Development of a Pedagogical Computer Game Engine Library in Support of Computer Science Education

这是一个概念验证项目，其中开发了支持各种电脑游戏类型开发的软件模块。这些软件模块可用于大学生电脑游戏设计与开发教学。该软件还可以作为一个外壳，用于本科生探索许多计算机科学学科，学生可以用自己的模块替换其中一个模块，从而使他们能够专注于特定的计算机科学学科，从基本数据结构和算法到数据库管理，并发编程问题，网络协议设计，分布式系统和安全，图形编程，用户界面设计，并设计人工智能算法；但仍然有能力创造一个电脑游戏。电脑游戏环境提供了一个非常强大的动机结构，大多数计算机科学专业的学生对它有一种天然的亲和力。将这些学科置于电脑游戏的结构中，可以帮助学生具体化和应用所学的概念。该软件是由密歇根大学的本科生和研究生开发的。该项目的成果和软件将通过适当的会议和互联网传播给更广泛的计算机游戏和计算机科学界。在密歇根大学，PI自1997年以来一直提供计算机游戏课程，而coPI一直在教授计算机网络课程。两所学院都开发了各自领域的教学软件包，已被全国其他大学的院系使用。

This is a proof of concept project in which software modules that support the development of a variety of computer game genres are developed. These software modules can be used to teach undergraduates computer game design and development. The software can also be used as a shell for explorations of many computer science disciplines for undergraduates where students can replace one of the modules with their own, thereby allowing them to concentrate on specific CS disciplines ranging from basic data structures and algorithms, to database management, issues in concurrent programming, design of network protocols, distributed systems and security, graphics programming, user interface design, and design of artificial intelligence algorithms; but still having the ability to create a computer game. The computer gaming context provides a very strong motivational construct to which most computer science students have a natural affinity. Placing these disciplines within the construct of a computer game helps students concretize and apply the concepts studied. The software is developed by University of Michigan undergraduate and graduate students. The results and software of this project are disseminated to the broader computer games and computer science community via appropriate conferences and the Internet. At the University of Michigan, the PI has been offering a Computer Games course since 1997 and the coPI has been teaching a Computer Networks course. Both PIs have developed pedagogical software packages in their respective fields that have been used by faculties in other universities nationwide.