CS490 Supervised Undergraduate Research Projects
Computer Game Design
Cornell University - Rama C. Hoetzlein, Prof. David Schwartz
Game Design Survey
1. What is your major?
Computer Science
Fine Art
Other _______________________
2. What is your year in school?
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
5th
Computer games are a combination of artistic and technical achievement. They can be easily (but not completely) divided into content, which consists of artwork, narrative and music, and technology, which consists of various sound, graphics, and game software.
3. Which area of game development would you most like to pursue personally?
Content Development (Including Developing Narratives, Artwork & Music)
Game Engine Development (Including Developing Graphics Engines, Game Engines, Physics, Etc.)
Unsure
4. If you answered Content to #3, what form of Content do you feel most attracted to understanding or exploring more?
Visual & Fine Art
Narrative & Storyline
Character Development
Music & Sound
Unsure
5. If you answered Engineering to #3, what form of Game Engineering do you feel most attracted to understanding or exploring more?
Computer Graphics
Physics
A.I.
User Input & Interface
Music & Sound Programming
Unsure
6. Name one of your favorite computer games. Describe in as much detail as possible what you felt were the specific qualities that made those games great. (Note that saying 'good graphics' or 'beautify artwork' is not a specific quality. What was good about it, or why did you find the artwork beautiful.)
7. What genre of computer game do you usually prefer to play (may or may not include the two favorites you mentioned)?
2D Arcade (Side or Top)
Adventure / Role-Playing
First-Person Shooter
Simulation
Strategy
None
Don't play games much
8. What genre of computer game would you prefer to make?
2D Arcade (Side or Top)
Adventure / Role-Playing
First-Person Shooter
Simulation
Strategy
Unsure
9. If you could make any game you wanted, what qualities would you most like to have in your game.. Choose only THREE.
Visual appealing
Ground-breaking computer graphics techniques
Multiplayer capable
Exciting/interesting storyline and narrative
Realistic physics and motion
Unique and/or appealing characters
10. Which game format do you believe is more interesting, or would you like to learn to make?
2D
3D
Doesn't Matter
11. If you answered 2D games or 3D games to question #10, describe why you selected it over the other one.
12. Describe in your own opinion, what you feel the purpose of computer games is in society. If possible, give two negative functions of computer games in society, and two positive ones.
13. [OPTIONAL] If a course in Computer Game Design could be exactly what you hoped for, what would you get out of it? (Some possibilities might include: Understanding of 3D Computer Graphics, Ability to design and write Game Narratives well, Ability to create appealing and interesting sound effects, Working with others in other disciplines, Making and finishing a game, Etc... )