Course aim

This course provides students with foundation in game designing and programming. Students will produce relevant documents, prototype, develop and test interactive games that can be deployed to a variety of platforms.

Purpose

The purpose of the assessment is to assess students’ ability to produce a detailed design document and produce prototype to meet the requirements of the game.

Assessment Information

1.   This is a Individual assessment and worth 40% of your total assessment weighting of the entire course.

2.   Assessment submission will be in the 4th  week.

3.   You have the opportunity for one resubmission for one failed assessment per course. The maximum mark available for any reassessed failed assessment event is 50%.

4.   You can request resubmission within three working days of the return of the assessment and negotiate a resubmission date.

5.   The agreed resubmission date will be adhered to, and no further extensions will be given. In all cases, the grade achieved on the resubmission will be the grade used to calculate the final course grade.

6.    Failing two or more assessments within a course equates to a failed course and are-enrolment of that course.

7.   You are required to keep a soft copy of the submitted assessment.

8.   You need to submit your assessment through Turnitin via Canvas.

9.   All students are required to attach the signed assessment coversheet (the front page of this document) with their final submission.

10. Students are required to check their course outlines in relation to assessment extension requirements.

11. Extensions of time to complete an assessment are only given in exceptional circumstances. If you anticipate difficulty in meeting the due dates to submit an assessment and/or sit tests or examinations, and/or attempt any missed practical assessment activity which may have been timetabled to occur once only during the programme, you may request an extension of time.  12. A formal written request must be made before the due date. The agreed extension date will be adhered to, and no further extensions will be given.

English Writing and Layout Requirements

1.    You need to be used the APA referencing 7th edition for all resources you use (see marking guidelines)

2.    Your written work is to be typed out in a Microsoft word document. You need to adapt the proper tone to suit the audience of your writing and aim for your submission to be grammar and spelling error-free.

3.   You need to use the following formatting:

•     Font Style. either Calibri or Times New Roman

•     Font size: not less than 12pt for the main content, and no more than 18pt for section headings.

•     Line Spacing: 1.5 lines

•     Margins: leave margins of 2.54cm all around the page.

4.    Include Your student ID, Course Number, Cohort Number, and date of submission in the “header” of all pages (excluding the cover page).

5.    Insert page numbers into the “footer” of all pages.

Submission Instructions

You are required to ensure you have carried out the following before submitting your assessment:

•    Signed assignment cover sheet

•    Assessments submitted online should use the following naming convention:

o Course Code_ Assessment Number_ Assessment Name_ Student Number_Document number

o For example, SWD605_A1_GameDesignDocument_1800XXXX_1

•    All answers must be written in your own words.

•     Proofread and spell check all written assessment work carefully.

•     DO NOT email your document to your tutor, it must be uploaded to the NZSE LMS

Plagiarism

• All cases of plagiarism and/or cheating will be investigated and dealt with according to A08: Misconduct in Assessment Policy.

Learning Outcomes

This assessment is mapped to the following learning outcomes for this course:

GPO’s (this assessment is mapped to)

Assessment Task- Overview

This is an individual assessment to evaluate your knowledge and skills in game programming, including game  design  documents,  programming  languages,  game  engines,  graphics,  and  physics.  This assessment  will  measure  your  ability  to  design  and  document  technical  solutions  for the  game scenario using a game design document (GDD) and to develop a prototype to demonstrate gameplay and mechanics. Below are the two scenarios:

Scenario 1:

A local non-profitable organisation “Zero Carbon World” has hired you as a game developer to create a  2D/3D  game  that   promotes  environmental  awareness  and  sustainability.  The  mission  of  the organisation is to develop a game that encourages players to adopt eco-friendly lifestyle. choices.

The game's graphics should be visually appealing, with vivid colours that reflect the natural world. It should also be accessible to players of all ages and skill levels, with simple gameplay mechanics.

The target demographic for the game is all age groups of people who are interested in environmental issues. The game should be educational and informative, with content that teaches players about the significance of environmental protection and reducing their carbon footprint.

The non-profit organisation has allocated $15,000 for the development of the game, with a launch date of two months in the future. Your task is to design and implement a prototype for a game concept that meets these requirements. In addition, you will collaborate closely with the non-profit to ensure that the game accurately reflects its mission and objectives.

