Procedural Content Generation
Summary
Admission requirements
- The equivalent of English 6/English B in Swedish secondary school.
- At least 60 credits in the main field of Computer Science including at least 15 credits of programming.
- 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.
Selection:
credits 60% final grades 20% national university aptitude test 20%
- Datavetenskap och applikationsutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2013 elective course
- Datavetenskap och applikationsutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2015 elective course
- Datavetenskap och applikationsutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2016 elective course
- Datavetenskap och applikationsutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2017 elective course
- Spelutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2014 elective course
- Spelutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2015 elective course
- Spelutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2016 elective course
- Spelutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2017 elective course
- Spelutveckling, 180 credits - Autumn 2013 elective course
- Systemutvecklare, 180 credits - Autumn 2015 elective course
- Systemutvecklare, 180 credits - Autumn 2016 elective course
- Systemutvecklare, 180 credits - Autumn 2017 elective course
Syllabus
Syllabus for students autumn 2019, autumn 2018, autumn 2017, autumn 2016, autumn 2015
- Syllabus autumn 2019, autumn 2018, autumn 2017, autumn 2016, autumn 2015 (Currently shown)
- Course Code:
- DA273A revision 1
- Swedish name:
- Procedurell generering av spelinnehåll
- Level of specialisation
- G2F
- Main fields of study:
- Computer Science
- Language:
- English
- Date of ratification:
- 05 February 2015
- Decision-making body:
- Faculty of Technology and Society
- Enforcement date:
- 31 August 2015
Entry requirements
- The equivalent of English 6/English B in Swedish secondary school.
- At least 60 credits in the main field of Computer Science including at least 15 credits of programming.
- 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
On completion of the course the student shall:
- 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
On completion of the course the student shall:
- 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).
Course literature and other teaching materials
- 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.
Contact
The education is provided by the Faculty of Technology and Society at the department Computer Science and Media Technology.