CMSC 491/691: Computer Graphics for Games

Spring 2014, TuTh 11:30-12:45, MP 104

Instructor: Dr. Marc Olano (olano@umbc.edu)
ITE 354 (455-3094); Office Hours: W 3:00-5:00

Recommended resources:
Akenine-Möller, Haines and Hoffmann, Real-Time Rendering, AK Peters, ISBN 978-1-56881-424-7.

Developer blogs: www.altdevblogaday.com, www.realtimerendering.com, blog list
General game development concepts: Bob Nystrom, Game Programming Patterns, online text: gameprogrammingpatterns.com

Description

This course is an introduction to some of the computer graphics methods commonly used in 3D computer games. Computer graphics encompasses a wide variety of algorithms and techniques, many more than can be covered in just one or two courses. This course is similar in style and scope to CMSC 635/Advanced Computer Graphics, but uses computer games as a focus and motivation to explore a different set of graphics algorithms. Topics include graphics data structures, design of interactive applications, and real-time graphics algorithms. Students will learn several common algorithms in each topic area in sufficient depth for implementation.

Note that (as the course title says), this is a course about computer graphics, specifically 3D graphics, as used by many games. It is not a class about playing games, nor about all of the other equally important aspects of creating a game (AI, art, game play, interface design, ...). I expect that the class will be a lot of work, but hope that you will find it rewarding.

Course Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will

1. Know a variety of advanced graphics techniques used in games
2. Apply a selection of these techniques
3. Integrate an advanced graphics technique into a game environment
4. Present technical topics to a knowledgeable audience

Grades

Grades will be based on class participation (10%), one in-class presentation (10%), programming assignments (30%), and a final project (50%).

Assignments

Programming assignments require the use of the C/C++ programming language. These assignments may be time-consuming. START EARLY! A tentative list is given below:

Students taking the course for graduate credit (CMSC 691) will be expected to do extra parts on each assignment and more complex work in the final project.

Academic Honesty

By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong.

For the individual assignments, you are allowed to discuss concepts, assignments and algorithms, but the actual programming is expected to be your own work. Submit a readme with each assignment describing the assignment and also any and all help you received.

The group project can use external software and libraries with prior instructor approval. Combining this project with projects in other classes is also OK, as long as you get prior approval from both class instructors. Outside of approved exceptions, everything else you submit should be your own. If you are required to have a written submission, all text, figures and images should be your own.

Schedule