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Game Modeling and Character Development
I. Course Prefix/Number: ART 274
Course Name: Game Modeling and Character Development
Credits: 3 (3 lecture; 6 lab)
II. Prerequisite
ART 260 and ART 261
III. Course (Catalog) Description
Course explores animation, modeling and texturing specific to games and post-production. Content includes character animation involving looping, character interacting and timing, modeling and texturing in different resolutions, and vertex coloring. Alias Maya used as the main software.
IV. Learning Objectives
A. To animate a character showing a walk or run cycles.
B. To develop and animate a character with proper movement and lifelike speed.
C. To identify the limitations of characters and models within the game structure.
D. To use modeling and texturing at different resolutions.
B. To develop and animate a character with proper movement and lifelike speed.
C. To identify the limitations of characters and models within the game structure.
D. To use modeling and texturing at different resolutions.
V. Academic Integrity
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity
and follow Oakton's Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI. Sequence of Topics
A. Game modeling and texturing
1. Game engines and platforms
2. Vehicles and buildings
3. Environmental designs
4. Resolution in modeling and texturing
5. Advanced modeling techniques
6. Painting on models
B. Character Animation
1. Basics
a. Timing
b. Movement
2. Walking and Locomotion
a. Using forward Kinetics and Inverse Kinetics
b. Mechanics of walking
c. Hierarchy
3. Anthromorphic animation
a. Characters and conception
b. Bones
c. Bending and deformations
4. Facial animation
a. Morphing
b. Sound and Lip sync
c. Poses
d. Mouth shapes
5. Posing the human body
6. Posing and customizing hands
7. Animals and animation
8. Animation to the Game
a. Morph target animation
b. Forward and inverse kinetics
1. Game engines and platforms
2. Vehicles and buildings
3. Environmental designs
4. Resolution in modeling and texturing
5. Advanced modeling techniques
6. Painting on models
B. Character Animation
1. Basics
a. Timing
b. Movement
2. Walking and Locomotion
a. Using forward Kinetics and Inverse Kinetics
b. Mechanics of walking
c. Hierarchy
3. Anthromorphic animation
a. Characters and conception
b. Bones
c. Bending and deformations
4. Facial animation
a. Morphing
b. Sound and Lip sync
c. Poses
d. Mouth shapes
5. Posing the human body
6. Posing and customizing hands
7. Animals and animation
8. Animation to the Game
a. Morph target animation
b. Forward and inverse kinetics
VII. Methods of Instruction
This course will be presented using a combination of lectures, demonstrations, presentations and hands-on studio work in the lab.
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.
VIII. Course Practices Required
A. Attend and participate in classes and labs.
B. Attend critiques and quizzes as scheduled in the course calendar.
C. Complete assigned exercises and print assigned work.
D. Final Exam.
B. Attend critiques and quizzes as scheduled in the course calendar.
C. Complete assigned exercises and print assigned work.
D. Final Exam.
IX. Instructional Materials
A. Text: Varies by instructor
B. Flash drive or portable hard drive
C. 11 x 14 mount board and white museum grade board for matting
D. 12 sheets of ink jet glossy paper
E. Blank CD-Rs
B. Flash drive or portable hard drive
C. 11 x 14 mount board and white museum grade board for matting
D. 12 sheets of ink jet glossy paper
E. Blank CD-Rs
X. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
The final grade will be based upon the following elements and their weights
1. Quizzes: 25%
2. Critiques: 25%
3. Final Exam: 25%
4. Final Critique: 25%
Multiple choice quizzes will be administered at the first three critiques. Critiques offer the student the opportunity to show work in progress to the instructor and to the class and to obtain feedback on the work presented. There will be four critiques including the final.
1. Quizzes: 25%
2. Critiques: 25%
3. Final Exam: 25%
4. Final Critique: 25%
Multiple choice quizzes will be administered at the first three critiques. Critiques offer the student the opportunity to show work in progress to the instructor and to the class and to obtain feedback on the work presented. There will be four critiques including the final.
XI. Other Course Information
Open lab times will be announced at the beginning of each semester.
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
