Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Rowan Tulloch
Contact via Email
10HA 191C
By appointment
Convenor
Mitchell McEwan
Contact via Email
4 Research Drive Room 367
By appointment
Tutor
Gemma Roberts
Contact via Email
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
Co-taught as MMCC1011
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Unit description |
Unit description
Video games provide the only real example of the promise of interactive entertainment held out by modern technologies. Video games provide a rapidly growing form of entertainment and are also used for educational and business purposes. This unit provides an introduction to the design and study of computer and console games. Topics covered include: the history of games; the cultural and aesthetic study of games; and the game development process. The assessment includes a project using a game development package.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Practical exercises | 10% | No | Weekly |
Game Design Task | 30% | No | Friday 11:59pm Week 13 |
Final Essay | 40% | No | Friday 11:59pm Week 11 |
Game Analysis | 10% | No | Friday 11:59pm Week 6 |
Active Tutorial Participation | 10% | No | Ongoing |
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
Practical exercises using a video game engine. These exercises are designed to introduce students to the basics of game development.
Assessment Type 1: Design Implementation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 33 hours
Due: Friday 11:59pm Week 13
Weighting: 30%
A design implementation task using a 3D game engine. You will design a level for a simple video game and write a 1-2 page document describing the engine features you use and how they contribute towards your design.
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 38 hours
Due: Friday 11:59pm Week 11
Weighting: 40%
Students must write a 1500 word essay critically analysing a video game or game community of their choosing. It must build upon, critique and/or extend the argument of one or more of the unit readings. It must also use academic theory from beyond the unit to support the argument. Students must identify the key theoretical ideas and assumptions associated with their chosen reading and apply them to the chosen game/community
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Friday 11:59pm Week 6
Weighting: 10%
A short answer online quiz, analysing the design of a game (to be provided) using the ideas taught in class. This exercise is designed to demonstrate students’ understanding of the concepts taught and their ability to apply them to analysing a game.
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
A set of small tasks including student-led discussions and group activities that take place in the weekly tutorials.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Classes
Each week you should watch a pre-recorded lecture, and attend a one hour tutorial and a two hour practical. For details of days, times and locations consult the timetables webpage. http://timetables.mq.edu.au
Note: Practicals and tutorials commence in Week 1.
You should have selected a tutorial and a practical at enrolment. You should attend the tutorial and practical you are enrolled in. For further details refer to iLearn.
Resources to assist your learning
Textbook:
Adams, E. (2010) Fundamentals of game design is a recommended text for this subject but it is not required. It is, however, strongly recommended that students who are proceeding with the Bachelor of Game Design and Development, the BIT Major in Game Development, or the BA major in Games and Interactivity buy this book as it will be a useful reference throughout your degree. For further details refer to iLearn.
The MMCC1011/COMP1150 readings will be provided online through iLearn.
Website
The website for this unit is provided through the University's iLearn system. iLearn can be found at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. If you are enrolled in this unit you should have access to the material on iLearn once you log on.
Discussion Boards
The discussion board for this unit can be accessed through the iLearn site.
Technologies Employed
Game Design Environment: the Unity3D game engine will be used to create your game. This is a free download and runs on both PCs and Macs.
Consultation Times
The full contact details and consultation times of convenors Rowan Tulloch and Mitchell McEwan are available on the iLearn site.
Lectures and tutorials will cover weekly topics such as:
Practicals will introduce the Unity game engine and cover practical skills related to version control, 2D physics and animation, layers, triggers and prefabs, meshes and textures, terrain, ProBuilder and package manager, cameras, lighting, particle systems and interactivity.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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