Computer Game Production Curriculum 2004 Request for Proposals

This RFP has been awarded. To view the award recipients, see Computer Game Production Curriculum 2004 RFP Awards.

Worldwide, academia is embracing computer game development as an important theme in computer science curricula. Leading schools are investing in innovative new courses developed around computer gaming concepts to attract and retain students using the flash of graphics and drama of audio that computer gaming delivers. Combined with the relevant core computer science concepts, these new approaches will produce dynamic, engaging courses that deliver sensory tangible results. Put another way, this effort is meant to enhance CS courses by bridging the abstract with the concrete. Computer game production also fosters teamwork and multi-disciplinary efforts.

The resulting curriculum should have benefit and relevance to those academic institutions wishing to enhance their CS curriculum by offering game development courses to students. We expect this effort to result in the following:

• A freely available and highly portable comprehensive computer science curricula using computing game concepts.
• Increase the number of students participating in computer science.
• Raise the level of student participation in computer science.
• Deliver theoretical concept about graphics, animation, audio and other technical topics in a compelling, hands-on environment that shows tangible results using Microsoft DirectX® 9.0 or a more current version.
• Prepare students for computer game production opportunities.
• Enable the student to work in multi-disciplinary environments.

Goals & Objectives
The results from this RFP will be a set of innovative and reusable game development curricula. This material should merit dissemination and be recognized as moving the state of the art forward. The courses should use DirectX and should enhance computer science and game design curricula through the introduction of video gaming concepts such as graphics, audio production, performance management and classic CS topics relevant to computer game development.

With this announcement, Microsoft Research University Relations will fund a variety of projects to create, test and disseminate new curriculum introducing the fundamentals of computer science within the paradigm of computer game development.

Awards
The total amount available under this request for proposals (RFP) is $240,000. Microsoft Research anticipates making approximately three awards averaging $80,000 with a maximum of $100,000 for any single award. All awards will be made in $US as unrestricted gifts to the institution with the understanding that recipients should provide Microsoft Research with suitable progress reports at least twice yearly. Furthermore, Microsoft discourages any request for greater than $100,000. Such a request will not be considered for participation in this RFP process.

Awards under this program are for one year only, but may be renewable at the sole discretion of Microsoft Research.

Eligibility
Conditions of eligibility listed below will be strictly adhered to. Proposals not meeting all these criteria will not be considered.

1. The proposing institution must be an accredited four year college or university, with non-profit status, and located in one of the following regions: North, Central or South America, or India.
2. An institution will be awarded a maximum of one gift per RFP, regardless of the number of proposals submitted from the institution. However, collaborative proposals embracing multiple groups across the organization are encouraged.
3. Proposals that are incomplete, inaccurate, request funds in excess of the maximum award available, or are otherwise not responsive to the terms and conditions of this RFP will, at the sole discretion of Microsoft Research, be excluded from consideration.
4. Proposals from or on behalf of persons participating in the evaluation process for this RFP will not be considered.
5. Proposals should evidence a commitment to make all results arising from a funded project (including all intellectual property in those results) broadly available by either: (i) dedicating such results to the public domain; or (ii) making the results available under a non-restrictive license that allows modification and redistribution without any significant restrictions or conditions, such as the BSD license available at http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.html.) Proposals should further evidence willingness to contribute any resulting curriculum material to the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance Curriculum Repository at http://msdnaa.net/curriculum.
6. Computer game development topics address both technical and social concepts. However, proposals are actively solicited from primarily computationally-focused scientific disciplines. (The proposed project must result in the creation of content and other materials to facilitate the teaching of a course called “Introduction to Gaming and Game Development” or something similar and mutually agreed upon by the institution and by Microsoft Research. The funded project must include a commitment to deliver the created course material no later than the 2005-2006 academic year.)
7. The proposal and created course materials must be in English; however, translation of these course materials into other languages is highly desirable.

Selection Process and Criteria
All proposals received will be reviewed by Microsoft Research and eligible proposals will be evaluated by a panel of subject-matter experts chosen by Microsoft Research. All evaluations will be conducted anonymously. Based on evaluations by the review panel, Microsoft Research will select the most worthy proposals for funding. Microsoft Research reserves the right to fund proposals at an amount greater or less than the amount requested, up to the stated maximum amount for individual awards. Due to the volume of submissions, Microsoft Research cannot provide individual feedback on proposals that are not funded.

All proposals will be evaluated based upon the following general criteria:

1. Demonstrates need - identifies and explains the importance of teaching standard computer science principles complemented by those related to computer game production.
2. Originality of approach or teaching strategy designed to make computer gaming topics interesting, engaging and meaningful to students in the target discipline.
3. Scope and quality of deliverables, including the range of topics addressed, the type of assets created, procedures for ensuring the quality of those assets, and rationale for the production budget.
4. Thoroughness – Winning proposals must thoroughly explore and integrate all relevant gaming technologies: audio, graphics, performance sensitivity and compelling game play
5. Potential for wide dissemination and use of intellectual property created, including specific plans for publications, conference presentations, distance learning, as well as plans to distribute content in multiple formats and/or under non-restrictive (e.g. BSD-like) licensing terms.
6. Demonstration of ability to complete the project, including the adequacy of available resources, timelines, qualifications and number of identified contributors.
7. Qualifications of principal investigator, including previous history of work in the topic area, successful completion of previously funded projects, teaching awards, books published, and so on.

