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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 PartitioningExam taken during classPutting it all togetherTopic: Guest Speaker from XYZ company -- Everyone should attend classTiles and BitsFinal Project Group Activity with Engine StudyPhysics and CollisionGameplay Systems - Devices, GUI, and Command Pattern2D Rendering TechniquesWork 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, 2026-Sep-02
PSET 01 Released (Due Sept. 13 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Sept. 20 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, 2026-Sep-04
-- --
Friday classes do not meet; Monday classes meet instead
Mike Presenting at DConf, lecture will be recorded

1

Monday, 2026-Sep-07
-- --
No Class; Labor Day

2

Wednesday, 2026-Sep-09
PSET 02 Released (Due Sept. 20 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Sept. 27 for up to 90%)
Add/Drop Period closes Sept. 11 at 5:00pm ET

2

Monday, 2026-Sep-14
PSET 03 Released (Due Sept. 25 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 02 for up to 90%)
-- --

3

Wednesday, 2026-Sep-16
-- --
Mike at CPPCON, lecture will be pre-recorded and posted on module page for you to watch.

3

Monday, 2026-Sep-21
PSET 04 Released (Due Oct. 09 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 16 for up to 90%)
-- --

4

Wednesday, 2026-Sep-23
-- --
-- --

4

Monday, 2026-Sep-28
PSET 05 Released (Due Oct. 09 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 16 for up to 90%)'
-- --

5

Wednesday, 2026-Sep-30
-- --
-- --

5

Monday, 2026-Oct-05
-- --
-- --

6

Wednesday, 2026-Oct-07
PSET 06 Released (Due Oct. 18 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Deadline Oct. 27 for up to 90%)'
-- --

6

Monday, 2026-Oct-12
-- --
Final Project Specification Out
Please do the in-class activity for your team survey -- this is graded!

7

Wednesday, 2026-Oct-14
-- --
Sample of Previous Year Final Projects

7

Monday, 2026-Oct-19
Exam taken during class
Exam Study Guide Link (Click me).
Exam otherwise includes any other materials from lecture, slides, and homeworks.

8

Wednesday, 2026-Oct-21
-- --
October Recess

8

Monday, 2026-Oct-26
PSET 07 Released (Due Nov. 02 Anywhere on Earth)

(Late Nov. 09 for up to 90%)
-- --

9

Wednesday, 2026-Oct-28
-- --
Tentative Guest Speaker from XYZ company
I am expecting everyone enrolled to attend (the video will not be posted until after the exam).

9

Monday, 2026-Nov-02
-- --
-- --

10

Wednesday, 2026-Nov-04
PSET08(Due Nov. 11 Anywhere on Earth)

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

10

Monday, 2026-Nov-09
-- --

11

Wednesday, 2026-Nov-11
-- --

11

Monday, 2026-Nov-16
-- --
Complete the 'alpha' portion of your final project by end of day.

12

Wednesday, 2026-Nov-18
-- --
Mike presenting at Graphics Programming Conference in Europe -- class pre-recoreded

12

Monday, 2026-Nov-23
-- --
November Recess

13

Wednesday, 2026-Nov-25
-- --
November Recess

13

Monday, 2026-Nov-30
-- --
We will be checking for your 'beta' milestone deliverable two days after this lecture.

14

Wednesday, 2026-Dec-02
-- --

14

Monday, 2026-Dec-07
-- --
-- --

15

Wednesday, 2026-Dec-09
'Final project due Dec. XX 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. XX from 6-8pm in Loria 250
Please do not redistribute or host any materials without e-mailing me first. Thank you for your time!