G320: Game Art & Sound Indiana University Media School Professor: Rachel Lin Weaver [email protected] Office Hours (FA 410): Wednesday 1-3 pm (or send e-mail to schedule an appointment) Game Art & Sound is an introductory course to those very topics. The objective is simple: create an environment in which students learn how to create visual and audio assets for games and other related forms of immersive, interactive, or playable media. This course is not intended to develop specialists. Rather it gives students a foundation for many different techniques that will allow them to create functional audio and visual media in future projects and courses. Students will be introduced to a variety of software used to create music, sound effects, still images, and animations. In addition to practice, this course will explore theory related to the history and application of these techniques. G320 is recommended for students with an interest in game design, experience design, digital art, and mediated interaction in general. Constructivist Epistemology? Some concepts of education put teachers in a position of power. Dutiful students are expected to absorb all they can from these “holders of knowledge.” Constructivism takes an opposite stance: Knowledge does not exist in the world. Nor is it "out there" to be discovered whether one is alone or has the assistance of a guide or teacher to impart it. Instead, knowledge is constructed by the individual learner as an internal, mental system. G320 takes a constructivist stance. Students will encounter unique, unusual— potentially absurd—assignments that are intended to confound expectations and erode all preconceptions of what is expected and possible. The tools and techniques we explore, as well as the work you will do with them, will enable you to build meaningful connections between professionalism and your own creative nature and potential. Supplies • IU network ID (username and password to access Canvas, Box, Mercury, and Lynda.com) • Headphones • Personal computer or laptop is recommended but not required Student Integrity Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Both are grounds for an Academic Misconduct report and a failing grade. Any questions regarding these policies can be directed to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. All work that you turn in must be your own. In certain situations it may be necessary to borrow from third-party source. Students are allowed to do this only after specific permission has been granted by the instructor. All borrowed work must be cited; no exceptions. Failure to cite borrowed work will be viewed as plagiarism (see above). The production and discussion of creative work is a large part of this class. Any work or criticism that is offensive or that constitutes harassment of a racial, sexual, ethnic, or religious nature will result in a failing grade. Attendance Attendance will be taken for all class periods. To accommodate for scheduling conflicts and other "surprises" that may occur during the semester, all students are allowed 2 absences. Your grade will be reduced by 2 points (1% of your total grade) for every unexcused absence. Unless it is unavoidable, do not schedule medical appointments or interviews during class or discussion section meeting times. Students who have true emergencies, life-threatening illnesses, or deaths in the family may be granted excused absences. An excused absence must be supported with written documentation when you return to class. You will be responsible to get missed notes and information from a classmate. Students observing religious holidays during the semester please see IU's Religious Holidays request form. Communication Have a question about this class? Chances are the answer is in this syllabus. When students encounter a problem while working outside of class they should send their question to our class list in Canvas. All communication with me concerning your progress in the class should be done in office hours, and either before or after class. If you cannot meet during my regularly scheduled office hours, send an e-mail to make an appointment. I am glad to meet with you to discuss class questions and anything else you find interesting. University Services Disabled Student Services For assistance with physical, social, or mental health issues which affect learning or testing. Franklin Hall 096 (812) 855-7578 Learning Disabled Coordinator: Jody Ferguson Franklin Hall 327 (812) 855-3508 http://www.indiana.edu/~iubdss Adaptive Technology Services Using technology to provide equal access and an inclusive environment for the IU community. Herman B Wells Library Media Reserve Center (812) 856-4112 http://www.indiana.edu/~iuadapts Student Academic Center For assistance with tutoring, test anxiety, or non-medical academic issues. 