General information


Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Adso Fernández Baena

Trimester: At quarters

Credits: 20

Teaching staff: 

Adso Fernández Baena

Teaching languages


The materials can be provided in Catalan as well as in Spanish or English.

Skills


Specific skills
  • V1. Demonstrate knowledge of the history of video games and analyze the reference video games with arguments based on evaluation criteria contextualized in the historical and cultural framework.

  • V2. Design the mechanics, rules, structure and narrative of video games following the criteria of gameplay and balance to provide the best possible gaming experience.

  • V3. Identify the type of player and design the game experience according to its psychological characteristics.

  • V4. Design a game and its monetization, taking into account the different parameters and variables that govern the business model of the product.

  • V5. Write the specifications of a game and communicate them effectively to the team of artists and developers and other members involved in the creation and development of the game.

  • V6. Develop video games in high-level programming languages ​​in graphics engines based on specifications.

  • V8. Visually represent concepts and / or data for the ideation and creation of video games.

  • V9. Design and develop 2D animation short films.

  • V10. Design and develop modeling of 3D scenes and characters.

  • V11. Design and develop 3D animation applying the techniques and processes that lead to the production of linear animation video games and short films.

  • V12. Apply entrepreneurial initiative and innovation for the creation of new video games and business lines.

  • V13. Apply business vision, marketing and sales, economic analysis and technical knowledge for video game production.

  • V14. Lead teams of designers, artists or developers to achieve the specified goals in the time allotted, in a structured manner according to the methodology established for project management.

  • V15. Design and plan quality assurance strategies, test and data analysis of video games and interactive products.

Description


The Final Degree Project (TFG) is a personal work of deepening within a subject or problematic, of synthesis and often transversal within the field of the studies of the Degree of Videogames, with the end that the student demonstrates its capacity to apply the training acquired throughout the studies of the Degree, accrediting the obtaining of the title of Degree. The personal work of the student linked to the realization of the TFG is the corresponding to 20 ECTS and frames in the own matter of the Final Work of Degree. The student will be able to carry out a research work or to carry out a project centered in one of the following areas: company, design, art or programming. The TFG is an individual work without detriment that it can be an independent part of a work developed jointly between students of the same or different degrees. In any case, the defense and evaluation of the TFG is individual.

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make possible its continuity in non-contact mode in the case of being necessary for reasons related to the Covid-19. In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan will be ensured.

The Tecnocampus will make available to teachers and students the digital tools needed to carry out the course, as well as guides and recommendations that facilitate adaptation to the non-contact mode.

Learning outcomes


As it is a single subject in a specific subject (Final Degree Project), it corresponds to all the following learning outcomes:

E2.1. Design mechanics and rules of the game that as a whole is called gameplay.
E2.2. Design levels including strategies, definition of the puzzle or the mission to complete, so that the objectives set by the script are achieved.
E2.3. Design the narrative of a video game and specify the interactive script.
E2.4. Balancing a game or game level considering all available parameters and variables and thus provides a satisfactory gaming experience at the required difficulty level of that level, part or all of the game.
E2.5. Design sound and music for the game.
E3.1. Describe the type of player for whom the game is designed.
E3.3. Design the game taking into account the psychological characteristics of the user.
E3.4. Design the user interface according to the criteria of usability and user experience.
E4.2. Choose the most appropriate monetization model for a video game, taking into account the characteristics of the product and the business model.
E4.3. Design a game according to a certain monetization model.
E5.1. Write and maintain the set of documents that is fully known as the "Game design document (GDD)."
E5.2. Communicate effectively to the team of artists and developers and other members the specifications of the project, from the GDD.
E6.1. Design the software architecture of a video game according to specifications.
E6.5. Incorporate the laws of physics and intelligent behavior effectively through specific libraries.
E6.6. Develop 2D and 3D video games (or parts thereof) in high-level languages ​​on platforms and engines intended for this purpose.
E8.1. To devise the graphic aspect of a video game, according to the type of user, type of game and its cultural and historical context.
E8.2. Graphically represent the elements of a video game: scenes, characters, levels, etc.
E8.3. Visually represent information and data using infographics and other cutting-edge techniques.
E9.4 Design a 2D animation applying the basics and strategies appropriate to the video game.
E9.5 Develop a 2D animation.
E10.2. Design the 3D modeling of the video game according to the specifications.
E10.3. Develop 3D modeling of the elements of a video game, characters and scenes.
E10.4. Illuminate and text 3D models of the elements of a video game.
E11.2 Design the 3D animation of characters and objects in the video game.
E11.3. Animate 3D characters and objects in a realistic and / or coherent way with the designed virtual world.
E12.1. Generate innovative ideas for video game products and analyze them as a business opportunity.
E13.6. Design a business model and monetize a video game
E13.7. Analyze the economic viability of a business or line of business.
E14.1. Apply project management methodologies to achieve goals in the allotted time.
E14.2. Exercise leadership skills and team management.
E15.1. Design a video game quality assurance strategy.
E15.5. Develop quality and testing strategy, correct and adjust software.

