\n\n\u003cUpdatePictureProductionFolder\n imagePath=\"/image-src/news/2016/SpaceInvaders.jpg\"\n alt = \"Space rock shooter game screenshot for game prototyping class at Lousiana State University (LSU)\"\n useFigure={true}\n caption=\"Space rock shooter game screenshot for game prototyping class at Lousiana State University (LSU)\"\n/>\n\u003cbr/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr />\n\nNonetheless, on the fifth day we were all pretty tired of learning, so I let the students work on either a new project or download free assets from the Unity Asset Store to add to game projects we'd created that week. Between answering their questions or helping them debug, I worked on a little \"game\" that is an homage to the old board game \"Mousetrap\", where you have a ball that rolls around a Rube-Goldberg-esque environment. \n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr />\n\n\n\n\u003cbr />\n\n\n\n\u003cbr />\n","headline":"Introduction to Video Game Creation","image":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/images/news/2015/mouseTrap-1200.jpg","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/news/2016/2016-08-04-intro-to-videogame-creation","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LSU Digital Media Arts & Engineering","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/icons/icon-192x192.png"}}}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":7,"item":{"@type":"NewsArticle","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Marc Aubanel"},"datePublished":"2016-07-31 12:00:00","description":"\u003cspan className=\"h6\"> Art 4020 | Video Game Prototyping \u003c/span>\u003cbr />\nIn Fall 2016 we are offering **Art 4240 Video Game Prototyping** for those interested in developing light weight video game **prototypes**. Learn industry tips and techniques in creating compelling and original video game sketches. \n\nGreat video games usually start with a series of very simple prototypes. Maybe it is a new art and animation technique, maybe it is a new AI system or maybe it is a new core game mechanic. Since games are poorly described by words alone, prototypes act as powerful examples of expressing an interactive idea. As a team leader on multiple **AAA Video Games** we would never move forward without a convincing prototype. \n\nNo prior game development or programming experience is required for the class.\n\nVideo game prototyping is a combination of interactive design, scripting, audio design and animation. It requires a strong combination of narrative and interactive creativity. \n\nIn the class we use GameMaker as it allows us to quickly develop prototypes with minimal scripting. Game Maker Language (GML) is a **c** based language. Even though GameMaker is a 2-D Software Development Environment; most 3-D game mechanics can be simulated. An idea could then be taken to Unreal or to Unity to develop in 3-D later on. \n\n**The class is split into two parts:**\n\u003cbr />\n\u003cspan className=\"h4\"> Part 1 \u003c/span>\u003cbr />\n\n\n1. Cover common design patterns in game development including movement, path finding, targeting, game managers, state machines and basic AI systems\n\n2. We will learn these through developing classic 2-D genres such as shooters, adventure and platform games\n\n3. We will look at techniques for stitching animations, developing repeatable tiles and basic level design strategies\n\n4. Students will extend these in class exercises by adding features to these in \nclass prototypes \n\n\u003cbr/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cspan className=\"h4\"> Part 2 \u003c/span>\u003cbr />\nStudents will work in teams and/or by themselves to develop 4 fully original video game prototypes. Themes will be assigned - and students will need to find the best way of representing the concept in an interactive prototype. Class time will focus on helping students achieve their creative vision.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr />\n\u003cspan className=\"h4\"> Class Philosophy \u003c/span>\u003cbr />\nThis class is practice based and requires a commitment of both time and effort. Learning any new language requires a lot of practice and application. All class scripting sessions will also be included on-line for future reference. Creativity is rewarded - the key to a successful prototype is to work outside your comfort zone and take creative risks.\n\n\n\n","headline":"Video Game Prototyping","image":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/images/news/2015/VideoGamePrototyping-1200.jpg","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/news/2016/2016-07-31-videogame-prototyping","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LSU Digital Media Arts & Engineering","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/icons/icon-192x192.png"}}}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":8,"item":{"@type":"NewsArticle","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Marc Aubanel"},"datePublished":"2016-07-29 09:00:00","description":"\nWe just finished up another round of summer camps at CCT for 2016. In this summer camp students were able to work in a team and make a game of their choosing. We had around 20 middle school and high school students who have not programmed a game before and we introduced them to Game Maker Language (GML) - a **c** like scripting language. We stayed away from the drag and drop features and instead got them comfortable with writing scripts. This is the third time I have taught it; and the format has been roughly the same. \n\nIn the first two days we built a classic 2-D game (1942 arcade game, Space Invaders, Top Down Adventure Game) and learn a bit about the software development environment, game design, art creation, audio, basic algorithms and tuning. With only two days of instruction they are off creating their own games.\n\nWe start off with just moving sprites within the main game loop. We look at three ways of movement:\n\n1. Changing the sprite x & y position\n2. Changing the physics on the sprite (hspeed and vspeed)\n3. Moving it using angles and speed\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr />\nWe proceeded to make a top down adventure game where players could move around a level, trigger dialog and launch a projectile. We implemented rudimentary collision detection so players couldn't pass through walls. We looked at:\n\n1. Importing sprite sheets for animating player\n2. Importing tile sheets for background level artwork\n3. Moving the player and switching animation states\n4. Basic finite state machine for player and object states\n5. Level design strategies\n6. More advanced scripting\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr /> \n\nThen the students had two and a half days to make a game of their choice. The teams formed organically as friendships formed during the first two days of the camp. I am amazed at how awkward team formation is for people. I am always surprised that people naturally find others within their ability levels with similar interests. Organically teams form quite well even though the process of getting there is fairly awkward. \n\nWe had teams working on puzzle, fighting, adventure, and platforming games. Every team got at least one level up and running and all prototypes were complete. Normally we have one or two teams that don't work well together or find the challenge to daunting, but this camp had successful projects from all teams.