Computer science students making games: a study on skill gaps and requirement

Computer science (CS) is a field of practical and scientific approach on computation and applications. Consequently, the CS students should be able to adjust to develop different types of software applications. However, even though video games are one type of software, they also impose additional requirements for the developers. In this paper we present the results of our qualitative studies on how prepared CS students are to function as game developers. The paper assesses the knowledge gaps between students majoring in computer science and game developer needs in two ways; a longitudinal study on a game development course and a focused case study on developing a game. Based on our results there are differences in communication and planning approaches between the CS students and game developers, and skill needs for game development content on a traditional computer science course curricula.

[1]  Barry Ip,et al.  Fitting the Needs of an Industry: An Examination of Games Design, Development, and Art Courses in the UK , 2012, TOCE.

[2]  Naty Hoffman,et al.  Game development , 2006, SIGGRAPH Courses.

[3]  A. Strauss,et al.  The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research aldine de gruyter , 1968 .

[4]  Marcelo Soares Pimenta,et al.  Houston, we have a problem...: a survey of actual problems in computer games development , 2008, SAC '08.

[5]  Monica McGill.  Defining the expectation gap: a comparison of industry needs and existing game development curriculum , 2009, FDG.

[6]  Grant Kleeman.  Las Vegas, USA , 2014 .

[7]  J. Glenn Brookshear.  Computer Science: An Overview (9th Edition) , 2006 .

[8]  Melanie Birks,et al.  Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide , 2011, QMiP Bulletin.

[9]  Acm Ieee-Cs Joint Curriculum Task Force.  Computing Curricula 2001: Computer Science , 2002 .

[10]  Jonathan Blow,et al.  Game Development: Harder Than You Think , 2004, ACM Queue.

[11]  N. Leech,et al.  Validity and Qualitative Research: An Oxymoron? , 2007 .

[12]  S. A. Pedersen.  [Validity of qualitative research]. , 1990, Ugeskrift for laeger.

[13]  J. Glenn Brookshear.  Computer Science: An Overview , 1985 .

[14]  C. Brodsky.  The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research , 1968 .

[15]  Hisham M. Haddad,et al.  Software Engineering Challenges in Game Development , 2009, 2009 Sixth International Conference on Information Technology: New Generations.

[16]  Pamela Jordan.  Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques , 1994 .

[17]  Fu-Shing Sun,et al.  Teaching Design Patterns Through Computer Game Development , 2008, JERC.

[18]  C. Shaun Longstreet,et al.  Software engineering senior design course: experiences with agile game development in a capstone project , 2011, GAS '11.

[19]  Kari Smolander,et al.  How Applicable Is ISO/IEC 29110 in Game Software Development? , 2013, PROFES.

[20]  Kari Smolander,et al.  What do game developers expect from development and design tools? , 2013, EASE '13.

[21]  Kajal T. Claypool,et al.  Teaching software engineering through game design , 2005, ITiCSE '05.

[22]  Alf Inge Wang,et al.  Extensive Evaluation of Using a Game Project in a Software Architecture Course , 2011, TOCE.