Scenario 2:

You are a member of a team of game developers hired by a local museum “Auckland Stone Age Museum” to create a 2D/3D game that teaches visitors about the region's history and culture. The purpose of the  museum  is to  provide visitors with an  interactive  experience that enhances their understanding and appreciation of the exhibits.

The game should be entertaining and instructive, with gameplay mechanics that are simple to learn but difficult to master. It should also be aesthetically pleasing and well-designed, with high-quality graphics and animations that reflect the museum's displays.

The target audience for the game is museum-visiting families with children aged 8 to 12 years old. The game should be appropriate for all ages and be accessible to both children and adults.

The museum has allocated $20,000 for the development of the game, with an anticipated release date of two months away. Your mission is to design a game concept that satisfies these specifications and develop a prototype for it. In addition, you will collaborate closely with museum staff to ensure that the game accurately reflects the museum's exhibits and educational objectives.

Assessment Guidelines

You may select one of the two scenarios described in the preceding section. Or, you can choose any   real game project if you have a new game concept, or any game project from an industry client. This, however, MUST be approved by your tutor. Therefore, you are required to discuss the project details with your tutor and obtain approval prior to beginning the assignment.

Part A – Game Design Document                                                              [50 Marks]

LO1: Design and document technical solutions for game scenarios.

As a game designer, you have been tasked with creating a design document for a new game scenario. Your goal is to design and document a technical solution for the game scenario that demonstrates your ability to apply technical knowledge to game design.

Task 1: Executive Summary (5 Marks)

Prepare an executive summary of the game including

•    Title of the game

•    Game concept

• Genre

•    Platform(s) for the game

•    Game mode(s).

Task 2: Gameplay Mechanics (10 Marks)

Prepare a detailed breakdown of the gameplay including

•    Objective

•    Game logic

•    Game progressions

•    Game resources (Score Strategy)

•    Mechanics (rules, in-game help and info, combat, physics, etc)

Task 3: Game World (10 Marks)

Identify and explain the game elements including

•    Environment

•    Characters

•    Levels

•    Story

•    Challenges or Collectable Objects/points

Task 4: Game Level Design ( 10 Marks)

Design the layout of at least three game levels (i.e. low, medium, and difficult) including obstacles, Power-up, hidden areas, etc.

Task 5: Visual and Audio Features

Identify and list down at least five(5) game’s visual and audio features

Task 6: Technical Requirements

Identify and explain the game’s technical requirements including

•    Minimum hardware specification

•    Minimum software specification

•    Third-party tools or libraries used in game development

Task 7: Marketing and Monetization Strategies (5 Marks)

a)    Explain the game’s marking strategy, including the following factors                            (3 Marks)

a.    Target audience

b.    Distribution channels

c.    Promotional materials

b)    Explain any two game’s monetization strategies. (2 Marks)

Part B - Prototype Implementation                                                         [50 Marks]

LO2: Develop prototype to demonstrate gameplay and mechanics.

Implement the prototype of the game meeting the requirements of the following tasks based on the selected game scenario.

Task 1: Single-Level Prototype Implementation (40 Marks)

Implement a prototype of a game using a game engine of your choice based on the game design document (GDD) and the prototype should follows:

a)    Level 1 functionality                                                                                                 (10 marks)

b)    Level 1 gameplay                                                                                                   (10 marks)

c)    Level 1  user interface /Scene                                                                                (10 marks)

d)    Level 1 graphics and sound                                                                                     (10 marks)

Task 2: Prototype Demonstration

(10 Marks)

Demonstrate the main functionalities of the game prototype and answer the questions put forward by audience at the end of demonstration.

Evidence Submission

You are required to submit the following to the link provided on NZSE LMS (Canvas).

•    Signed assessment coversheet and student declaration.

•    Game Design Document including Part A and Part B

•    Zipfolder of the game prototype code.

•    Original files of the Level design and evaluation sheets.

Referencing

Aim for grammatical/and spelling error-free. You are required to use the APA 7th edition referencing style. to cite and reference any paraphrased or quoted statements.

Note: Check the marking rubrics on pages 7-12 for the mark allocations and marking guidelines to ensure you gain optimum marks.