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr /> \n\nAt the end each team presented in the large theater. Some interesting personalities emerged with more reserved students in class being very outgoing in front of a crowd. After the students showed off their games, parents came into the classroom to try the games out for themselves. I hope that they continue their work outside of the camp and continue to make video games on their own time.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","headline":"Game Crash 2016","image":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/images/news/2015/GameCrash2016-1200.jpg","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/news/2016/2016-07-29-gamecrash-summercamp","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LSU Digital Media Arts & Engineering","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/icons/icon-192x192.png"}}}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":9,"item":{"@type":"NewsArticle","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ken Wesley"},"datePublished":"2016-07-19 12:36:00","description":"\nThose of us working on video games, CGI, or VFX could be applying knowledge and techniques from the world of traditional Art, but few of us have had the formal education about these things that could improve and enrich our digital work. \n\n\nI'll be teaching a class this Fall for graduates and undergraduates that will cover art concepts and which will allow each student to begin developing skills using traditional materials that can add depth to their digital work. \nTopics will include: \n\n\n* gesture drawing\n* contour drawing\n* figure drawing\n* color theory and composition\n\nWe'll see how the work of the masters of the traditional arts can help us better use tools such as: \n \n* lighting\n* color scripting\n* storyboarding\n* production design\n* better camera compositions\n\nWe'll be sketching, exploring new ideas, improving our observational skills, and using these tools in our digital work to try new things and make it better.\n\nThe class is Art 4240 and will be meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:30 this Fall. Come join your instructor, Ken Wesley, topic-chosen guest instructors, and your fellow classmates for a new way of looking at the world.","headline":"Traditional Art Concepts & Techniques for Digital Imagery","image":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/images/news/2015/Traditional-Art-Concepts-1200.jpg","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/news/2016/2016-07-19-traditional-art-concepts","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LSU Digital Media Arts & Engineering","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/icons/icon-192x192.png"}}}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":10,"item":{"@type":"NewsArticle","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ken Wesley"},"datePublished":"2016-07-12 14:00:00","description":"\nA couple of months ago, just before the end of the LSU Spring semester, Baton Rouge hosted its [2016 Red Stick Festival](https://www.facebook.com/redstickfestival/), the annual international event which celebrates technology, art, entertainment, and exploration . One of the exceedingly awesome programs at this year's Red Stick was a concert/performance given by members of Jesse Allison's Experimental Music Class. \n\nThis event was staged beneath (and projected on) the large planetarium dome of the [Louisiana Art & Science Museum](https://www.facebook.com/theLASM/) . One of _DMAE's_ very own, **Brandon Bailey**, was in Jesse's class and he contributed to the program with a stunning audio-visual piece that he gave the title \"Lost Nebula\". Brandon created the visuals (including rendering) using the game creation software Unity, and then composed and recorded some of his typically brilliant and unique music to accompany these pictures. Here's a video of Brandon's \\\"Lost Nebula\\\". Great work, Brandon!\n\n\n\n","headline":"Lost Nebula (Entagled Spaces)","image":"https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/581216403-c137c80ba7e3533efbc076e584ebf8ea5046a23d6352fa4650af552a3dadec34-d_1280?region=us","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/news/2016/2016-07-12-lost-nebula","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LSU Digital Media Arts & Engineering","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/icons/icon-192x192.png"}}}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":11,"item":{"@type":"NewsArticle","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Marc Aubanel"},"datePublished":"2016-06-13 14:00:00","description":"\nLSU held the first **Video Game Symposium** on April 21st at the Digital Media Center on campus. On hand we had Dan Ayoub and Josh Holmes who are studio leaders at 343 Industries who build Halo for Microsoft. We also had a talk by Edward Kilham who worked on early hits such as Start Wars Tie Fighter and Robo Sport and is now at Electronic Arts and is working on FIFA. Daniel Dociu and Drew Cady came from NC Soft who both work on Guild Wars 2. We also had guests from Heavy Iron, Nintendo, Amazon, Guild Software, Gearbox Software, Turbo Squid, High Voltage Games, InXile and Skybound Interactive. Students and local studios showed off games they have been working on over the past couple of years and a good time was had by all. A complete list of all talks is available on the website. For more information you can see the story in the [Advocate](http://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/15534919-123/red-stick-powers-up-with-local-video-game-symposium)\n\n\n\n","headline":"LSU Video Game Symposium","image":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/images/news/2015/lsuvideogamesymposium-1200.jpg","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/news/2016/2016-06-13-lsu-game-symposium","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LSU Digital Media Arts & Engineering","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmae.lsu.edu/icons/icon-192x192.png"}}}}]}}