FOLSOM CORDOVA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Folsom High School Course Expectations 2015-2016
Course: Game Design
Instructor: Mr. Scott Southard
916 294 2400 ext 415 324
ssouthar@fcusd.org
Course Description:
Students will study the procedures of team oriented creation for the design of playable video games. The
first semester largely deals with team hierarchy, paper mapping and design, “world” development, and the
iterative design process. Second semester will include hands on coding with the GUI Games Factory 2,
basic graphic design, basic animation, and implementation of 1st semester ideas. Students will utilize PC
computers along with software to produce a variety of projects for on campus review. Students will write
and produce “pitches” for their teams ideas, develop, marketing plans and materials, and complete a multi
level game with graphics.
Global Program Studies: Students will compare and contrast examples of game media from around the
globe including film and television from the US, Latin America, India, Japan, and China.
Common Core: Game Design follows State Career and Technical Education Anchor and Pathway
Standards to strengthen core literacy and math skills by providing rigorous assignments and projects.
Textbooks: Video Game Design Foundations, by D. Michael Ploor, Goodheart-Willcox, Inc, Tinley
Park, Illinois. A companion Video Game Design Foundations Software Design Guide and Video Game
Design Composition, by D. Michael Ploor and the companion Video Game Design Composition Software
Design Guide
Books and Work book’s are $80 dollars replacement if written in.
Needed materials and requirements
• A Login and Password for the campus network.
• An email address you can check every day.
• One slim folder with approximately 50 sheets of lined paper, dedicated to this class for class notes and
project instructions. Students will keep this folder in class.
• Blue or black ink pen AND a pencil EVERYDAY. Get this out before you lock up your back pack.
• Students may use their own tablets and computers at their own risk. The rules regarding personal
electronics are in your PAWS handbook. READ THEM.
Methods of Evaluation:
Attendance/Tardies
Students will be in class on time and in their seat or at their assigned station working on the posted
assignment when the bell rings. Please refer to your PAWS handbook for the school policy.
Participation
Students must participate to learn. The instructor is here to guide students in understanding the material.
The student must be an equal partner in the process! Participation is one quarter of the student’s grade.
Part of participation is how one interacts with others, also known as Citizenship.
Citizenship
ALL students are expected to show respect for school, staff, other students and one’s self. Respect for
school property is imperative as the students will be using very expensive equipment. Citizenship marks
will be assigned as described in your PAWSport, O for Outstanding through U for Unsatisfactory.
NOTE: Students will be filming assignments on campus during class time and/or throughout the day.
Students are not allowed to leave the classroom without signing out and the instructor’s explicit
knowledge and permission.
Make up work
Students are expected to make up all missed work following an excused absence. It is up to the students
to find out what assignments were missed and make it up in a timely manner. Late work will be graded
down for unexcused absences. No make up work will be given or accepted for unexcused absences or
school suspensions.
Homework and assignments
Most of the assignments can be done in class, provided students use their time wisely. Many assignments
require the students to work in teams. When working in groups each student is graded individually, but
every member of a group also receives a group grade.
NOTE: Game Design & Production in the real world happens ON TIME and on budget. Assignments
and projects must be turned in on or before the due date. If an assignment is late without an excused
absence, it will be graded down one grade per class period it is late until no credit is given. Projects rely
on all group members to be in regular attendance. Don’t let your team down!
Tests and Quizzes
Quizzes on book chapters and practical quizzes will be given periodically. Midterms and finals will be
combined with project completions and portfolios of work. The Academic Honesty Policy described in
the PAWSport will be strictly enforced on all class work, tests, and quizzes.
Grades
Grades are given based accumulated points for each semester. This includes homework, in-class work,
quizzes, tests, projects and class participation. Detentions, classroom suspensions, or poor use of class
time will result in loss of points. See note above regarding late work.
A= 90%-100% B=80%-89%
F=59% and below
C=70%-79%
D=60%-69%
Extra Credit
Few opportunities for extra credit will be given at the instructors discretion.
Computer use in the classroom
Students are allowed to use the computers for Game Design only. Students and parents sign a contract
describing appropriate behavior. No game playing, or going to gaming related web sites. Students who
are caught playing games or using the computer for personal or inappropriate use (i.e. Facebook, Ebay,
etc..) will be subject to disciplinary procedures in accordance with Ed code 48900 (K) Defiance.
Back packs, cell phones, ipods, music players, and games must all be turned OFF and put away at
all times in the media lab. There is a locked storage closet in the Media Lab. All backpacks and phones
will be stored there daily.
No food or drink is allowed in the Media Production classroom or production facility, aside from clear,
unflavored bottled water. No gum chewing is allowed on campus. Students will be subject to
disciplinary procedures in accordance with Ed code 48900 (K) Defiance.