San Francisco State University

		Mechanics	14
MATH	226	Calculus I	4	SFSU
MATH	227	Calculus II	4	SFSU
MATH	324	Probability and Statistics with Computing	3	SFSU
MATH	325	Linear Algebra	3	SFSU
		Programming	21
CS	140	Introduction to Programming using C/C++	3	UMD
CIS	32	Advanced Unix Shell Programming	3.3	DA
CSC	301	Fundamentals of Computer Science	3	SFSU
CSC	330	Discrete Mathematical Structures for Computer Science	3	SFSU
CSC	313	Data Structures	3	SFSU
CSC	510	Analysis of Algorithm I	3	SFSU
CSC	630	Computer Graphics Systems Design	3	SFSU
		Computer Graphic Design	9
DAI	327	Digital Media I	3	SFSU
DAI	575.04	Design Computer Graphics	3	SFSU
DAI	575.05	Design of Virtual Worlds	3	SFSU
		Cinematic Pre-production	12
ELIT	1	Introduction to Film	2.7	DA
CINE	202	Introduction to Filmmaking	3	SFSU
CINE	355	Screenwriting I	3	SFSU
CINE	455	Screenwriting II	3	SFSU
		Electives	9
ART	130A	Basic Drawing	3	CCSF
ART	130B	Intermediate Drawing	3	CCSF
ART	132A	Beginning Figure Drawing	3	CCSF

Total units in degree program (includes transfer): 65

Proposal Submitted by: ____________________ (Student) Date: _____________

Special Major Statement: Computer Game Design

David Ethan Kennerly. 3 April 2003.

I have worked for about five years as a computer game designer. During that time I eagerly learned. But after five years I was beginning to exhaust the potential for growth. During this time I have witnessed firsthand that this relatively new role combines departments of applied mathematics, computer science, art, design, and cinema. Now it’s important to increase my academic education in all these departments of computer game design so that I may continue to improve at a reasonable rate.

Justification

Computer game design is necessarily interdisciplinary. The computer game designer must mediate the software project between artists and programmers. The game designer must understand the mathematical, programming, design, and cinematic elements of the computer game. The game designer connects each of these special fields to the game user. He interfaces to maximize potential of each specialization.

This major is offered by a few institutions, such as DigiPen in Vancouver (B.S. in Real-Time Interactive Systems http://www.digipen.edu/programs/rtis/rtis_bs.shtml) and FullSail in Florida (A.S. in Game Design http://www.fullsail.com/fs1/gd/main.html). More are appearing each year (for details please see Appendix: Further Reading).

I cannot accomplish my educational objective with one of SFSU’s existing undergraduate majors. Even existing SFSU interdisciplinary degrees, such as liberal studies, do not permit this particular interdisciplinary study. Yet some departments individually cover part of this subject. The mathematics department offers analytic techniques to evaluate and balance strategies in a symbolic game; however, I need techniques to pre-produce a product in terms of its entertainment value. The computer science department offers theoretical and applicable techniques to create any software; however, I need entertainment techniques, such as techniques to sustain the player's interest, design empathic characters, and plan visual stories. The design department offers hands-on techniques to create characters, use industry tools, and pre-produce digital entertainment; however, I need a rudimentary understanding of the behind-the-scenes game mechanics. The cinema department offers visual narration and entertainment pre-production; however, as stated above, I also need mathematical, computer, and design components to meet my educational objective.

Individually my education would be incomplete, yet together it is complete. I can achieve my educational objective by studying applicable courses from each of these departments. Perhaps a generation from now computer game education will become as established as cinema has become over the years since its maturation, yet for now this special major is warranted.

Department #1: Mathematics

The mathematics department teaches the mechanics of a symbolic game. It teaches necessary quantitative analytical skills necessary to evaluate a proposal, test a hypothesis, and establish new knowledge. This department specifically teaches practical techniques of probability distributions, matrix algebra, differentiation and integration. These are prerequisites to understand game theory, a branch of mathematics dedicated to analyzing games.

Department #2: Computer Science

The computer science department teaches an introductory understanding to facilitate communication and cooperation with programmers. This includes design of algorithms and specific theories and algorithms for programming computer graphic systems. It also includes a study of computer logic: set algebra, discrete functions, and prepositional logic.

