navigation

syllabus
assignments
class blog

Audio in Games COSC 414.001

Spring 2008
Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
Venue: Academic Center Rm 219
1st class meeting: January 30
Instructor: Jessieca Chee May McNamara
jmcnamara@ubalt.edu

Welcome to the web page of the Game Audio class, a core class in University of Baltimore’s Simulation and Digital Entertainment program.

Through the course of this class, this site and your blog will contain all information for this class. Stay tuned for updates.

Materials

Office Hours

Thursday 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm AC 114E and by appointment only.

Why take this class?

What makes a game truly immersive? Two words: Brilliant audio [For this class, audio is defined as music and sound.] Don’t believe me, play your favorite console game muted. Do you get the same rush?

In this class, we will first trace the roots of game music to classical music, film music and world music. You will also explore how audio works to create an effective gaming experience, which you will then put into practice.

Weekly work

Throughout this class, you will be assigned readings and mini assignments in the form of 2-3 page response papers on our various topics. Another important component of this class is to maintian a class blog where we will discuss class topics or use them to springboard to other relevant topics. It is your responsibility to complete them as they will count towards your class progress and participation grade.

General Policies

  1. Cell phones and other noise-emitting devices are the bane of my existence. It is a sign of disrespect and ill breeding should your devices sound off during my class and I will politely answer your phone for you if it sounds. Should you have some emergency where it is imperative that someone contacts you during class, please put your phone on vibrate and where possible discuss the situation with me prior to that class.

  2. As upper division students, you will be expected to conduct yourselves with respect, honesty and civility in your interactions with your fellow classmates and me.

Academic Policies

  1. I will not tolerate plagiarism. You will fail this class and in all likelihood jeopardize your career. Give credit to the work of others Do not be tempted to copy and paste information from the web or other sources and pass it off as your own. For official University policy, please consult http://www.ubalt.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/.

  2. Be very mindful of your spelling and grammar. Sloppy grammatical presentation in EVERY SINGLE writing assignment including your response papers will lose you points.

  3. Use MLA or Turabian New Chicago format in your papers and all papers must be typed. Also, use the standard Times New Roman 12 point and double-space all assignments.

  4. Honor due dates as noted in this syllabus. Unless you discuss your reasons with me, late work will earn you a docked letter grade each day that it is late. We all have emergencies that arise so please discuss them with me. Unreasonably late work will simply not be accepted.

  5. Audio work should be burnt to CD-Rs.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to come to class on time and stay the entire class period. If you must miss class for genuine reasons, it is imperative that you contact me PRIOR to class. It is your responsibility to be caught up with missed material and in-class assigned assignments. Your grade will be heavily affected if you have 3 or more unexplained absences.

Grading scheme

Class Participation (3%) & Response Papers (7%) 10%
Assignment 1- Presentation on video game composers 15%
Assignment 2- Game Analysis 15%
Presentation 2 15%
Assignment 3- VoiceWork & Environment 15%
Final Assignment- Audio redesign of game 45%