CTIN 482 Course Outline

Designing On-line Multiplayer Game Environments

USC School of Cinema-Television, CTIN 482

Instructor:Patricia Pizer

(818) 823-7765

OR

Skype: ppizer/ Yahoo!/AIM: ppizer/ ICQ: 1255122/ MSN:

Course Description: In this course,we’ll examine the elements of online multiplayer (MP) game design, and key concepts regarding the best practices of various components of online multiplayer games.We’ll begin by taking a look at the history and core concepts of MP games – – including a wide variety of MP games. We’ll bring these concepts to life by playing and critiquing a select group of MP games, and hearing war stories and design tips from game creators working in the industry. Working together in teams, the students will define, playtest and refine a multiplayer game design project, and then pitch their game to the entire class and summarize what they learned during the design/playtest/pitch process.

Students will use the class Blog to complete regular assignments – which will include commenting on the class, creating game ideas, reporting playtest results, and producing pitch documents and demos.

Potential industry speakers include:

• Raph Koster – CEO, Areae (Creative Director, Star Wars Galaxies)
• Nicole Lazzaro – President, XeoDesign (user research expert)
• Michael Steele – VP / Evangelist, Emergent Game Technology (MMO Operations)
• Jeff Pobst & Mark Terrano – Hidden Path Entertainment officers (pitching games & design)
• George Sanger - The Fat Man, Team Fat (interactive audio/music guru)
• Mike Sellers – Online Alchemy; lead designer of Meridian 59 (MMO design)
• Bernie Dekoven – Game Guru and Author, New Games

Meeting Information:

Interactive Media Lab, G142 Main Room (below the Carson Stage)

Tuesday 7 PM – 9 PM

Pre-requisites:NA

Evaluation of student performance:

a. Assignments (see full descriptions below):

1. Blog Assignments (Read/Play/Research & comment)
2. Mid-term game puzzle
3. Final Project & Presentation

1. Criteria for grading:

Course content

ClassSessions: Our weekly meetings will cover the key topical areas of Online MP game design. To preserve flexibility for speakers as available, the class sessions will be somewhat fluid. Weekly assignments will be given during class. Many reading assignments will be copies distributed by the instructor to ensure the widest range of materials and the latest findings. Topics covered in class sessions will include: Social Dynamics and Systems; Rules; Play Styles and Types; Multiplayer Gamer Concepts; Game Cycles and Patterns; User Testing and Focus Groups; Platforms; Prototyping; and Community. Class participation will constitute 10% percent of the final grade.

Design Exercises:Several sessions of the class will consist of in-class design workshops. These in-class design assignments will be group exercises in which teams of students will be given specific interactive design problems to solve. Teams will complete the assignments, and present their solutions to the class for peer review. A single grade based on individual participation and quality of solutions will be given for the in-class work over the entire semester. This grade will be worth 20 percent of the final course grade.

Blog Assignments: The class blog can be found at Students will be assigned specific blogpost topics during the course of the semester which will be due as noted when assigned. These blogposts should be considered as short writing assignments and should contain thoughtful analysis of the topics assigned and issues addressed in class. The goal of these assignments is to encourage an open and lively discussion both in and out of class. Students are also encouraged to post to the blog independent of these assignments. A single grade based on the quality of posts and participation in this extended community will be given for the entire semester. This grade will be worth 20 percent of the final course grade.

Midterm Puzzle Project: Students will design and create an interactive puzzle experience to be played by a group of industry pros. More detail will be given in class. The grade for this project will be 20 percent of the final course grade.

Final Project: The final project is a chance for students to conceptualize and design a multiplayer game of their own imagining. Students will work over the semester to conceptualize, prototype, test, and improve their designs. Projects will be presented in class at several stages for peer review and feedback. Final projects will be graded for originality, feasibility, and quality of deliverables at each stage: proposal, prototype, and final pitch. The grade for this project will be 20 percent of the final course grade.

Final Presentation: The final deliverable for the class is a game pitch of your original design and a presentation to industry guests for review and critique. Your pitch will consist of a PowerPoint deck explaining core game play, features and innovative multiplayer aspects of the project as well as the playable prototype itself. This final presentation should be articulate, convincing and should show your project in its best light.The grade for this final presentation will be 10 percent of the final course grade.

ImportantDates:While class sessions need to be fluid, certain dates are key for the successful completion of the final project. These dates correspond to the Milestones one has on actual development projects. They are as follows:

Missing an Assignment Deadline, Incompletes:

The only acceptable excuses for missing an assignment deadline or taking an incomplete in the course are personal illness or a family emergency. Students must inform the professor before the assignment due date and present verifiable evidence in order for a make-up to be scheduled. Students who wish to take incompletes must also present documentation of the problem to the instructor before final grades are due.

Note for students with disabilities:

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to us as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301, and is open 8:30am5:00pm Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Academic Integrity:

The School of Cinema-Television expects the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical performance from USC students. It is particularly important that you are aware of and avoid plagiarism, cheating on exams, submitting a paper to more than one instructor, or submitting a paper authored by anyone other than yourself. Violations of this policy will result in a failing grade band be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. If you have any doubts or questions about these policies, consult “SCAMPUS” and/or confer with the instructor.

Texts:

Theory of Fun, by Raph Koster

Various articles and excerpts

Instructor Bio

Making her game industry debut at Infocom in 1988, Patricia Pizer was creating games back in the days when you didn’t even need graphics. Over the span of her career, she’s worked with a wide variety of game companies, including Boffo Games, THQ/GameFx, Harmonix Music, Turbine Entertainment, ubi.comand The Walt Disney Company. At Disney’s VR Studio, she worked on Toontown and the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean Online. She’s also done a stint on ARGs as the Lead Designer for 42 Entertainment’s Last Call Poker, a campaign for the launch of Activision’s GUN.Currently, Patricia’s working on DGamer, a DS-based community service for players of Disney Interactive Studios’ Disney-branded DS games. A founder of the Boston Area Game Developers’ Network, Patricia is a published author on game design, and a regular guest speaker at game industry events and conferences. Mostly though, she just likes to play games.

Multiplayer Game Design

USCSchool of Cinema-Television, CTIN 4821