316 N. Jordan (812) 855-7313 Contact: Sharon Chertkoff http://www.indiana.edu/~sac Writing Tutorial Services For free help at any phase of the writing process. Call Writing Tutorial Services (WTS, pronounced “wits”) at 855-6738 for an appointment. When you visit WTS, you’ll find a tutor who is a sympathetic and helpful reader of your prose. To be assured of an appointment with the tutor who will know most about your class, please call in advance. WTS, in the Information Commons on the first floor of the Wells Library, is open Monday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-in tutorials are available when WTS has an opening, but the appointment book often fills in advance. WTS tutors are also available for walk-in tutorials (only) in the Academic Support Centers in Briscoe, Forest, and Teter residence halls, open Sunday-Thursday 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. http://www.indiana.edu/~wts Schedule Monday August 24 (week 1) Lecture Intro to G320 Due — Lab(s) New student survey Box.com Lab Homework statements, research, and citations G320 software roll call Monday August 31 (week 2) Lecture Intro to sound in games Week 2 preview on game music: instruments, tracks, mixing, strategies for the harmonically challenged and confused Industry: Wabi Sabi Sound Indie: DisasterPeace (aka Rich Vreeland) Early consoles: ColecoVision and Sega Genesis with Texas Instruments SN76489 sound chips (3 square wave oscillators and a white noise generator) as3sfxr (Flash-based synth) as3sfxr intro with Tom Vian Major Scales: http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/21 Minor Scales: http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/22 Lots of scales mapped to the piano keyboard: http://www.pianoscales.org Due — Lab(s) GarageBand loops and instruments BFXR basic "8-bit" synth (evolved from as3sfxr); additional background on 8-bit sounds Audition edit & process GarageBand and BFXR material Monday September 07 (week 3) Lecture Labor Day: classes do not meet today Due Tuesday Game Concept: "Cowardly Digger Window Cruise" (due Monday at 1 pm Tuesday at 2:30 pm) Thursday Game Concept: "Brave Digger Policeman Crumple" (due Wednesday at 1 pm Thursday at 2:30 pm) Lab homework #01: 3 songs (20-60 seconds each) and 5 sound effects that suit the Game Concept for your lab class. Be sure to Normalize all of these to -0.5 dB. Turn in everything as a WAV or AIFF file using our shared Box folder; don't forget the written statement required for all Lab Homework. Lab(s) Piano roll & sequencing Music loops Mix levels and DSP Export to uncompressed AIFF Monday September 14 (week 4) Lecture Review from last week: music loops and the Grim Fandango soundtrack by Peter McConell Sound Design Ben Burtt on sound design with everyday, ordinary objects Halo 5 Guardians sound design Intro to the Seamless Loop Sound Effects Libraries: when and how to use these; respect the license!!! Due Tuesday Game Concept: "Soaring Hardware Policeman Hike" (due Monday at 1 pm) Thursday Game Concept: "Slimy Hardhat Swamp Graze" (due Wednesday at 1 pm) Lab homework #02: Make some music for each element tied to this week’s Game Concept: 3 character themes (10-30 seconds each), 3 different game levels (20-30 seconds each), 3 different “task” songs (20-30 seconds each). Turn in everything as a WAV or AIFF file using our shared Box folder; don't forget the written statement required for all Lab Homework. Lab(s) Using SFX libraries Most useful SFX DSP operations SFX loops More BFXR and GarageBand synths for SFX Monday September 21 (week 5) Lecture Sound + Interaction and Play Due Tuesday Game Concept: "Wholesome Show Headlight Skip" (due Monday at 1 pm) Thursday Game Concept: "Clever Cast Headlight Craft" (due Wednesday at 1 pm) Lab homework #03: Make a variety of SFX that suit the Game Concept for your lab class: • 3 in GarageBand (synthesize from scratch) • 3 in BFXR (synthesize from scratch with at least two layers) • 3 in Audition (downloaded from FreeSounds; apply effects as needed; turn in original AND final) • 1 ambient background using the Seamless Loop Technique. (loop should be between 15 and 45 seconds) Turn in everything as a WAV or AIFF file using our shared Box folder; don't forget the written statement required for all Lab Homework. Lab(s) FMOD Monday September 28 (week 6) Lecture Intro to art in games Power of Two Rule How to Prototype a Game in Under 7 Days Due Tuesday Game Concept: "Rusty Tower Duplicate Howl" (due Monday at 1 pm) Thursday Game Concept: "Fussy Hardhat Garden Skip" (due Wednesday at 1 pm) Lab homework #04: Use the FMOD template to create a variety of sound playback behaviors that suit the Game Concept for your lab class: • Two versions of random_repeated_SFX with at least three variations in each Multi Sound module. These SFX should convey a clear sense of variation, but not so much as to sound unrelated or scattered.