Computer Science
CS 7480: SpTp in PL: PLandToolsVrtlWlrd
Lecture - 4 credits
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- Description: Designing interactive, virtual worlds (such as video game environments and virtual meeting spaces) is a multidisciplinary endeavor requiring an understanding of interaction design, user experience, and programming.
- A plethora of programming languages and authoring tools have been created to lower the barrier to entry and increase the expressive capability of virtual world designers, in media ranging from text to 2D graphics to 3D virtual reality, separating the complexities of the game engine from the higher-level “scripting” of objects and behaviors.
- Languages like Inform and Ink help authors craft text-based interactions, while tools like PuzzleScript, Kodu, and GameMaker embed custom languages for scripting object behavior in 2D and 3D simulations.
- In this class, students will gain hands-on experimentation with these languages and tools through short weekly assignments, as well as read research papers that describe and evaluate their designs, which will be discussed during class meetings.
- In addition to learning to work with existing tools and documentation, students will learn to identify the affordances and constraints, edit and contribute to documentation, and thoughtfully critique these tools.
- The final project will consist of a deep dive into a tool of each students’ choosing, culminating in a final presentation.
Description: Designing interactive, virtual worlds (such as video game environments and virtual meeting spaces) is a multidisciplinary endeavor requiring an understanding of interaction design, user experience, and programming. Show more.