In this unit students will learn the fundamentals of 3D game programming. The unit starts with the fundamentals of 3D rendering and follows on with the concepts required to produce 3D games using XNA. The unit will address methods to gain the best performance and visual quality from existing game techniques, and demonstrates how students can author games with graphics, sound and physics. Topics covered include the raster algorithm, 3D transformations, game engines, game assets, content pipelines, spatial partitioning, level of detail, billboards, graphical user interfaces, introductory shader programming, animation/audio/physics/networking/AI. The laboratories focus on the implementation of games using XNA. Students will use the supplied tools to construct a complete 3D game for their assignment.

Subject rules