CSC3232 : Gaming Technologies and Simulations
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Giacomo Bergami
- Lecturer: Dr Chris Holder
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To understand the programming techniques associated with the technical development of a video game. Students gain experience in the technical design and implementation of engineering a computer games system. The analysis of a design as an engineered system is assessed through appropriate choice of system components based on complexity, processor cost and memory imprint.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus has focus around the programming requirements for video games in the context of physics, artificial intelligence, and gameplay
• Players and adversaries – gameplay programming for adversarial based games.
• Path-finding – algorithms for navigation.
• Game AI– algorithms for simulating behaviour.
• Physics – approximating realistic simulations in real-time in video games.
• Gameplay modelling- Using probability to encourage longevity of play.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Lectures (in person). |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Coursework 1. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Practicals (in person) in computer classroom. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 113 | 1:00 | 113:00 | Background reading. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Lecture follow-up. |
| Total | 200:00 |
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 to 4000 words). |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | VLE delivered test of learning outcomes. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The coursework ensures the students understand and can engineer solutions based on graphical code libraries.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC3232's Timetable