Games && Computer Science @ CSUN.

Games use Computer Graphics, Multimedia, User Interfaces, Simulation, Artificial Intelligence, and Visualization.

Undergraduate Computer Science major

Our undergraduate major provides students with a strong practical and theoretical foundation in Computer Science. Graduating majors can design, implement and verify software projects. They are fluent in major programming languages (Java, C, C#) and have a solid theoretical and mathematical foundation in Computer Science. Our program prepares graduates for success in the numerous business, educational, engineering, entertainment, medical, and scientific positions demanding a Computer Science degree.

Here are suggestions on courses related to computer gaming that a Computer Science student could take in completing their Computer Science major.

General Education Recommendations. A strong general education is necessary in the computer gaming field. Games are entertaining and educational. A good game requires a strong story incorporating: creative writing, drama and conflict; artistic composition, interesting characters with psychological / social awareness; a political, cultural, and historical context; and an awareness of theatrical staging.

GE Course Game Contribution
Art Development of visual literacy, artistic composition
      Art 2D  
      Art 3D  
Literature Storytelling, plot, character development
Science Simulation of the physical world
      Physics 220A & lab  
      Physics 220B & lab  

Major Requirements

Related Senior Electives: (5 electives are required by the major)

Department Graphics Facilities

Multimedia lab JD 1618
High end Windows systems with stereo capable graphics adapters (DirectX, openGL). Software: AC3D, Blender, GIMP, DirectX 9 (MDX) SDK, Visual Studio 2005 Prof.
High end Macintosh systems with accelerated graphics adapters (openGL) Macromedia Director, GIMP, ...

Virtual Reality lab. JD 2212
Four systems with stereo capable graphics adapters (DirectX, openGL). 1 stereo head mounted display with head tracking, 4 LCD stereo shutter glasses, 2 data gloves, and 2 infared head trackers.

Faculty with interests related to Computer Graphics and games:

G.M. Barnes: Games (e.g., arcade, simulation, grid), computer graphics, graphical user interfaces, human computer interaction, and scientific visualization.

G.E. Melara: Human-computer-interaction, multimedia systems.

P.Grabrovsky: Artificial Intelligence.

R.J. Lorentz: Strategic games (e.g., Chess, Go, and Amazons).

G.T. Wang: Data visualization.