This unit will introduce students to the underlying principles of computer graphics in games. Relevant mathematics will be covered, with focus on vectors and matrices. This theory will be placed into the games context and put into practice in a game engine environment. This will provide a foundation for the manipulation of graphics and content in future games programming classes and development.
2hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorials/wk
Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit.
This will include:
Lectures: 2 hours per week
Tutorial/Lab Sessions: 2 hours per week
and up to an additional 8 hours in some weeks for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.
Matthew Butler
Consultation hours: See the unit website for consultation details
Matthew Butler
Consultation hours: See the unit website for consultation details
Elliott Wilson
Consultation hours: See the unit website for consultation details
Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lab Portfolio Submission 1 | 5% | Friday, 17 August 12pm |
| Lab Portfolio Submission 2 | 10% | Friday, 7 September 12pm |
| Lab Portfolio Submission 3 (inc. Code Portfolio) | 15% | Friday 12 October 12pm |
| Unit Test | 10% | Thursday 13 September 4pm |
| Examination 1 | 60% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
Previous feedback has highlighted that one of the main strengths of the unit is that it is a good blend of theoretical concept and also coding examples. This will be continued and improved through more examples this semester. Students have also indicated that the portfolio nature of the assessment items, as well as the semester test all worked well. As a consequence the nature of assessment will remain the same.
Students feedback also informed some improvements to the unit. More examples were suggested and will be included in the teaching materials. A suggestion to improve wording of some portfolio questions was made so will be taken into account when preparing new assessment items. It was also suggested that all assessment submission be electronic, which will be the case this semester.
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.
Dunn and Parberry. (2002). 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development. (1st) Wordware.
While the text listed is not mandatory and required resources will be made available on the unit website, this text will prove a valuable resource for your study. The text will be available in print form through the Caulfield Bookshop, and is also available at a reduced price in digital form through Amazon.com
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 and the Microsoft XNA Game Studio development environments will be used in the laboratory classes to place the theoretical game math principles we cover into their appropriate practical context. While it is not essential that students have these development tools, they can help in unit revision. These tools are available free of charge via the Faculty of IT MSDNAA webpage: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/itsupport/msdnaa.html
Please refer to the unit website for more information regarding the final examination.
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Unit Overview,the Cartesian Coordinate System and Multiple Coordinate Spaces (Ch. 1 - 3) | |
| 2 | An Intro to Vectors and Vector Operations (Ch. 4 & 5) | |
| 3 | Vectors in Practice (Ch. 6) | |
| 4 | An Introduction to Matrices (Ch. 7) | Lab Portfolio Submission 1 (Vectors) due: Friday 17th August 12pm |
| 5 | Matrices and Linear Transformations (Ch. 8) | |
| 6 | Further Operations on Matrices (Ch. 9) | |
| 7 | Orientation and Angular Displacement (Ch. 10) | Lab Portfolio Submission 2 (Matrices) due: Friday 7th September 12pm |
| 8 | Unit Test - Vectors and Matrices | Unit Test (covering weeks 1-6): Thursday 13th September 4pm |
| 9 | Transformations in Practice (Ch. 11) | |
| 10 | Movement and Collisions (Ch. 12 & 13) | |
| 11 | Cameras and Case Study (Ch. 15) | Lab Portfolio Submission 3 (Game Math) and Code Portfolio due: Friday 12th October 12pm |
| 12 | Revision | |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
Specific criteria for assessment will be provided on the unit website. However the portfolio work will be judged on the following broad critera:
Late assignments will incur a 5% penalty per late day (including weekends), and may be submitted up to a maximum of 7 days late. After this time submissions will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the unit leader.
Specific criteria for assessment will be provided on the unit website. However the portfolio work will be judged on the following broad critera:
Late assignments will incur a 5% penalty per late day (including weekends), and may be submitted up to a maximum of 7 days late. After this time submissions will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the unit leader.
Specific criteria for assessment will be provided on the unit website. Feedback will be provided on your progress to facilitate for improvements for your exam preparation. However the portfolio work will be judged on the following broad critera:
Late assignments will incur a 5% penalty per late day (including weekends), and may be submitted up to a maximum of 7 days late. After this time submissions will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the unit leader.
Specific detail will be provided on the unit website. Feedback will be provided on your progress to facilitate for improvements for your exam preparation.
The test will be conducted in class. Students will not be permitted to sit the test at another time without formal Special Consideration forms submitted and approved by the chief examiner.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Students may not resubmit assignments after the due date has passed.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
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