In addition, it is anticipated that winning proposals will feature one or more of the following attributes:

1. Relevance to contemporary technologies in widespread use. The proposed curriculum teaches concepts using modern languages, operating systems, tools, and other concepts that are in general widespread use in industry and academia.
2. Measurement of Outcomes. A process to monitor student outcomes, validate results, and demonstrate methodologies for change to the content that will encourage quality improvements over time.
3. Addressed to multiple technologies. The proposed curriculum illustrates multiple technologies or concepts to demonstrate a topic. Winning proposals will illustrate multiple examples and viewpoints for a given problem; focusing on one approach at the expense of others will fail to meet the requirements.

All proposals will also be evaluated based upon the following technical criteria:

1. Graphics - Demonstration of DirectX V9.0c, or the most current release of DirectX, to produce compelling designs and images.
2. Audio - Demonstration of DirectSound and DirectMusic to produce compelling music, sounds and, collectively, ambiance.
3. Reliability - Incorporation of topics such as reliable game play, hacker prevention, methods and motivations for cheating, reducing latency and system stability.
4. Innovation - For example, use, DirectInput in a gaming curriculum to show that it is not too complex to interface with “fancy” input devices (such as augmented reality devices, steering wheels, force-feedback joysticks, or dancing/martial art footpads) or a module on multiplayer environment using DirectPlay.

Game Engines

1. Some applicants may find that a game engine can accelerate the teaching of computer science game-related concepts. When using a game engine, the DirectX game engine is preferred. For instance, Vertigo Software’s Quake II .NET engine (located at http://www.vertigosoftware.com/Quake2.htm). Any game engine that is built with, and supports, Direct X V9.0c, or the most current release, code is acceptable.
2. If the game engine, like Vertigo’s QuakeII .NET engine, implies the GPL code license, modifying the engine will be not allowed within the scope of this RFP.

Acceptable game engines must meet the following criteria:

1. Support for reading simple scene-model and character-model file formats so that students can import/export from such applications as 3D Studio Max, Maya or Curious Labs Poser.
2. Support for the HLSL shading language.
3. Support DirectX.
4. Follow ease of use guidelines (such as an appendix, including tutorials and documentation).

More information regarding DirectX can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx .

Submission Process
Proposals will be accepted in electronic form only at http://research.microsoft.com/ur/rfp. Proposals submitted to Microsoft will not be returned. Microsoft cannot assume responsibility for the confidentiality of information in submitted proposals. Therefore, proposals should not contain information that is confidential, restricted or sensitive. Proposals that receive awards, except those portions containing budgetary or personally identifiable information, will be made public on Microsoft’s website(s).

Submissions must be in two parts

1. Complete proposal containing full detail on the proposed project. 7 pages maximum, 10pt. font or larger, double-spaced, in either Microsoft Word or .pdf format.
2. Brief summary and contact information. This information will be submitted through a web form as part of the submission process and must summarize briefly (250 words max.) each section of the proposal and demonstrate that the proposal meets eligibility requirements.

Proposals should address each of the items listed below under separate numbered headings as indicated.

1. Problem Statement - What is the problem or curriculum area addressed by the proposal and why is it important? What is the potential contribution to the field of the project if successful? Cite relevant work in the field as appropriate.
2. Expected outcomes - What tangible assets, if any, will be created or produced as a result of the proposed project? How will the results of this project be disseminated to others?
3. Schedule - When is the project to be completed? What milestones will be used to measure progress of the project and when will they be completed? (If the project described is part of a larger ongoing research program, estimate the time for completion of this project only).
4. Use of Funds - Provide a high-level budget ($US) describing how the award will be used, including purchases of hardware or software, salaries, and other costs.
5. Dissemination and Evaluation . How will the results of this project be evaluated (if appropriate), and how will they be disseminated to others? Under what general license terms will the results be made available?
6. Other Support - Including other contributions to this project (cash, goods or services), if any, but not including such things as use of university facilities otherwise provided on an ongoing basis. Please note: authors of winning proposals will be required to submit an original letter on department letterhead certifying the commitment of any additional or matching support described in the proposal.
7. Qualifications of Principal Investigator - Include a brief description of any relevant prior research, teaching, publication or other professional experience.

Schedule and Deadlines

Questions concerning this RFP should be sent to John Nordlinger, Program Manager, at urinq@microsoft.com. Please include "Gaming RFP" in the subject line of all e-mail to ensure prompt attention.

Microsoft Word version of this document