LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning to identify key issues in computer graphics for the design of serious games, virtual reality, simulation, and eduntainment applications.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide the basis for the design and development of software simulation. The student is introduced to different concepts of computer graphics (rendering, collision detection, illumination models, etc.) and event-based programming (game loop, co-routines, etc.) and he is supported through extensive exercises during lectures. The course aims to train a professional figure capable of designing and implementing complex software simulation using video game technologies.

PREREQUISITES

The student should have good programming knowledge.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is composed of a set of frontal lessons and a set of practice sessions. During the frontal lesson, the teacher presents the topics providing also examples of live code that are tested on a real game engine (e.g. Unity 3D). Students can use their own laptops during the lecture in order to reproduce what is proposed by the teacher. During the practice sessions, the students have to face up with real problems that they should solve by applying the techniques learnied during the lectures.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is divided into two parts: the first deals mainly with 2D graphics using graphics engines of reduced computational load (for example, they can also be used on microcontrollers). The second part of the course deals with the design of simulations and 3D games mainly using the Unity3D platform,

The various examples developed in class address among others:

• Installation and configuration of tools and development environments (visual studio, monogame and components)

• Classes, constructors, initializations, updates from asynchronous events, arrays of elements

• Lists of objects, sound effects, collision management, examples

• Sprite, graphic screens

• Level / switch case management

• Game logic

• Management of movements and controls

• Tracking algorithms

• The Xamarin platform and Visual studio

• Management of sensor data

• Unity environment, main functions, views, packages

• Creation, use and removal of objects

• Spawn manager

• Sound and effects

• Game play mechanics

• User interface

• Project optimization and improvement

• Export / import project

• Data persistence

• Visual scripting

• Visual scripting application

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slide e progetti software dalle lezioni (scaricabili da AulaWeb e Teams)

J. Gregory. Game Engine Architecture CRC Press, 3rd ed.
B. Tristem,‎ M. Geig. Unity Game Development in 24 Hours. Sams Teach Yourself
J. Hocking. Unity in Action: Multiplatform Game Development in C# . Manning