THE MAGIC CIRCLE PRINCIPLES OF GAMING & SIMULATION.doc

Printable VersionCPSC 6148Fall 201183831 Course SyllabusCPSC 6148 Simulation and Gaming(Online)Last updated: 8/11/2011InstructorChristopher C. Whitehead, PhDE-mail: whitehead_christophercolumbusstate.edu Office: CCT 441Office Hours:  TR 11:00 am-2:45 pm, 4:30-5:15 pm, W 1:00-2:00 pmContacting Me: For issues related to this course, please email me within CougarView. If you need to discuss something with me personally but cannot do so during my posted office hours, please feel free to contact me to arrange a more appropriate time. Cell Phone: (706) 315-5946Office Phone: (706) 507-8181Department Phone: (706) 507-8170Department Fax: (706) 565-3529Web Site: http:/csc.columbusstate.edu/whitehead Required TextbooksTitle: The Magic Circle: Principles of Gaming & Simulation (Third and Revised Edition)Author: Jan H. G. Klabbers Publisher: Sense PublishersISBN-13:  978-9087900069 Year: 2009 Course DescriptionThis course will explore the use of simulation in gaming. The history of gaming will be reviewed and the theory of gaming will be examined together with the various methodologies for building and evaluating gaming models. In addition, students will examine case studies of how simulation has been implemented in various disciplines including economics, political science, psychology and business management, and the military.      Course OutcomesThe following are this course's outcomes:§ Students will demonstrate knowledge of gaming theory.· Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:o Study of gaming theory.· ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.· Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.· Assessment methods: research summaries, quizzes, exams, and course project documentation and implementation. § Students will demonstrate knowledge of model building perspectives relevant to gaming.· Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:o Study of model building perspectives relevant to gaming.· ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.· Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.· Assessment methods: research summaries, quizzes, exams, and course project documentation and implementation. § Students will demonstrate knowledge of techniques for implementing simulation within gaming.· Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:o Study of techniques for implementing simulation within gaming.· ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.· Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.· Assessment methods: research summaries, quizzes, exams, and course project documentation and implementation. § Students will demonstrate knowledge of evaluation methodologies.· Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:o Study of evaluation methodologies.· ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.· Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.· Assessment methods: research summaries, quizzes, exams, and course project documentation and implementation. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.· Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:o Completion of project proposal, analysis and design and implementation documentation.· ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, F, G, I, J and K.· Program objectives covered:  6 and 8.· Assessment methods: research summaries and course project documentation and implementation. Assessment MethodsGrades in this course will be based on the following assessments:§ Weekly research summaries -  30% § Weekly quizzes - 10%§ Midterm Exam - 15%§ Final Exam - 15%§ Course Project - 30%In addition, the Course Project will be broken down into the following percentages:§ Course Project Requirements Definition - 25%§ Course Project Design - 25% § Course Project Implementation - 25%§ Course Project Evaluation Plan, Testing, and Project Summary - 25%Final grades will be assigned according to the following schedule: PercentageGrade90 100 A 80 89B 70 79C 60 69D <60F  How to Access the CourseThis course is being offered through CougarView. You can access CougarView at: https:/colstate.view.usg.edu/   Your CougarView username and password are the same as your CougarNet username and password.Once you've entered CougarView, you will see a list of courses you have access to which contains some combination of the phrases "CPSC 6148" and "Fall 2011."  If you don't see this entry in the list, please e-mail me. Once you have clicked on the course's name and accessed the particular course itself, you will find a home page with links to other sections and tools. The first thing you should do is read the "Welcome (read first)" information. This information will give you a feel for what's available in the particular CougarView classroom environment and explain in more detail how the course will work. Once you've read this information, please feel free to explore the other areas, particularly the Course Content and Discussions.  How This Course Will WorkThis course will consist of readings, weekly research summaries, weekly quizzes, exams, and a final project. On a weekly basis, you will need to:1. review the week's lesson (approx. one hour per week);2. complete the weekly readings (approx. three hours per week);3. submit the weekly research summary (approx. three hours per week); and4. complete the weekly quiz (approx. one hour per week).In addition to the weekly requirements, you will need to:5. prepare for and complete the exams (approx. one hour per week); and 6. decide on and complete a final project (approx. one hour per week).Expected workload: 10 hours per week  Student ResponsibilitiesAs a student in this course, you are responsible to:§ manage your time and maintain the discipline required to meet the course requirements, § complete all readings, § complete all weekly quizzes,§ complete and submit all assignments,§ decide on and develop a final project, and § read any e-mail sent by the instructor and respond accordingly. “I didnt know” is not an acceptable excuse for failing to meet the course requirements. If you fail to meet your responsibilities, you do so at your own risk.  Instructor ResponsibilitiesAs your instructor in this course, I am responsible to:§ post weekly lessons outlining the assignments for the week; § read all weekly research summaries; § grade weekly summaries, quizzes, exams, assignments and the course project deliverables and post scores within one week of the end of the week in which they are submitted; and § read any e-mail sent by students and respond accordingly within 48 hours.  Attendance PolicyAttendance will be based on submission of the weekly research summaries and weekly quizzes. If you do not submit either of these for two or more weeks in a row, you may receive a WF. If an emergency prevents you from submitting a summary or quizz, please contact me to make alternative arrangements.   