Work in CMPS 80K is divided into four main components:
Of the total course grade, the lecture component is worth 34%, critical analysis 24%, project 30%, and the final exam is worth 10%.
A necessary but not sufficient precondition for passing the course is individually passing the lecture, critical analysis, and game project components (described below).
Specifically, each aspect of the course contributes the following percentage to the final grade.
Lecture Component (34%):
To pass the lecture component requires at minimum a 50% exam average. Please contact the Professor immediately if you do not attend an exam.
Critical Analyis (24%)
Critical analysis exercises include game session logging, and game analysis assignments. These will be individually graded, and together comprise 25% of the total course grade. Passing the critical analysis component requires at minimum a 50% average for the analysis assignments.
Project Component (32%):
Passing the project component requires at minimum a 50% average for your individual contributions to the project, and requires the submission of a completed computer game. You cannot pass the class without submitting a completed game project. All teams are required to demonstrate their completed game in-class.
Final Examination (10%):
The final examination counts for 10% of the total course grade. You cannot pass the class without taking the final exam.
Project deliverables and the multi-game analysis are due at the beginning of class. Since Gamelog assignments are submitted electronically, then are due at 11:59PM on the due date. Due dates are specified on the course syllabus. Late items automatically receive no credit (0 points for that assignment), though the Professor may, at his discretion, give credit for late submissions. In extenuating circumstances, assignments and/or project deliverables may be turned in late with prior approval from the Professor.
Each project deliverable (excepting the existing game modification, and the final project submission) may be corrected, and then submitted for regrading within a week of receiving a grade for that deliverable. Up to half of all points lost on that deliverable may be recovered during regrading.
Critical analysis assignments (and exams, of course) are performed individually. Project deliverables, except for the existing game modification assignment, are a joint effort by each project team.
Any confirmed academic dishonesty including but not limited to copying another's assignment, cheating on exams, and copying project work without giving credit to the author of the work products, will result in a no-pass or failing grade. Students are encouraged to read the campus policies regarding academic integrity.
Occasionally, one or more group members contribute less effort to the project than others. In CMPS 80K, this is initially viewed as a management challenge: how to motivate and coordinate under-performing team members. Groups experiencing this problem are encouraged to meet with the Professor or TA to discuss management tactics.
If, during the quarter, multiple managerial approaches have been tried without success, and it is clear that one group member is effectively no longer contributing to a team, the Professor may remove that person from a team. The removed team member then comprises a single person team, and is personally responsible for all subsequent project deliverables.
If, at the end of the quarter, multiple managerial approaches have been tried without success but the team has stayed together, it is possible to ask the Professor to assess the relative contributions of each team member. The Professor sends out an email questionnaire asking each member to rate the relative contributions of every team member (including themselves) by dividing 100 points among all team members. For example, if there are four team members, and each member contributed equally, each would receive 25 points. Based on this data, the Professor may, at his discretion, modify the total project grades of one or more team members.
Note that if no effort was made to attempt managerial solutions to the problem, then no reassessment of course grades will be permitted. This reflects the viewpoint that the situation reflects a failure to address an obvious managerial problem, as well as the failure of some team members to contribute their share of the work.
Last updated: 1/2/2008