IGB101 Interactive Media For Games

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Interactive media for games involves collaborative projects that combines multiple visual, sound and interactive mediums together to create engaging experiences. This unit introduces you to the creation of many different types of interactive media elements required during video game production and shows you how to effectively utilize them in 3D worlds. You will work with digital tools used during the digital asset creation pipeline and be exposed to design principles to learn good work practices for managing and collaborating on files. Audio production, image manipulation, object materials and even simplistic animation controller designs are explored as both individuals and groups. You will ultimately gain experience and confidence using essential technologies required to be effective, interactive media developers. Furthermore, you will gain an understanding of the myriad of legal issues relevant to the development of games and IP including as it relates to First Nation people.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and skills in the production of interactive media elements used in the production of both video and serious games.
2. Utilise a variety of digital tools, technologies and design philosophies to create interesting and effective works within 3D environments.
3. Create visual, audio and interactive assets and combine artefacts to produce engaging interactive media experiences, which can be included in a portfolio.
4. Discuss copyright and IP issues relating to interactive assets and correctly protect and/or attribute work.
5. Work effectively as an individual and/or as a team member to create game assets using appropriate file management/sharing protocols.
6. Communicate in writing your professional capabilities, design ideas, design processes and planning of your project.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit uses a project-based learning pedagogy, where you will be given small real-world challenges and design briefs requiring you to work independently and at times to collaborate with your peers in interdisciplinary teams to achieve project outcomes using industry-standard software and the application of agile development processes including scrums. Regular scrums will provide you and your peers with the opportunity to receive formative feedback on your progress as well as to discuss project challenges. Working in a team is an important component of designing games, and as such, this unit will introduce you to the principles of effective teamwork. The independent and collaborative project artefacts produced in this unit will be incorporated into your professional portfolio, which will be established as part of Assessment Task 1. This portfolio will be used across the degree to support the development and showcasing of your employability skills. 

As a first year unit, your learning will be carefully guided and scaffolded by the teaching staff, but you will be expected to develop some self-directed learning capabilities to facilitate your transition from dependent to independent learner across the degree. However, the teaching staff is available to answer your questions during scheduled classes, via Discord or by making appointment. 

Learning in this unit includes weekly lectures, hands-on-workshops and a unit communications channel, designed to facilitate communication with your peers and teaching staff outside of scheduled classes. You can expect to spend between 10 - 15 hours per week on average involved in attending all scheduled lectures and workshops, completing assessment tasks, and undertaking your own independent study to consolidate your learning.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will have a range of opportunities to receive feedback on your learning and progress in this unit including formative in-class individual or whole-of-class feedback on your work by tutors and peers as well as individual feedback on assessment tasks via a rubric and written feedback. Individual consultations with your tutor can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.

Assessment

Overview

You will be required to undertake three assessment tasks in this unit, which provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to meet the unit learning outcomes. The first task is an individual portfolio, which will be added to and extended across the entire degree. The second task is a group project, designed to commence the development of important employability and technical skills including collaboration skills, file management conventions, scrum techniques and a range of foundational interactive media skills.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Establishing your professional identity

Using the principles of creating a professional online identity discussed in classes, you are required to create a professional LinkedIn profile and an online portfolio, which will be updated and extended as you progress through the degree.

Assessment: Asset Development and Integration

You are required to develop a variety of assets for use in a 3D game environment that combine into a comprehensive and interesting player experience. This will take the form of audio, music, textures and effects necessary to pull off a targeted, intended player experience. Assets will mostly be made from scratch using additional development tools and technologies, with work in progress being visible throughout the asset development. Undertaking this assignment is an individual experience and will assist in giving you experience working with technologies and familiar and unfamiliar concepts. As part of this assessment you will be expected to discuss any IP and copyright issues. Formative feedback on this assessment task will be available during workshops.

Assessment: Advanced Asset Utilisation

You will collaborate in a team environment using scrum techniques and processes. Your team are required to expand upon their understanding from previous weeks and the previous assignment, by incorporating newly developed assets in a group project that dives deeper into their intricacy and utilisation. Your team will explore and implement advanced interactive media concepts such as level of detail, particle systems, audio controllers and animation controller usage. The intention is to make specific use of video game interactive media, developing a familiarity and understanding of their necessity during game development. As part of this assessment you will be expected to discuss any IP and copyright issues and to undertake a self and peer evaluation. Feedback on the project progress will be discussed at regular scrums held during workshops.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

You will need access to a set of headphones to undertake sound and video editing.

Resources

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

Janke, T. (2021). True tracks : respecting Indigenous knowledge and culture. UNSW Press.

Other

Canvas site

QUT has a range of free resources, workshops or you can even organise a chat with a Career Educator to help with career planning, employability, and employment options.

The Student Success Groups' Teamwork module will be available in this unit to assist you to develop your teamwork skills.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

IN05 Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments

1. Demonstrate broad knowledge of games and interactive environments principles and theory, with an in-depth knowledge of one games-related discipline.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, ULO5, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation
2. Apply creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to generate solutions to design challenges.
   Relates to: ULO3, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation
3. Create engaging and meaningful games experiences for specific target audiences in partnership with diverse industry and community stakeholders using industry-relevant software and technologies..
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation
4. Collaborate effectively in transdisciplinary teams to achieve shared goals and to manage projects in professional contexts.
   Relates to: ULO5, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation
5. Communicate complex concepts at all stages of the development cycle to specialist and non-specialist audiences in written, oral and interactive visual formats.
   Relates to: ULO6, Establishing your professional identity, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation
6. Critically reflect on social, ethical, cultural, legal and accessibility issues in the context of games and interactive environments, including as they relate to First Nations Australians.
   Relates to: ULO4, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation
7. Evidence the development of your learning, professional capabilities and skills through creating a curated portfolio of work.
   Relates to: ULO3, ULO6, Establishing your professional identity, Asset Development and Integration, Advanced Asset Utilisation