CSC3231 : Graphics for Games
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Dr Gary Ushaw
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
To understand the main principles and algorithms underlying the implementation of computer graphics software.
To gain experience of implementing real-time graphics techniques within a games engine.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus introduces students to each stage in the modern graphics pipeline used by graphics cards and game engines. The syllabus centres on the underlying algorithms and techniques used in the graphics pipeline, and the implementation and enhancement of graphical features in a game engine.
• Coordination - Understand the mathematical fundamentals required when discussing geometry that is most
commonly used in coordinate systems
• Spaces and perspective – The space transformations required to render a 3D scene on a 2D screen.
• Rendering - Understand the different rendering techniques used across the graphics industry, focussing on 3D
accelerated rendering on popular PC GPUs.
• Shaders - How to create simple graphics effects using vertex, fragment and geometry shaders to exploit the
GPU.
• Scenes - How to construct a graphics scene using existing graphical objects.
• Light - The use of real-time lighting techniques for a more realistic effect in graphical scenes.
• Animation - How to provide an animated, jointed, skinned model.
• Effects - How to influence the graphics pipeline to create visual effects for real-time simulations.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Traditional lectures PIP |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Lecture follow-up |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Computer classroom PIP |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 3 | 6:00 | 18:00 | Practical Lab Report 2 Graphical simulation achieved through game engine plug-in (software equivalent of 2000 words) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 38 | 1:00 | 38:00 | Background reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Techniques and theory are presented in lectures. Supervised practical classes on a PC cluster room provide experience of writing programs and using PCs with help available.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 100 | Graphical simulation achieved through game engine plug-in (software equivalent of 2000 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The coursework ensures the students understand and can engineer solutions based on graphical code libraries utilizing the theoretical content of the lectures and tutorials.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC3231's Timetable