Working methodology


The Final Degree Project uses the following teaching methodologies:

Seminars, Research and critical reading of articles, Non-contact tutorials and Small group laboratory

Contents


Subject 1.- The Final Work of Degree (TFG): Essential elements

1.1. Types of the TFG: Research or Applied

1.2. Main areas of knowledge of the TFG

1.3. Process of research, drafting and defense before a court

Subject 2.- The citation in APA

2.1. Citation systems and their academic relevance

2.2. The APA system (I): Citation in text

2.3. The APA system (II): Citation to references

2.4. The APA system (III): special citation cases

Subject 3.- The preliminary project

3.1. Starting the project: introduction, objectives / hypotheses and / or research questions, academic interests and originality of the work

3.2. Preliminary research: the references and the theoretical framework

3.3. Methodology: techniques and models of creation and analysis

3.4. Time organization: schedule and methodological design

Item 4.- From the intermediate report to the final report

4.1. Monitoring the research and creative process: types of work according to areas of knowledge

4.2. Results of the TFG: writing, presentation and argumentation

4.3. The conclusions: link with the objectives, discussion and future work

4.4. Legal aspects, licenses and copyright

4.5. Formalisms of the final memory: automatic indexing, format and typographic elements

Item 5.- The defense before the court

5.1. Oral presentation techniques and university argumentation

5.2. Visual support elements: synthesis, concretion and complementarity

Learning activities


With the aim of collecting evidence of the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, the following activities of an evaluative nature will be carried out (related to all the common competences):

A1. Preliminary design (Evidence of all learning outcomes)

First approach of the TFG: Ideation, theoretical framework and execution planning.

A2. Interim report and preliminary results (Evidence of all learning outcomes)

Evolution of the Preliminary Draft and incorporation of the first results of the TFG.

A3. Final report and final result (Evidence of all learning outcomes)

Complete and final documentation of the report and product or material of the research carried out

A4. Defense (Evidence of all learning outcomes)

 

General criteria of the activities:

  • The documentation of the TFG will be carried out according to the regulations relating to the TFG both in terms of typology (applied or research) and by the assignment of the TFG to a specific area of ​​knowledge (design, art, programming or company).
  • In the case of performing an applied TFG, the student must meet the minimum requirements defined by each area of ​​knowledge according to the regulations relating to the TFG.
  • Deliveries will be made according to the calendar of the TFG call for the current academic year.

Evaluation system


The grade of each student will be calculated following the following percentages:

A1. Preliminary design 0%

A2. Interim report and preliminary results 0%

A3. Final report and final result 80%

A4. Defense 20%

Final grade = A3 0.8 + A4 0.2

Considerations:

  • The TFG tutor issues a delivery report to qualitatively assess A1 and A2 deliveries.
  • The grade for A3 and A4 deliveries will be set by the court.
  • The evaluation will use, as provided in the report of the Degree in Video Game Design and Production in the subject of Final Degree Project, a system of rubrics in which both the quality of the documentation and the defense of the work will be considered.
  • According to the regulations for the Final Degree Project, in order to pass the TFG, a minimum grade of 5 out of 10 must be obtained in the final assessment of the court. The court will evaluate the TFG based on the defense, technical and artistic difficulty, achievement of objectives, usefulness, rigor and quality of work, among others. 
  • Previously, the Final Degree Project Committee of the degree will review the documentation submitted to detect defects in form. In the event of a serious defect, the documentation may be returned to the student, who must rectify it within a very short period of time, as stipulated in the TFG regulations.

Recovery:

  • The TFG has no call for recovery.

REFERENCES


Basic

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Usual manuals and monographs in the field of art for video games

 

Usual manuals and monographs in the field of entrepreneurship and business management of video games

 

Usual manuals and monographs in the field of programming

 

Usual manuals and monographs in the field of video game design