3D Graphics and Game Engines
X 418.107A, Class Syllabus
UCLA Extension, Engineering Department
INSTRUCTOR: Mitch Williams
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Week 1:
Introduction, 3D Graphics Overview, X3D and Scene Graphs, 3D Graphics Pipeline
Week 2:
3D Graphics Pipeline – Transformations, Viewpoints, Culling/Clipping, Perspective View
Week 3:
Shading and Lighting, Materials
Week 4
Textures and Texture Transformations. Game Level Design
Week 5:
Animation. Multi-user game engines, 3D modeling programs for 3D objects
Week 6:
Drawing into the buffer, Interactivity and Object Collision
ACTIVITIES, ASSIGNMENTS and GRADING CRITERIA
Weekly homework, either uploaded to a web site then email URL or handed in. Grading: Homeworks 80%;
Attendance, Participation, Software and Web Site Design 20%. There is no final exam.
OVERVIEW OF COURSE:
This course is an introduction to 3D graphics engineering used to create video games; animated films; and other
business applications, such as on wireless devices, computer-aided design, and data visualization.
Topics include the 3D graphics pipeline, from reading an artist's 3D file to producing an image on the screen, as well
as the algorithms and structure of 3D graphics; game engines, including rotation and position of objects in 3D space;
camera controls, including perspective and field-of-view; lighting and shading calculations; animations; and
interactivity.
Students also learn the spectrum of 3D graphics media and the trade-offs between detailed rendered scenes in film
versus real-time image-generation in games. This course provides an excellent foundation for students entering or
advancing into video games, animated films, or wireless technologies.
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: 310-406-1169 Monday-Fri from 10:00 am to 4 pm; Email: Mitch.Williams@3D-Online.com
COURSE WEB SITE: : http://www.virtualbeach.com/3d graphics and game engines/ or
http://www.3d-online.com/3d graphics and game engines/
BOOKS:
Recommended:
“Computer Graphics, Principles and Practice”, 2nd Edition. Authors: James Foley, Andries van Dam, Steve
Feiner, John Hughes; Publishers: Addision-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-84840-6
“Game Level Design”, Ed Byrne, Charles River Media ISBN-13; 978-1-58450-369-9
3D-Online , 2007
http://www.3D-Online.com
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