CMPM - Computational Media

Students participate in two exploratory reading groups on topics related to ongoing research activities. Students read a selection of 8-10 papers providing a general overview and introduction to active research areas within each topic. May be repeated for credit. This class can be taken for Pass/No Pass credit only.

Introduction to design thinking and the engineering design cycle via a design-build-evaluate-iterate process, resulting in a functional artifact. Students work in groups while learning discipline-specific standards of good engineering practice. Specific project details and disciplines explored vary with instructor. No prerequisites or prior learning required.

Introduces theory and techniques of 3D computer graphics. Topics include: capabilities of modern graphics hardware; 3D coordinate spaces; modeling with polygons; NURBS and subdivision surfaces; applying textures and materials; lighting; and simple effects. Students develop proficiency in 3D modeling via lectures and assignments focused on the use of a 3D modeling tool.

Introduces theories and techniques of 3D computer animation. Topics include: character animation; rigging; simulation of cloth, liquids, and fire; motion capture; rendering; and editing animated scenes. Students develop proficiency in 3D animation via lectures and assignments focused on the use of a 3D animation tool and use of motion-capture software.

Introduction to the development of physically based materials in Substance Designer and Substance Painter. These are then applied to a range of character and machine models within either the Blender or Maya 3D modeling applications.

Introduction to common data structures, algorithms that operate on them, and techniques for implementation. Uses digital authoring of interactive media as a frame to motivate asymptotic (big-O) analysis of design scalability. Students will program in a strongly typed language.

Overview of the physical, psychological, cultural, and psychosocial aspects of disability and how they impact game play. Discusses implications for universal and accessible game design.

As AI technologies start to integrate and permeate our everyday lives, we become aware of how they impact our lives and the biases inherent in these systems. Course introduces Human-Centered AI, investigating humanistic values and issues of a variety of current AI systems, including those in your car, on your phone (e.g., Siri), on public streets (delivery robots), and at different vendors. Introduces various societal, economic, and humanistic issues such as bias, trust, and accountability, and delves into methods that can be used to design more human-centered AI systems.

Introduces students to Human Computer Interaction (HCI) as a field, using their everyday experience with technology as a starting point. Students learn key HCI concepts and concerns in lectures, and try out HCI design techniques in sections.

Examines games as technical and cultural artifacts—shaped by society and, in turn, shaping it. Core topics are traced over time, including social, technical, and artistic topics (for example: conceptions of war, platform affordances, and genre evolution).

Explores how video games (and games broadly) shape experiences and express ideas. Students develop novel games, interpret games, and survey related topics. No programming experience is required. All offerings support students with required synchronous section meetings and optional synchronous events.

 

Provides a framework for leadership in entrepreneurial organizations. Topics include leading with authenticity, motivation and personality, storytelling, teamwork and management, organizational culture and processes. Learning is integrated with practice through deep engagement with entrepreneurial leaders and a time-intensive entrepreneurial project. (Formerly Technology and Information Management 80L.)

Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Game writers create worlds, characters, and stories—and also craft computational systems so players can experience these fictions interactively. This course covers the fundamentals of authoring fictions and systems that work together toward powerful player experiences. All offerings support students with required synchronous section meetings.

Students work in teams to develop a template for a 10-week-long engineering design project. Teaches teamwork, leadership skills, inclusive team practices, Agile process, engineering ethics, and identity formation in engineers.

Guides small student teams through the performance of a quarter-long research project. Provides an overview of the process of performing research, research communities, and processes for finding and presenting research results.

Teaches the concrete programming and collaboration skills associated with making a digital game from start to finish, including but not limited to: establishing a team, concepting, storyboarding, prototyping, producing, and testing a game for release. Students are organized into groups and work together to create and produce a playable game.

Advanced game programming focused on software design patterns and refactoring. Introduces classic software design patterns, as well as game programming patterns. Introduces software refactoring, including code smells and widely used refactoring patterns.

Ten-week course to provide instruction on important business topics for videogame creators—many related to the games themselves and others for pursuing success in bringing the games to customers: publishing, distribution, marketing, funding, operations, and more.

Course introduces students to current and emerging advanced programming methods used in building complex, high-performance, and networked interactive media systems. Students use tools like debuggers and profiles to inspect and resolve software performance bottlenecks in a compiled language.

Introduction to construction of games using game engine technology, using a specific game engine as a focus. Covers major game engine features: input, collision, animation, model import, lighting, camera, rendering, textures, particle systems. Introduction to a specific game scripting language, custom game logic, game programming patterns. (Formerly offered as CMPM 121.)

Students develop skills and interactive prototypes for addressing three communication challenges: first, software itself communicating with interactors; second, developers of software communicating about the design of the software's interactions and users' experiences; and third, communicating results of design processes.

Theories and practices for approaching the design problems of interactive media holistically, beyond usability and accessibility. Includes hands-on learning, application of human-centered design and evaluation skills in group projects, and peer critique.

Practice-based interaction design studio course. Students learn about design-led approaches to Human-Computer Interaction through participating in group projects. Course offers introductions to design methods and actionable strategies to do interaction design work and design-led technology research.

Examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in games. Covers core AI technologies for search, control, and learning, and the application of AI to improve game design, development, and game play. Examines the AI content in multiple commercial games. This is an online class; most lectures are asynchronous. The weekly lab is synchronous, focused on Q&A and group discussion of work in progress.

Introduces generative methods for design. Uses algorithmic techniques to generate and evaluate game content (images, sounds, map designs) along with mechanics and progression systems. Search-based and learning-based techniques with connections to artificial intelligence are also covered.

Covers a range of design approaches and technologies including storytelling in games, interactive fiction, interactive drama, and artificial intelligence-based story generation. Through a mixture of readings, assignments, and project work, students explore the theoretical positions, debates, and technical and design issues arising from these approaches.

Introduces digital sound recording and editing technologies, sound synthesis, and concepts in sound design for media production. Covers the basics of sound capture, microphones, audio manipulation and editing, effects, sound formats, mixing and dynamics, synthesizers, audio software, and game audio.

Introduces compositional techniques and procedural audio as exhibited in the sound and music of video games. Surveys different styles of music implemented in video games and associated compositional approaches. Students develop skill in procedural audio via a series of workshops and assignments.

Surveys the relationship between music and data as exhibited in industry and research implementations of sonification and music information retrieval. Students introduced to various styles and algorithms of sound analysis and modeling and develop skills to program unique approaches in this area.

Introduces real-time, hardware-accelerated graphics programming suitable for game development, visual effects, and interactive multimedia projects. Emphasizes contemporary shader-programming techniques and developing custom effects using game engines and multimedia software.

Covers the graphic elements in computer games. Topics include modifying, optimizing, adding components, and building a game engine. Course evaluation based on exams and several programming projects, including a game built using the student's game engine.

Provides hands-on experience in using, designing, and building game engines. Students also explore different special effects, such as particle systems, spring systems, and game physics.

Surveys seminal and contemporary artworks and interactive installations that utilize and critically analyze new media, new technologies, and new algorithms. Students introduced to creative coding practices and encouraged to emulate existing digital arts techniques and to develop their own computational arts projects.

First of a three-course capstone sequence for the computer game design program. Students work in teams to develop a comprehensive game design for a substantial computer game, including detailed storyline, level design, artistic approach, implementation technologies, and art-asset pipeline. Emphasis placed on creating novel, artistic game design concepts. Includes design reviews and formal presentations. Companion lectures cover advanced topics in game design, game programming, and software project management.

Students work in teams to create a fully-functional subset ("vertical slice") of an interactive, playable software system. Focus is on experience design, systems design, integrating assets (visual, auditory, and written), testing, and project management. May be repeated for credit. (Formerly offered as Game Design Studio II.)

Students work in teams to produce fully functional games based on previously developed game subsets. Focus on production including scaling, long-term player experience, teaching mechanics through interaction, developing multi-stage narratives/scenarios, and varying gameplay as players develop new understandings and abilities. Prerequisite(s): CMPM 171, or by instructor permission. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. Formerly offered as Game Design Studio III.

Presents game design as the interplay of multiple interacting game systems. Surveys various game systems: movement, combat, reward, economic, logistics, quest, information visibility, narrative. Students explore systems via study, design, and play of board, card, and computer games.

Surveys tactical, structural, contextual, and other methods to enhance creativity and innovation in the design of games and other interactive media. Investigates strategies for creativity and innovation drawn from diverse fields, including interactive affordances, narrative and poetics, biology, contextual inquiry, and design research. To innovate in a field of fixed genres is challenging: the allure of modeling exemplars is strong. Although imitation can be successful in the marketplace, the most creative action occurs on the leading edge of change. Innovation benefits from strategies and methods that are directly aimed at exploring new perspectives and structures to learn through the process of discovery.

Students move through a rigorous design-research process involving skills and principles in human-centered design research as well as selected formal research methods. They learn to use tools for ideation, human-centered qualitative research, domestic probes, mock-ups, and prototypes.

Provides the opportunity to practice the creation of novel computer games. Students learn a new game-making technology, then create three games using this technology.

Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Intended for majors. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Intended for majors. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

For fourth-year students majoring in computational media. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

For fourth-year students majoring in computational media. Students submit a petition to the sponsoring agency.

Provides a broad foundation in the history, theory, and contemporary practice of computational media, examining its roots in a variety of fields and current structures of participation. Also covers a selection of key critical lenses for understanding computational media.

Overview of computational media research strategies. Includes case studies of how particular projects were defined and completed and how interdisciplinary concerns have been successfully integrated. Considers the expressive and authorial affordances of different system architecture approaches.

Overview of major methods in computational media research. Includes non-numerical methods such as playtesting, arts critique, ethnographic observation, and humanistic interpretation. Also includes numerically oriented methods such as survey instruments, data mining, user experiments, and characterizing expressive/generative spaces.

Students define the topic, approach, and scope for an M.S. thesis or project. Includes discussion of successful past projects and theses, visits from faculty presenting open problems, reviews of related literature, topic and timeline presentations, and critiques.

Covers skills for finding relevant literature for a novel research topic, integrating that literature, and communicating the results. Also covers how to select work for a research portfolio, present that work, and describe contributions. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. Prerequisite(s): CMPM 201, CMPM 202, and CMPM 203 for an understanding of media creation and computer programming; good standing in the Ph.D. program. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Introduces the topic of game data science, where students use game data to understand players' behaviors. Goes through the process of data collection, processing, cleaning, visualization, analysis and reporting in detail. Covers the fundamental tools, methods, and principles of data science, including the feature extraction and selection, pattern recognition. Uses outputs of such methods to help derive design decisions concerning churn analysis and user segmentation.

Psychology plays an important aspect in users' engagement and understanding psychological aspects that can affect users as they interact with technology. This course discusses theories of motivation, perception, emotions, personality, and preferences. Also discusses how such theories affect users' interaction with technologies, such as games, social media, mobile application, and other common technologies used today. Also reviews new papers and results showing the types of models affecting users engagement and their influence and use in the different phases of design or development.

Presents a variety of evaluation methodologies to assess usability, acceptance, and effectiveness of technology with the intended users. Combines lectures and exercises for students to gain firsthand experiences of these methodologies with real users.

Study of current topics in human-robot interaction design and research. Topics vary, but are expected to include how people think, act, and behave around robotic agents; telepresence and teleoperated robotics; applications of human-robot systems; collaborative robotics; and social robotics.

Provides an interdisciplinary view of computational systems and human interaction, with an emphasis on human-computer interaction and algorithmic economics. Students learn about seminal and cutting-edge research contributions and methodologies, and carry out a quarter-long research project. (Formerly Technology and Information Management 243.)

The use of AI techniques to enable new player interactions, game mechanics, and genres. Combines elements from academic AI and machine learning with industry game AI techniques. Includes lecture and paper discussions as well as AI programming exercises and projects.

Covers wide range of practices including hypertext, interactive fiction, embedded narratives in games, interactive drama, and artificial intelligence-based story generation. Through a mixture of readings, assignments, and project work, explores the theoretical positions, debates, and technical and design issues arising from these different approaches.

In-depth exploration of algorithms for the automated generation of 2D and 3D models and content. Covers multiple approaches, including noise, grammars, genetic algorithms and programming, parametric design, and answer-set programming. Includes application of techniques to computer-game content and level design.

Investigates how new immersive display technologies and interaction techniques can support analytical reasoning and decision making in a variety of contexts.

Introduces contemporary techniques in deep learning focusing on the application of these techniques to a range of tasks related to art and design outputs.

Graduate seminar with speakers from academia and industry. Covers state of the art research and industry trends in Computational Media and related areas.

Covers advanced topics and current research in creative coding as it intersects computational media. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students and by permission of instructor. This class can be taken for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory credit only.

Weekly seminar covering advanced topics and current research in generative methods--the field focused on algorithms for creation of 2D and 3D models and content.

Covers advanced topics and current research in human-computer interaction as it intersects computational media. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation. Enrollment restricted to graduate students and by permission of the instructor.

Ongoing participatory seminar toward staying informed about the current state of the art in Human Computer Research, both within the Computational Media department, as well as in the broader field. Course consists of weekly lectures and discussion. Graduate students will take part in giving presentations.

Covers advanced topics and current research in interactive systems for individuals who have special needs. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation.

Covers advanced topics and current research in player experience and modeling. Delves into topics related to: artificial intelligence, psychology, data science, as well as computer human interaction as they intersect with games and player experience. Course is conducted as a studio/seminar, where students read and analyze previous research within this area. Students are asked to present and discuss current state of the art of research in the area of player experience and modeling and then develop their own research within this area. Through interaction with the instructor and other colleagues within the class, students work toward refining their research. This course can be taken for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory credit only.

Focuses on human-centered design and research approaches to the development of robotic technologies. Students read primary research papers, examine prototype robotic systems, and build upon those materials to lead group discussions, propose research projects, and conduct HRI research.

Weekly seminar series of current research on a special topic in information systems and technology management. The theme of research presented throughout the course selected by the instructor. Topics may include, but are not limited to, knowledge planning, new product development and management of technology. Enrollment with permission of instructor. (Formerly Technology and Information Management 280S.)

Covers advanced topics and current research in digital media—the interdisciplinary field at the intersection of computer science, media authoring, and models of interpretation from the humanities and social sciences. Focuses on student presentations and seminar participation.

Weekly seminar covering topics of current research in artificial intelligence applied to interactive art and entertainment, including computer games. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Enrollment restricted to graduate students.

Students learn about a current research area in computational media and make a contribution. Each course offering focuses on a different aspect of technical, creative, and/or interpretive work in the field.

Focuses on media, such as computer games, that invite and structure play. Work includes building and critiquing a series of prototypes; studying major examples in the field; and discussing both theoretical and practice-oriented texts. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Enrollment restricted to graduate students.

Focuses on enhancing social and emotional capabilities and qualities in interactive systems. Students read research, look at sample systems, and engage in evaluation, design, and prototyping exercises. A research project and helping to lead class discussions are also required.

Focuses on discussion of recent advances in visual storytelling in graphical environments. Major topics covered are: intelligent camera control, shot-compositions, lighting design, interactive storytelling, and computational techniques associated with these applications. Class consists of in-class discussions and student presentations of research papers and a final student project.

Students work on their master's project with a faculty supervisor. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency. Assessment is done based on project goals and the ability of the student to apply his/her knowledge and skills accumulated through the master's classes into the project.

Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Independent study or research under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Thesis research conducted under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Thesis research conducted under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Thesis research conducted under faculty supervision. Although this course may be repeated for credit, not every degree program will accept a repeated course toward degree requirements. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.