Game Engine Architecture

The course is mandatory within Game Design & Technology Master's Programme (N2GDT).

The course can be part of the following programmes:

1. Computer Science, Master's Programme (N2COS)
2. Computer Science, Bachelor's Programme (N1COS)

The course is a also a single-subject course at Gothenburg University.

To be eligible for this course, students must have either:

• successfully completed the course Computer Graphics, 7.5 credits, or equivalent, or
• have 15 credits of programming experience, of which 7.5 of those credits should be in an object-oriented context.

Applicants must prove knowledge of English: English 6/English level 2 or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

The design and implementation of the fundamental components of a game engine is the core of the Game Engine Architecture course. The course focuses mainly upon 2-dimensional engines although other types of game engines are discussed, and students wishing to explore 3D game engines can do so as part of the assignment.

During the course we will go over the development and construction of our own game engine. This engine (called Shard) is specific to this course, and is thus fully open to expansions and modifications. During the course students will take the source code of Shard and improve upon it to address perceived inadequacies and develop new functionality. They will also build an example game that makes use of their modified engine to deliver a representative game experience.

The course will cover timing regulation, game object architecture, collision action, collision responses, and some simple physics. It will also discuss relevant design decisions and design patterns. It is not expected during this course that you will develop a feasible competitor for what is on the market. Rather, the process of exploring and expanding a bespoke game engine is intended to be illuminating for those developing games in more robust engines.

After completion of the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe the typical structure of game engines and the design decisions associated with specific parts of such engines

Competence and skills

• Develop extensions to an example game engine to augment and optimise functionality
• Identify faults and deficiencies in an example game engine, and outline solutions for those faults

Judgement and approach

• Compare and contrast existing game engines to determine functionality and extendibility
• Plan several parallel extensions of an example game engine to meet game related goals

The course is based on a series of technical teardowns and a project within the field of game engine development. This is complemented by lectures and project supervision sessions. The work in the project takes place as supervised groups or individuals with the goal of providing practical training in the development and evaluation of game engines.

Language of instruction: English

The course is graded by two technical artefacts (a modified game engine and an example game) along with an oral presentation. The overall grade for the course comes from a weighted average of these elements.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

Sub-courses

1. Project, 7.5 credits
   Grading scale: Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3) and Fail (U)

The final grade is based on the weighted average grade of the submissions.

The course is evaluated through meetings both during and after the course between teachers and student representatives. Further, an anonymous questionnaire is used to ensure written information. The outcome of the evaluations serves to improve the course by indication which parts could be added, improved, changed or removed.

The course is a joint course together with Chalmers.

The course replaces the course DIT455, 7.5 credits. The course cannot be included in a degree which contains DIT455. Neither can the course be included in a degree which is based on another degree in which the course DIT455 is included.