mshah.ioCourse ScheduleCourse Information
Administrivia | Games and Game EnginesGame Genres, Game Applications, and Game LoopsD Language Review and Q&ASDL Basics: Dub Setup,SDL Basics,2D Primitives and FramerateSprite Animation, Bitmap Fonts, and State MachinesGame Object and Component PatternEngine Support Systems 1 - Gameplay Systems & ScriptingEngine Support Systems 2 - Resource Managers and File SystemsGame AudioGame Math 1 - VectorsGame Math 2 - MatricesGame Structure 1 - Scene Tree, Scene Structure, SerializationGame Scene Structure 2 - Camera and PartitioningTopic: Guest Speaker from Unity3D -- Everyone should attend classPutting it all togetherOnline Exam -- no classTiles and BitsFinal Project Group Activity with Engine StudyPhysics and CollisionGameplay Systems - Devices, GUI, and Command Pattern2D Rendering TechniquesGuest lecture from Demiurge -- (Slides on other topic: Work day/Flex day and brief intro to SIMD)Gameplay Systems/Object PoolsSystems programming - Parallelism/Concurrencywork day / mini-topic (e.g. profiling code or Fibers)Mini-topic (AI,Action Lists) Course Wrap up and work day
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CPSC 4791/5791 Building Game Engines

Pragmatic and technical game development -- Your Instructor

The full Course Youtube Playlist

Godot Game Engine
Tooling
The Game Loop!
Quick Links | Official class forumPiazza Course Forum | schedule/signupOffice Hours Spreadsheet |

Schedule/Road Map

The following is our tentative syllabus for the course, changes should be expected throughout the semester. I will announce in class, piazza, or through e-mail any major changes.

Week

Date

Lecture and Readings

Problem Sets

Note(s)

1

Wednesday, 2025-Aug-27
PSET 01 Released (Due Sept. 7 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Sept. 14 for up to 90%)
Welcome back to class!

Note: 1st PSET has extra time to accomodate students who add late. Students who add late still need to complete by the deadline shown.

1

Friday, 2025-Aug-29
-- --
Friday classes do not meet; Monday classes meet instead

1

Friday, 2025-Aug-29
-- --
No Class; Labor Day

1

Sunday, 2025-Aug-31
PSET 02 Released (Due Sept. 14 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Sept. 21 for up to 90%)
Add/Drop Period closes Sept. 5 at 5:00pm ET

2

Friday, 2025-Sep-05
PSET 03 Released (Due Sept. 21 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Sept. 28 for up to 90%)
-- --

2

Sunday, 2025-Sep-07
-- --
-- --

3

Friday, 2025-Sep-12
PSET 04 Released (Due Sept. 28 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 5 for up to 90%)
-- --

3

Sunday, 2025-Sep-14
-- --
Mike at CPPCON, lecture will be pre-recorded and posted on module page for you to watch.

4

Friday, 2025-Sep-19
PSET 05 Released (Due Oct. 5 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 12 for up to 90%)'
-- --

4

Sunday, 2025-Sep-21
-- --
-- --

5

Friday, 2025-Sep-26
-- --
-- --

5

Sunday, 2025-Sep-28
PSET 06 Released (Due Oct. 22 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 29 for up to 90%)'
-- --

6

Friday, 2025-Oct-03
-- --
Final Project Specification Out
Please do the in-class activity for your team survey -- this is graded!

6

Sunday, 2025-Oct-05
-- --
Sample of Previous Year Final Projects

7

Friday, 2025-Oct-10
-- --
Guest Speaker from Unity3D
I am expecting everyone enrolled to attend (the video will not be posted until after the exam).

7

Sunday, 2025-Oct-12
-- --
October Recess

8

Friday, 2025-Oct-17
Online exam released on canvas Oct. 20 at 6:00pm EST
PSET 07 Released (Due Nov. 2 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Nov. 9 for up to 90%)
Brief Study Guide Link (Click me).
Exam otherwise includes any other materials from lecture, slides, and homeworks. You must finish the exam in one sitting (i.e. when you open the exam, your time starts)

8

Sunday, 2025-Oct-19
Online exam due on canvas (Exam due Oct. 27 Anywhere on Earth which is precisely Oct. 27 at 8AM EST)
Mike will be away at Code::Dive
Please remember to do the in-class activity.

9

Friday, 2025-Oct-24
-- --
-- --

9

Sunday, 2025-Oct-26
PSET08(Due Nov. 11 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Nov. 18 for up to 90%)
-- --

10

Friday, 2025-Oct-31
-- --
Lecture is pre-recorded (Mike out sick), you can watch from home.

10

Sunday, 2025-Nov-02
-- --
Lecture is pre-recorded (Mike out sick), you can watch from home.

11

Friday, 2025-Nov-07
-- --
Complete the 'alpha' portion of your final project by end of day.

11

Sunday, 2025-Nov-09
-- --
Demiurge Studio Guest Lecture on Game Engines (See piazza for URL).
I am expecting everyone enrolled to attend.

12

Friday, 2025-Nov-14
-- --
We will be checking for your 'beta' milestone deliverable two days after this lecture.

12

Sunday, 2025-Nov-16
-- --
Mike presenting at Graphics Programming Conference in Europe -- class pre-recoreded

13

Friday, 2025-Nov-21
-- --
November Recess

13

Sunday, 2025-Nov-23
-- --
November Recess

14

Friday, 2025-Nov-28
-- --
-- --

14

Sunday, 2025-Nov-30
'Final project due Dec. 10 at noon ET. (Note: No extensions for final project; 10% late penalty every day project is late)
Last official day of class :(
Final Project presentations will be Dec. 10 from 6-8pm in Loria 250
Please do not redistribute or host any materials without e-mailing me first. Thank you for your time!