Introduction Lecture to
Game Mod Workshop
Brian Schrank, PhD
Who am I?
www.BrianSchrank.com
Who are You?
What will you do in this class?
What will you do in this class?
Create & Iterate on a Game Mod that’s:
1.Short
2.Complete
3.Awesome
How will you make your game mod?
• Form teams of 3-5 students
– that will last the entire quarter
• Learn and use the entire game dev process
– brainstorming, meeting, scheduling, prototyping,
playtesting, iterating, demoing, even marketing
– …lots of iterative development
• Use Unity as the game engine
You don’t have many constraints:
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Any genre, or new genre of game
Any art style
Any code
You can download, use, and modify anything:
– code, content, music, other Unity projects
– Don’t ask if you can use something. You can.
– Even if it has a copyright you can use it because
it’s fair use, plus you aren’t selling your game, yet.
There are two big constraints.
1: Only use/make stuff that
enhances your game mod.
2: Your game mod must have
One Minute of Awesomeness.
You can make a “2D” game.
Or you can make a 3D game.
Unity affords many genres
• Platformer
– 2D, 3D
• Shooter
– 1st, 3rd Person
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Puzzle
Racer
Adventure
RPG
Strategy
Unity affords many genres
• Platformer
– 2D, 3D
• Shooter
– 1st, 3rd Person
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Puzzle
Racer
Adventure – be very careful and clever
RPG – don’t recommend it
Strategy – don’t recommend it
Or… roll your own genre!
Even an “Art Game” is Fine
Cactus
http://cactusquid.com/
Even an “Art Game” is Fine
Auntie
Pixelante
Three Promises to You:
• I promise to fight for your success.
– I don’t just want you to get jobs in the industry.
– I want you to LEAD the game industry someday.
– There are no stupid questions. Ask away.
• I promise to give honest, critical feedback.
– If there is something you can improve, I will tell
you in a straightforward way.
• I promise be as available as I can.
– Feel free to email me anytime.
You Should Promise to:
• Fight for your own success.
– You must think of yourself as a Professional now.
– Conduct yourself and treat your team well.
– There are no stupid questions. Ask away.
• Hunger for critical feedback from everyone.
– This course is as much about the process as the
product. Your 1# goal is to improve yourself.
• Be a vibrant member of the class & your team.
– Feel free to email or ask THEM anything.
Main Coursework:
• GET DIRTY AND MAKE A DAMN GOOD GAME!
– Programming, Art, Design, Sound Design
– Brainstorms
– Pitches
– Schedule
– Playtests
– Milestone Presentations and Demos
• Some Reading
• Very short weekly blog posts
No Required Books.
For Game Designers:
• Art of Game Design, Schell
• Game Design Workshop, Fullerton
• Game Feel, Swink
For Artists:
• The Animator’s Survival Kit, Williams
• Stop Staring, Osipa (for facial modeling/rigging/animating)
• How to Cheat in Maya, Luhta (for Maya beginners)
For Programmers:
• Check out the ton of Unity material on our class website
For Producers:
• The Game Production Handbook, Chandler
Good general resource:
www.Gamasutra.com
To the Class Website!
www.GameModWorkshop.com