals for a new game application, or use of game technology to solve a particular problem.
We expect that most students will continue on to the next semester which will focus on the development of the projects proposed in this course.
Prerequisites: Senior or graduate standing in science, engineering, art, management, or other related field.
Professors
Speakers
Bill Klein - President of Extreme AI - A game development company based in Albuquerque that produces for the handheld market. (Powerpoint Presentation)
Jonathan Whetzel - While a graduate student at Texas A&M University, he served as a research assistant working on projects such as the development of the game Revised Space Fortress and collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories on computer systems that aid in eliciting game strategy knowledge from expert players. He received his MS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University in August 2005. He is now a Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His research interests include artificial intelligence, machine learning/data mining, computer-human interaction, and simulation. (Powerpoint Presentation)
Cort Dougan - Director of Engineering and co-founder of FSM Labs located in Socorro, NM. The primary author of and maintainer of Linux on the PowerPC until August, 2001.
Schedule
Aug. 29 -Bill Klein - Starting a Video Game Company: Observations and Lessons Learned
Sept. 6 - Jonathan Whetzel - Developing Intelligent Agents for Training Systems That Learn Their Strategies from
Expert Players
Sept. 13 - Cort Dougan - Director of Engineering at FSM Labs located in Socorro, NM.
Sep 20 - Tom Anderson
Sep 27 - Skyler Swanson
Oct 4 - Terry Borst
Oct 11 - Glyn Anderson
Oct 18 - Carolyn Miller
Oct 25 - John Salas
Nov 1 - class discussion - Game Engine Development
Nov 8 - Dale Alverson
Nov 15 - class discussion - Game Engine Development
Nov 22 - Chris Keintz
Nov 29
Dec 6 Elaine Raybourn SNL