COSC 324 - Fall 2007
Usability in Game Design

Course Syllabus

--- Week 14 ---
Project Presentations

--- Week 13 ---
User Testing of Games

--- Week 12 ---
Usability Testing Procedures
and Reports

--- Week 11 ---
Case Studies

--- Week 10 ---
2D Graphics in
XNA Game Studio

--- Week 9 ---
Serious Games

--- Week 8 ---
Special Populations

--- Week 7 ---
Midterm Exam

--- Week 6 ---
Usability by Design

--- Week 5 ---
Emotions as Feedback

--- Week 4 ---
Usability Metrics &
Test Design

--- Week 3 ---
Usability Testing &
Playtesting of Games

--- Week 2 ---
Standards & Heuristics

--- Week 1 ---
Concepts of Usability

--- Support Files ---

Course Syllabus

Instructor Bio

Welcome Page

Thursdays, 2:00-3:20 pm and 8:15-9:40 pm
USG: III-2215
UB: Academic Center 219
and Supplemented on WebTycho
University of Baltimore

Instructor:
Kathleen Harmeyer
USG: III-3147
UB: AC 213 E, 410 837-5473
kharmeyer@ubalt.edu
iat.ubalt.edu/harmeyer
MSN IM: kmharmeyer@aol.com

Office Hour:

UB: Tuesdays, noon-2:00 pm
and Thursdays, 6:00- 8:00 pm
USG: Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 pm
and by appointment

Overview:
Course Web site: http://iat.ubalt.edu/courses

This course introduces the concepts of play design and systematic software testing to students of interactive simulation and computer gaming. Students learn basic principles of interface and software construction and apply them to practical problems of game evaluation, in the process learning principles that underlie good interaction and play design. Homework includes play sessions with computer games, accompanied by copious and detailed documentation. Readings cover theory of interaction design and digital entertainment.

Using the new Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express we will study how to design a game that is both easy to use and fun to play. Comparisons between classical usability for utility software and play testing for computer games will inform our development of user testing documents, usability testing episodes, and documentation for creative, engaging game play.

Materials for course:
XNA

XNA Game Studio Express

XNA Book

Text: Professional XNA Game Programming: For Xbox 360 and Windows. Author:Benjamin Nitschke. ISBN-10: 0470126779

Weekly topics:

  1. 10/30 - Introduction to concepts of usability
  2. 9/6 - Standards and heuristics
  3. 9/13 - Usability for games, Unreal TournamentTM analysis
  4. 9/20 - Usability testing and playtesting
  5. 9/27 - Usability metrics and test design
  6. 10/4 - Introduction to XNA
  7. 10/11 - Midterm Exam
  8. 10/18 - Designing for usability
  9. 10/25 - Serious games
  10. 11/1 - Games for special populations
  11. 11/8 - Case studies
  12. 11/15 - Usability testing procedures and reports
    13. 11/22 -- Thanksgiving Break --
  13. 11/29 - User testing for student games
  14. 12/6 - Presentations of student games and test results documents
  15. 12/13 - Presentations of student games and test results documents (if required)

Deliverables: Grading will consider the following effort

  1. XNA Game - 30%
  2. Usability report - 30%
  3. Midterm exam - 30%
  4. Assignments and class participation - 10%

Expectations:
All personal noise emitting electronic devices are unwelcome in this class. Should you have a specific reason why you are awaiting an important call such as imminent offspring delivery, please advise instructor in advance of class.

Students are expected to conduct themselves with the civility, honesty, effort and attendance commensurate with upper division standing of a student at a university. For more expansion on this topic consult the UB student handbook.

Update 10/30/07