Department #3: Design and Industry

Design and Industry department teaches how to design computer graphics, which computer games employ. This department teaches tools and techniques for interactive multimedia presentations. This department also teaches 3D computer graphic design tools and techniques, such as lighting, modeling, textures, and animation. This department teaches how to combine all these techniques to design an interactive 3D experience.

Department #4: Cinema

The cinema department teaches how to combine image, sound, dialogue, and motion to entertain an audience. This department teaches how to write characters, dialogue, and use image and sound to tell a story, elicit an emotional reaction, and set a mood. This department also teaches the fundamentals of writing for entertainment pre-production.

Conclusion

Twenty-First Century computer game design requires an interdisciplinary education. The computer game designer must design a product that passes professional standards of sound mathematics, programming, design, and visual storytelling. The professional game designer cooperates with a team of specialists in art or programming, so he must have a balanced foundation in the artistic and engineering sides of entertainment software to maximize his contribution to the team. On graduation I will re-enter the computer game industry with this academic foundation to establish a professional career in this role of computer game design.

Game Developer. November 2002
Page	Article	Course ID		Course Title
8	Famous3D ProFace Complete	DAI	575-04	Design Computer Graphics
16	Toward Better Scripting: Part 2	CSC	313	Data Structures
		MATH	226	Calculus I
20	Time for a Change	ART	231	Drawing I
		DAI	327	Digital Media I
24	You Write "Tymghte," I Say ‘To-mah-toe	CINE	355	Screenwriting I
28	The Godfather Paradox	CINE	200	Introduction to Cinema Studies
30	Modular Level and Component Design	DAI	575-05	Design of Virtual Worlds
36	Creating an Event-Driven Cinematic Camera: Part 2	CINE	202	Introduction to Filmmaking
		CSC	301	Fundamentals of Computer Science
		MATH	227	Calculus II

Online

Gamasutra.com <http://www.gamasutra.com> “The Art and Science of Game Development”. This includes several online articles <http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/article_display.php> available for free discussing the theory and practice of game design, especially in the “game design” feature section <http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/article_display.php?category=4>. And the Game Developers Convention contains a archives of lectures in game design <http://www.gdconf.com/archive>.

Books

Here is information on game design:

Morris, Dave and Andrew Rollins. Game Architecture and Design. Coriolis Publishing, 2000.
The industry's definitive text explains that: Game design includes creative writing, technical writing, game balance, game architecture and implementation.

Here is information on formal game theory:

Luce, R. Duncan and Howard Raiffa. Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey. Dover Publications: New York, 1957.
Although this text is obsolete (Jean-Pierre Langlois), it indicates which branches of mathematics are prerequisite to studying game theory. The mathematics of game theory includes: sets (385), stochastic processes (458), probabilistic theory of utility (371), statistical decision making (309), and linear programming (17, 408).

Education Institutions

These courses concur with the leading edge in computer game design degrees of other institutions. These courses share courses with DigiPen, Full Sail, and Academy of Arts course lists. These courses also correlate with the industry's legendary professionals' education.

Game design is a fast-growing field of serious education. Over one hundred universities or schools worldwide offer game industry degrees. Here are computer game design education examples:

DigiPen - Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Systems
http://www.digipen.edu/programs/rtis/rtis_bs.shtml
Detailed course list including computer science, art, math, and creative writing.
FullSail - Associate of Science in Game Design
http://www.fullsail.com/fs1/gd/main.html
Courses include computer science, math, creative writing, technical writing, and production.
GamaSutra.com Education
http://www.gamasutra.com/education/
This site lists many of the 100+ schools that offer game industry degrees. New schools added often.

Example Game Designers’ Education

Here are famous industry computer game designers with educations related to this major:

Famous game designers who studied mathematics: Alexey Pajitnov, the inventor of Tetris, studied mathematics. Reiner Knizia, the designer of award-winning board games, studied Mathematics. The inventor of Magic: The Gathering, the greatest collectible card game, studied statistics.
Famous game designers who studied computer science: Will Wright, designer of SimCity and The Sims studied programming. Sid Meier, the designer of Civilization, also studied programming.
Famous game designers who studied design: The creator of Donkey Kong, Mario, and many more Nintendo characters studied design. The creator of Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft studied design.
Famous game designers who studied cinema: The producer of Deus Ex and many prior computer games studied cinema. The producer of the Metal Gear Solid series studied cinema.