Video Games Architecture

Course guarantor:

Radek Richtr

Lecturer:

Jan Matoušek, Radek Richtr

Tutor:

Jan Matoušek

Supervisor:

Department of Software Engineering

Synopsis:

The course covers a wide range of topics, procedures and methodologies related to the development of computer games - from a technical point of view, but also from a design and philosophical point of view. In the lectures, students will be guided through the history of development, the structure of game engines, component and functional architecture typical of game development, physics, graphics, artificial intelligence and multiplayer. The exercises will then cover selected technological topics in greater detail, including ways of implementing some game mechanics, in the form of practical demonstrations.

Requirements:

Basic knowledge of algorithms, linear algebra, graph theory and data structures on bachelor's level.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Introduction to game design.

2. Game engines.

3. Game settings.

4. Components.

5. Game design patterns.

6. Music and sound.

7. Game space.

8. Game physics.

9. Game graphics.

10. AI agents.

11. Advanced AI in video games.

12. Multiplayer.

13. Game design and atmosphere.

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Game loop

2. Game engines and frameworks

3. Architecture

4. Dynamics

5. Game AI

6. Multiplayer

Study Objective:

Students will get an overview of technical and design problems solved in the development of computer games and will try to create a computer game.

Study materials:

Recommended literature:

1. Wallace Wang : The Structure of Game Design. Springer, 2023. ISBN 3031322010.

2. Jesse Schell : The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third Edition 3rd Edition. CRC Press, 2019.

ISBN 1138632058.

3. Robert Nystorm : Game Programming Patterns. Genever Benning; 1st edition, 2014. ISBN 0990582906.

Note:

Course is a replacement/update of NI-APH course. Lectures are recorded and available to students. Course is taught in Czech.

Further information:

https://courses.fit.cvut.cz/ANI-VGA

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Master specialization Computer Security, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization Design and Programming of Embedded Systems, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Systems and Networks, in Czech, 202 (elective course)
• Master specialization Management Informatics, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization Software Engineering, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization System Programming, in Czech, version from 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization Web Engineering, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization Knowledge Engineering, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Science, in Czech, 2020 (elective course)
• Mgr. programme, for the phase of study without specialisation, ver. for 2020 and higher (elective course)
• Study plan for Ukrainian refugees (elective course)
• Master specialization System Programming, in Czech, version from 2023 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Science, in Czech, 2023 (elective course)
• Quantum Informatics (elective course)