Assessor Resource

ICAGAM508A
Develop complex 3-D software for games and interactive media

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to games programmers working in the game development industry.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop complex 3-D software for games or interactive media.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

employ multiple 3-D frameworks or libraries

build an appropriate GUI to develop complex 3-D applications with documentation generated by appropriate tools.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

suitable 3-D equipment, software and hardware

technical manuals

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

evaluation of work samples or simulated workplace activities

observation of game production activities

verbal questioning or interview concerning aspects of game development, including:

capability of game engines and software tools to meet the requirements of the brief

evaluating game prototypes from technical, design and game-play perspectives

game testing and trialling procedures

maintaining integrity of the design brief and game design document

risk assessment and critical path planning

translating design and technical specifications into working game prototypes.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

analytical skills to interpret documentation and images to inform implementation of game specifications

communication skills to:

check and confirm brief requirements

communicate clearly using speech and text

communicate technical requirements related to software development, graphics requirements and code development to supervisors and other team members

give constructive feedback

literacy and numeracy skills to read briefs, game documentation, scripts, storyboards, scenarios, images, and technical and conceptual information

planning and organisational skills to:

refer decisions to a higher project authority for review and endorsement

balance talent, experience and budget

delegate tasks and responsibility appropriately

establish clear roles and goals to achieve required game development outcomes

meet project deadlines

problem-solving skills to recognise and address quality issues and problems

teamwork skills to:

contribute to and work in a collaborative team

realise a unified game-play vision

technical skills to:

implement programming solutions for specified problems

resolve basic hardware, software and other technical issues associated with game.

Required knowledge

complex 3-D application development

debugging techniques

documentation techniques

object-oriented 3-D programming concepts

object-oriented 3-D programming language

techniques for using a GUI to interact with a user

techniques for using multiple games-oriented libraries.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

3-D, audio and physics libraries may include:

bullet

direct sound

directX

FMOD

Irrlicht

newton

OGRE

openGL.

Configure a 3-D environment must include:

device selection

game resolution

screen colour depth

output performance such as:

anti-aliasing

level of detail

filtering

caustics and refraction.

Language may include:

C#.net

C++

Java

Small Talk

VB.NET.

Virtual objects must include:

audio managers

cameras

lights

physics managers

viewports.

Pre-constructed models refers to:

3-D mesh data containing predefined animation sequences that are retrieved from persistent storage using script or code

developed in-house

purchased third party.

Animate must include:

animation selection/playback for pre-constructed models

based on user input

driven by code

dynamic camera movement as required by game play.

Objects may include:

cameras

lights

pre-constructed meshes.

Environmental elements may include:

audio

render filters

simulated physics

tactile feedback.

Integrated development environment may include:

Code Warrior

Code::Blocks

Eclipse

J-Edit

Visual C++

Visual Studio suite.

Documentation may include:

architecture documentation

code comments

design documents

in-code documentation

internal module documentation

release documents

requirement documents

test documents

user manuals.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Employ integrated development environment facilities to include existing 3-D, audio and physics libraries suitable for games or interactive media production 
Configure a 3-D environment compatible with a specified platform by using existing library facilities and appropriate language 
Instantiate virtual objects in a complex 3-D environment 
Import complex pre-constructed models retrieved from persistent storage into a 3-D environment using scripts or library routines 
Use code to animate 3-D objects required by game play 
Use code to handle collisions between objects in a 3-D environment 
Use code to manipulate the texturing and other attributes of models during run-time execution 
Incorporate environmental elements to enhance user experience 
Select and use appropriate exception handling techniques to ensure program stability in a complex 3-D environment that uses multiple libraries 
Employ integrated development environment facilities to include existing 3-D compatible GUI controls suitable for complex games or interactive media production 
Combine predefined GUI elements to create a complex interface for a 3-D environment 
Modify scripts or code to customise existing GUI elements for a complex interface 
Write code that processes events raised by a complex GUI in a 3-D environment 
Use GUI events to modify the configuration of a complex 3-D environment 
Use stand-alone debugging tools or tools provided by an integrated development environment to examine variables and trace running code across multiple libraries 
Employ debugging facilities, such as log windows or files to detect logical and coding errors 
Identify and choose suitable integrated or third-party documentation tools 
Create and maintain code documentation for a complex 3-D project using selected integrated or third-party tools 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICAGAM508A - Develop complex 3-D software for games and interactive media
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ICAGAM508A - Develop complex 3-D software for games and interactive media

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: