AD 457: Introduction to Interactive 3D

Computer Graphics for Games and Web

Sangyoon Lee

Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL)

2032 Engineering Research Facility (ERF)

e-mail: james0709 at gmail.com

Office Hours: T/Th - 12:00 - 13:00 in 2AA 3320 (tentative), and by appointment

Lecture: T/Th - 9:00 - 11:45 in 2AA 3320

Lab System Admin.: John Messer (messerjn at gmail.com)

Course Description and Objectives:

This course is a practical and conceptual exploration of design and production of real-time interactive 3D applications for games and web. The course will explore the basic principles of real-time computer graphics, immersion, interaction, stereoscopic displays, systems and applications. Students will learn and discuss basic concepts of interactive and Virtual Reality (VR) art as well as the design of virtual spaces. They will gain hands-on experience and develop skills in conceptualization, planning and development of authoring 3D interactive environments. Based on their storyboards, students will create a 3D navigable interactive working prototype viewable with web player. The final output of the projects will be presented on a C-Wall system (Single Wall Automatic Virtual Environment projection system). The C -Wall would provide a real-time immersive stereoscopic tracked interactive setup to demonstrate the actual artworks and the virtual reality experience.

This course will survey evolution, current trends in developing technologies and the use of real time 3D graphics for virtual reality, interactivity and game design. The course will examine the principal contributions of individuals and practitioners, analyze their work, and discuss it from artistic, aesthetic and conceptual perspectives. Class sessions will include lectures, demonstrations, discussions, "hands on learning” hours, screenings, research presentations, individual and group critiques. Students are encouraged to pursue areas of interest, explore new ideas and share with the class.

Students enrolled in this course are expected to have basic to intermediate experience of 3D modeling and animation. For the duration of the course we will be using the Personal Computer and software packages, such as Virtools, Maya, Photoshop available in the lab. There will be two major projects, midterm and final, and several exercises to aid in learning and practicing the material. Completion of outside readings, homework assignments and research presentations will be required. The focus of the assignments will be the development of creative concepts and ideas and the quality of their implementation. Emphasis will be on effective use of design principles using the computer as a tool. Students will be responsible for attending all class sessions, completing the reading and production assignments, and exercises and actively participating in all class discussions. Evaluation of the final project will be based upon the initial proposal presentation, periodic reviews, comprehensive documentation of the project production and the final presentation.

Lab:

Lab. (Design Visualization Lab.) will be available when courses are not in session according to the lab schedule. There is a $75.00 required laboratory fee for this course, which is used for the course supporting materials, and supplies (printer paper, copies, supplies for presentation etc.)

Materials:

Due to the complexity of the images and other large digital files you will be creating throughout the course you will need at least two (2) USB memory key data sticks (2-8 GB recommended). One key can be used for in-class lab time and another key specifically for turning in assignments for a letter grade. It is highly recommended to store data additionally on a private computer or external hard-drive. Students are required to store and backup their files appropriately and additional data storage is strongly advised for back-up. It is required after every class meeting that students remove their files from the lab computers.

Evaluation and Requirements:

Grades will be based on the quality and originality of the completed assignments, active contribution to class meetings, midterm and final project. Active participation and collaboration during discussions and critiques is required. On-time class attendance is mandatory. More than two unexcused absences will result in a reduction of the final grade by 1 letter grade; with every additional unexcused absence, the final grade will drop by an additional grade. Late assignments will reduce the grade proportionally. 'Incompletes' will only be granted according to University policy. Any individuals with learning disabilities or special needs must make the instructor aware of them prior to the due date of the first major assignment. If you wish to observe your religious holiday, which is in the conflict with mandatory academic attendance, you should notify the instructor by the tenth day of the semester of the date on which you are requesting an absence.

The numeric breakdown for the final grade follows:

* Note that there will no formal exam in the course.

Textbooks:

Virtools Fundamentals Daniel Liu, Shaun Le Lacheur Sales Axis 3D Technilogy Inc., 2007 ISBN: 9868320801

Virtools User Guide available in doc directory of virtools program Link here

Recommented Readings:

Jean-Marc Gauthier, Building Interactive Worlds in 3D, Focal Press, Elsevier, 2005, ISBN: 0-240-80622-0

Andrew Rollings, Ernest Adams, On Game Design, New Riders Publishing, 2003, ISBN: 1-5927-3001-9

Tracy Fullerton, Christopher Swain, Steven Hoffman, Game Design Workshop: Designing, Prototyping, and Playtesting Games, CMP Books, 2004, ISBN: 1-57820-222-1

Stephen Wilson, Information Arts: Intersections of Art, Science, and Technology, MIT Press/Leonardo Books, 2002

Frank Popper, From Technological to Virtual Art, MIT Press, 2007

Oliver Grau, Virtual Art: From Illusion to Immersion, MIT Press/Leonardo Books, 2004

Leonardo, Journal of the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology
Computer Graphics World

Leonardo Electronic Almanac

ACM SIGGRAPH Video Review and Conference materials

Class and Lab. Policies:

No cell phone usage in the lab. You are responsible to turn your cell phone off prior to the class. Lab should remain locked and secure when not in use. Reconfiguring the system on any computer unusable for other students and may result in dismissal from the course. No non-class materials loaded into the computers. No food or drink in the computer labs. No surfing the Internet during class unless related to a class project.

Disclaimer: Projects and publications created in this course may be used by the Department for purposes of promotion for students, the Department or the University in general. The Department may also use these materials for instructional purposes in future courses.