Prerequisites: Strong Windows skills

Contact Information:

Course Description

This class will introduce students to 3D Video Game Animation using a variety of tools including Maya, GameSpace, GMax, and Photoshop.

Course Web Site:

http://nlecommerce1.dcccd.edu/vgames

All class readings, exercises, projects, and references can be found on the class calendar. Your instructor will show you how to access the calendar on the first day of class.

Class Calendar:

The online class calendar for this class is part of the official class syllabus.

Textbook(s) and Supplies:

USB Drive: All students in web design classes must purchase a USB "keychain" drive of at least 40MB. These drives are very common, and can be purchased at office supply stores, Target, Wal-Mart, and computer stores. Students may also elect to use MP3 players with at least 40 MB of free USB-accessible storage space. (iPod, etc.)

Beginning Game Graphics
Harry Evry
Course Technology, 2004
ISBN: 1-59200-430-X © 2005

Recommended:
subscription to Game Developer Magazine

About Images and Text for This Class:

All projects created in this class must comply with the North Lake College Digital Imaging Copyright Policy. In a nutshell, the policy states that you may not use an image unless you have a proven legal right to do so. You will be quizzed on the policy in the first week of class.

Important Financial Aid Information

If you are receiving Financial Aid grants or loans and are enrolled in a Distance Learning class, you must show participation in this class prior to the certification date (the 12th day after the start date of the class) either by logging on to eCampus or e-mailing/contacting the instructor. Students taking open enrollment classes that do not have traditional semester start dates should make note of the start date of their class.

Do not drop or stop attending any class without consulting the Financial Aid Office. Changes in your enrollment level and failing grades may require that you repay financial aid funds.

Grades

Handing in assignments:

All assignments will be posted on the students allotted area assigned on the NLC server unless the assignment states otherwise. Work uploaded to non-NLC servers will not be graded. Your instructor will provide you with a username and password to access the server.

Lab and Web Policy Statement

All students using the open lab (T242) or the class web site (sharonh.com or nlecommerce1.dcccd.edu) are expected to comply with the Lab & Web Policy Statement. Failure to comply with this statement can result in various penalties including restricted lab use, automatic zeros on assignments, suspension, or expulsion.

Disabilities Services

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), NLC is committed to ensuring that all qualified students with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from its programs and services. Any student who believes he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Disability Services Office at 972-273-3165 located in A413.

Ethics and Academic Dishonesty:

District Policy:

The Student Code of Conduct prohibits activities and prescribes penalties for academic dishonesty. According to North Lake College Policy, adopted by the President's Cabinet and printed in NLC Operational Memoranda, students found guilty of any form of academic dishonesty, including (but not limited to) cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and collusion, may receive an F on the assignment and/or an F in their course(s) from the instructor and may be suspended from college by administrative action.

Students' rights to appeal grades and/or other disciplinary action and the procedures which students must follow for appeals are published the College Catalog under the Student Code of Conduct and at the NLC Web Site under Operational Memoranda.

Instructor's Stance:

If you are caught engaging in academic dishonesty in my class, I will do everything legally in my power to see that you get an F in this course.

Ethical Computer Usage

Please review the Computer Use Policy in the North Lake College Catalog. Any violations of this policy will be addressed using the methods outlined in the policy.

Drop Procedure

Last Day to Drop - November 17

If you registered on campus visit the Admissions Office and complete a drop form. If dropping all classes, please visit the Advising/Counseling Office, A465-C, and complete an exit interview and a withdrawal form. Students who drop online are HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY encouraged to print and save their screen confirmations!

SCANS Competencies

The Secretary's Commission of Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), established in 1990, defined a common core of skills that constitute job readiness. The Office Technology Department at North Lake College is committed to prepare you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in today's dynamic work environment.

SCANS Competencies			Outcomes
Resources	C1	Allocates Time	All assignments due by scheduled date
C2	Allocates Money
C3	Allocates Material & Facility Resources	All assignments: Students have 3 MB web space, and are expected to fit all assignments in this space.
C4	Allocates Human Resources
Interpersonal	C5	Participates as a Member of a Team
C6	Teaches Others
C7	Serves Clients/Customers	Project #2: In eCommerce project students design commercial online storefront designed to make customer shopping experiences easy and pleasurable.
C8	Exercises Leadership
C9	Negotiates to Arrive at a Decision
C10	Works with Cultural Diversity	All projects: Students will take needs and desires of audience into account when designing sites
Information	C11	Acquires and Evaluates Information	Project #1: Students will research historic figure and create web site based on figure. All resources used must be in public domain. (evaluation)
C12	Organizes and Maintains Information	All exercises: Students will organize web site and make all projects easy for instructor and audience to locate.
C13	Interprets and Communicates Information	Project #1: Students will research historic figure and create web site based on figure.
C14	Uses Computers to Process Information	All exercises and projects performed on computer.
Systems	C15	Understands Systems	All assignments: Students will understand how the World Wide Web functions -- file uploads, downloads, hyperlinks, etc.
C16	Monitors and Corrects Performance
C17	Improves and Designs Systems	All projects: Students will design a page navigation system, and make improvements to the system based on instructor and peer feedback.
Technology	C18	Selects Technology
C19	Applies Technology to Task	All assignments: Students use PC and software to create web pages.
C20	Maintains and Troubleshoots Technology	All assignments: Students will troubleshoot "broken" portions of web pages and correct the non-working portions.
Basic Skills	F1	Reading	All assignments: Students will read the associated textbook chapters.
F2	Writing	All projects: Students will compose original text for all projects.
F3	Arithmetic / Mathematics
F4	Listening
F5	Speaking
Thinking Skills	F6	Creative Thinking	All projects: Students will have great latitude in determining subject matter and site design. Students are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box.
F7	Decision Making	Projects #2 and #3: Students must decide if an advanced technology is feasible for their site based on the target audience's likes, needs, and technical savvy.
F8	Problem Solving	All projects: Students will use techniques taught in class to solve design problems in projects.
F9	Seeing Things in the Mind's Eye	Projects #2 and #3 : Students will storyboard projects to envision design.
F10	Knowing How To Learn	All assignments: Students must read chapters and watch in-class demonstrations to gain knowledge necessary to pass quizzes and complete assignments.
F11	Reasoning
Personal Qualities	F12	Responsibility	Projects: Students strive for professional-grade projects. Improvement on appearance and functionality is expected in each project.
F13	Self-Esteem
F14	Social ability	Class Participation: Class participation is graded based on an individual's enthusiasm, curiosity, and community spirit.
F15	Self-Management	All assignments: Students will monitor progress to insure deadlines are met, and to insure concept mastery. Students needing extra assistance are expected to seek help in open lab times, from instructors, or from peers.
F16	Integrity/Honesty	All projects: Students are expected to uphold the NLC Computer Graphics Copyright Guidelines, the Lab and Web Policy Statement, and the the DCCCD Student Code of Conduct. All documents emphasis honesty and integrity.