Tentative ScheduleThe following is the tentative schedule for the course. It is subject to change. A current schedule will be maintained in the CougarView calendar. WEEKDATES READINGS/TOPICS18/15 - 8/21Chapter 1 - Kaleidoscopic perspective on game, play, and simulation 28/22 - 8/28Chapter 2 - The gaming landscape in the 20th century 38/29 - 9/4Chapter 3 - Interactive learning through gaming  9/5Labor Day Holiday49/6 - 9/11Chapter 4 - Theory of gaming: A complexity science approach 9/11Course Project Requirements Definition Due59/12 - 9/18Chapter 5 - Gaming methodology: Views on model building 69/19 - 9/25Chapter 6 - Game science: What sort of science is it? 79/26 - 10/2Chapter 7 - Evaluation methodology 810/3 - 10/9Chapter 8 - System dynamics & interactive simulation  10/9Course Project Design Due 10/10 - 10/11Fall Break - No assignments910/12 - 10/16Midterm Exam1010/17 - 10/23Chapter 9 - Management of human capital 1110/24 - 10/30Chapter 10 - Policy options addressing climate change 1210/31 - 11/6Chapter 11 - General management game: FUNO  11/6Course Project Implementation Due1311/7 - 11/13Chapter 12 - Epilogue1411/14 - 11/20Gaming and Simulation Case Studies 11/21 - 11/27Thanksgiving Holiday1511/28 - 12/4Gaming and Simulation Case Studies 12/4Course Project Evaluation and Summary Due 12/6 - 12/11Final Exam   Course ProjectThe details concerning the course project will be available within CougarView.  Assignment Due DatesAll assignments are due during the week in which they are assigned and no later than 11:59 PM (23:59) (Eastern Time). The due dates for each assignment will be given in the weekly lessons, as part of the posted thread, and in the course's calendar. Assignments submitted or modified after the assignment due date will assessed a late penalty as described below.  Late AssignmentsIf circumstances prevent the timely posting of assignments, please notify me by e-mail within CougarView. Unless you make prior arrangements with me, any assignment submitted after its assigned due date will be considered late. Late assignments may be submitted up to three days beyond their assigned due date and are subject to a 10% reduction in points for each day they are submitted beyond the assigned due date. Assignments not submitted by the assigned due date or within the three days following the assigned due due will be assessed a grade of zero (0).    Extra CreditThere are no provisions for extra credit in this course.  IncompletesIf unusual circumstances preclude you from completing the course and you have satisfactorily completed all the other course requirements up until that point, I will award you a grade of "Incomplete" provided you contact me regarding the unusual circumstances and you agree to certain conditions for removal of the "Incomplete." You must, however, contact me and arrange for the Incomplete  as soon as you are aware that you will be unable to complete the course and before the last day of class.  SoftwareIn this course, you may use any simulation development environment (including Flexim and Arena) to develop your course project.  Obtaining MSDNAA SoftwareAs a student in this course, you are eligible for free Microsoft software development software. This software is available from the MSDNAA site at: If you live or work in the local Columbus area, you can drop by the Department of Computer Science on the fourth floor in the Center for Commerce and Technology building and check out a copy of the CDs for any software listed on the MSDNAA site. If you do not live or work in the local Columbus area, you may either download the software or request that the CDs be mailed to you. Downloading the software. Shortly after the semester begins, you should receive an email message sent to your CSU email address that includes your MSDNAA account information. If you do not receive this message, simply access the MSDNAA site ( click on "Your Account" in the upper, right-hand menu, then click on "Forgot your password?" link under the "Sign In" button. In the resulting page, enter your CSU email address and click on the "Submit" button. If the system still does not recognize you, please send a message to cscolumbusstate.edu. Be sure to include your CSU email address in the message.  Once the software has been downloaded, it must be installed in accordance with the Developer Academic Alliance Usage Guidelines (  Requesting the CDs be mailed to you. As an alternative to downloading the software, you may request the software CDs be mailed to you. Simply send an e-mail message to our department secretary Dianne Phillips (cscolumbusstate.edu). Include in the message the software you are requesting, your name, address, and the name and number of this course. Once you have received the CDs, you must install the software in accordance with the Developer Academic Alliance Usage Guidelines ( Once you have installed the software, you must place the CDs back in the box they came in (or a suitable container) and return them to the Department of Computer Science. There should be a return label in the box the CDs were sent to you in, but you will have to pay for the return postage.   Technical SupportYou must have the ability to administer your own computer system(s), and to install and configure your own software. Ordinarily, I can only provide limited support.   Academic Honesty/Plagiarism PolicyAcademic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, activities such as cheating and plagiarism (http:/ace.columbusstate.edu/advising/a.php#AcademicDishonestyAcademicMisconduct).  It is a basis for disciplinary action. Any work turned in for individual credit must be entirely the work of the student submitting the work. All work must be your own. For group projects, the work must be done only by members of the group. You may share ideas but submitting identical assignments (for example) will be considered cheating. You may discuss the material in the course and help one another with debugging; however, any work you hand in for a grade must be your own. A simple way to avoid inadvertent plagiarism is to talk about the assignments, but don't read each other's work or write solutions together unless otherwise directed by me. For your own protection, keep scratch paper and old versions of assignments to establish ownership until after the assignment has been graded and returned to you. If you have any questions about this, please contact me immediately. For assignments, access to notes, the course textbooks, books and other publications is allowed. All work that is not your own, MUST be properly cited. This includes any material found on the Internet. Stealing or giving or receiving any code, diagrams, drawings, text or designs from another person (CSU or non-CSU, including the Internet) is not allowed. Having access to another persons work on the computer system or giving access to your work to another person is not allowed. It is your responsibility to prevent others from having unauthorized access to your work. No cheating in any form will be tolerated. Penalties for academic dishonesty may include a zero grade on the assignment or exam/quiz, a failing grade for the course, suspension from the Computer Science program, and dismissal from the program. All instances of cheating will be documented in writing with a copy placed