Admission requirements
Not applicable
Description
This course is meant for students outside the faculty of science, who have little or no preliminary knowledge of programming. It offers a basic introduction in Stencyl, an accessible tool for creating computer games, and the visual programming language 'Scratch'. In 10 classes, students will learn how to use Stencyl to develop a simple computer game. In this way, students will also get acquainted with the basic principles of programming in general. In addition to teaching the basics in game programming, this course aims at allowing students to obtain a deeper understanding of the ways in which the technological aspects of the medium shape their rhetorical, visual, narrative, and kinetic dimensions. This will help students to become well-informed game critics, and better critics of contemporary popular culture.
Course objectives
After this course, students have obtained
a basic understanding of the key principles of programming;
a basic understanding of the way in which computer games are programmed;
insight in the way in which a specific game making program influences the game play, game world, visual aesthetics, etc. of a computer game;
the ability to write a program for a simple computer game with the help of Stencyl;
the basic skills to participate in the upcoming Hackathon (Semester 2).
Timetable
The timetable is available on the website.
Mode of instruction
Seminars
Assessment method
Successful creation of a simple computer game.
Resit
A resit is offered for all assignments.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used to provide students with additional information/reading material.
Reading list
Throughout the course students are asked to play a selection of short video games. The specific games for that week are presented at the end of each lecture.
Course Requirements
It is strongly recommended that students bring a laptop to class to take part in practical components of the class.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for classes, exams and final papers is mandatory.
Contact information
For questions about the content of the course, you can contact the teacher Mr. Marcello Gómez Maureira MSc
Student administration: Van Wijkplaats
Coordinator of studies: ms. drs. E.M.T.Poolman
Remarks
For more information please check the website of the study program Film and Literature Studies