Procedural Content Generation

Entry requirements

1. The equivalent of English 6/English B in Swedish secondary school.
2. At least 60 credits in the main field of Computer Science including at least 15 credits of programming.
3. Either a completed course of at least 7.5 credits in Data Structures and Algorithms, or a completed course of at least 7.5 credits in Artificial Intelligence.

Specialisation and progression relative to the degree regulations

This course is included in the main field of Computer Science at level 61-90 credits, and is offered as elective or single subject course.

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to allow the student to gain experiences and abilities to construct and evaluate different solutions to algorithmically generate game content for game worlds, game levels or items.

Contents

The course contains the following moments:

• Introduction to Procedual Content Generation (PCG) and its role
• Search-based PCG
• Player-driven PCG
• L-systems and vegetation
• Terrain, landscapes and fractals
• Levels and their structures
• Content evaluation and expressive range
• Interactive narrative and mix-initiative design tools

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding
On completion of the course the student shall:

• have good knowledge of common PCG methods
• analyse different types of game content and suggest suitable methods for its generation

• analyse the PCG requirements for a specific game or the intended target group
• analyse PCG methods in order to fulfil requirements for a specific game or the intended target group
• implement selected PCG algorithms
• evaluate the expressive range of content generators and compare them to each others

• reflect over the role of PCG within game design and game content
• reflect over the quality of PCG artefacts
• reflect over different methods in PCG in relation to a specific game, its content or its design

Learning activities

Lectures approximately 22 hours, laboratory work approximately 10 hours and individual studies approximately 168 hours

Assessments

Requirement for Pass (G): Passed written examination 3 credits and passed assignments 4,5 credits.
Requirement for Pass with distinction (VG): In addition to the requirement for Pass, all VG-moments must be assessed with VG.

Grading system

Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

• Shaker, Togelius, and Nelson (2015). Procedural Content Generation in Games: A Textbook and an Overview of Current Research, PCG Book.com (tillgänglig som PDF)
• Current research literature (10 papers) och internet sources (ref.)

Course evaluation

The university provides all students who are participating in, or have completed, a course to express their experiences and views on the course through a course evaluation which is organized at the end of the course. The university will collate the course evaluations and provide information about their results and any actions prompted by them. The results shall be made available to the students. (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

When a course is no longer given, or the contents have been radically changed, the student has the right to re-take the examination, which will be given twice during a one year period, according to the syllabus which was valid at the time of registration.