University - Dissertation

[jcb33]

Hey all,

Well the third year is drawing ever closer, and I need to decide what to do for a dissertation. My course has basically told us we need to think about it over summer, but we cant start working on it because they wont say yes or no to a topic.

They also said that we are not allowed to do a dissertation, we must instead do a “Project” which equates to 15,000 words worth of effort, we must produce and deliver an artefact, and a written report. It must be a research worthy project. Example they gave was Earth deformation simulation (We have no idea how to do this). It has to demonstrate the skills we have learnt since being at university. It also needs to follow the software development lifecycle documentation wise.

I should note I am on Computer Games Production, A creative course that does not involve programing (Though I did do basic Java)

I have no idea what to do, I had solid ideas for a dissertation but then they drop this on us, I would love to do something in 3D but I cannot think of anything worthwhile to do that proves anything or that is research worthy. I however really want to get some work in on it before the start of next year so any help would be appreciated on finding something good to do.

What is worse is that we have about 6 weeks when we get back of introduction lectures and workshops on dissertation, nothing else, 6 weeks of no other units being taught, but assignments still being set for them!

Thanks,
Jcb33.

 

[Nitefly]

I should note I am on Computer Games Production, A creative course that does not involve programing (Though I did do basic Java)

Not a helpful post, but that seems a very unusual degree. What makes this degree appeal to you / what do you do in it?

 

[Deiwos]

A lot of the people on my course who did Games Development did learning games for school children. The best one was a game designed in XNA to teach kids about how the bloodstream works etc.

I think that learning games are the best sort of thing you could look at, as they're such a huge research area and are the sort of thing you can begin to look at over summer without being too selective on the precise subject.

Things like Autism, special needs, children of varying learning capacity etc are good things to look at.

 

[Nitefly]

A lot of the people on my course who didn't Games Development did learning games for school children. The best one was a game designed in XNA to teach kids about how the bloodstream works etc.

I think that learning games are the best sort of thing you could look at, as they're such a huge research area and are the sort of thing you can begin to look at over summer without being too selective on the precise subject.

Things like Autism, special needs, children of varying learning capacity etc are good things to look at.

Thats an excellent idea.

 

[peetee]

There was an example diss in library that my mate got out, which turned out to be a project that someone else on my course did this year too, basically it was a game of pong, but for visually impaired users, so the colours would be bright and vivid etc, and there was research about visual impairment, but the main feature was the audio feedback, so the user didnt have to possess sight, as they would be able to figure where the ball was via audio alone..

Its probably going to be easier if you tell us what you have actually done in second year, ie. What the module was called, what software you used and what you ended up doing/learning in that module?

Im not the best to ask about dissertation advice as I did mine in a week and only got 42% for it, but Iv probably done a lot of similar modules as you, it depressed me so much.

 

[jcb33]

Not a helpful post, but that seems a very unusual degree. What makes this degree appeal to you / what do you do in it?

Well first year I was on a different course, did programing, website creating, photoshop and other stuff. Then changed to this one as while I was good at programing I did not enjoy it, all units were the same bar programing. This year I did 3D Modelling, Games design (Creating mods, writing critiques, designing a game), HCI, computers and society, group project and Multimedia (Which is using flash and after effects etc)

It apeals to me because of the 3D Elements and games design mostly, I aim to work in 3D when I leave...

I used 3D Max, Photoshop, After Effects, Flash (Never want to use that one again), Hammer (HL2 Editor) Microsoft Word (Lots and lots of writing ), I have done some Java in the first year but I am not able to program in C++ or use XNA etc currently...

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

I read "dissertation" and came out in a cold sweat and had flashbacks of watching 'Neighbours', drinking beer and listening to loud music when I should have been doing more important things.

Not a helpful post I realise so sorry about that

 

[nightwish]

Call me stupid... but what's the difference between a "dissertation" and a "project"?

 

[Ripper]

Nothing, different uni's either call them dissertations or final year projects.

I did an online examination website, no reason you couldn't do something similar as a game. You could research computer aided learning and the uptake of ICT in schools to justify your idea. You'll find similar systems already in place but a lot of them are complete pap and you can talk about the shortcomings of these systems and why yours will be better.

 

[Eriedor]

Call me stupid... but what's the difference between a "dissertation" and a "project"?

A dissertation is typically associated with subjects such as humanities where as projects are typically associated to scientific subjects.

My 3rd year project was 4k LoC and 14k word report :s

The learning game idea is a good one as the lecturers will lap up the whole helping kids or disabled people learn. The way I chose my 3rd and 4th year projects was to take an idea that had already been done before and extend upon it, or take it in a new direction.

 

[aa6972]

What is worse is that we have about 6 weeks when we get back of introduction lectures and workshops on dissertation, nothing else, 6 weeks of no other units being taught, but assignments still being set for them!

Thanks,
Jcb33.

Does your dissertation require primary research or just a project type? better to read the requirement and marking outline first, go to your libary and see what other people have done , you might be able to improve their dissertation? when I did mine, I actually finished in the first month or so.. but rather then show it to my tutor in one go, I did it in bits as it shows progess...

So.. was game production an interesting course? they do that course near where i live and it seems quite cool...

 

[Deiwos]

I used 3D Max, Photoshop, After Effects, Flash (Never want to use that one again), Hammer (HL2 Editor) Microsoft Word (Lots and lots of writing ), I have done some Java in the first year but I am not able to program in C++ or use XNA etc currently...

No offense, but it doesn't sound like you've got great job prospects with the things you've worked with, as jobs based solely on 3D modelling are few and far between, especially with zero actual programming experience.

Also, as far as your project goes your best bet are developing a learning game of some sort in 3DMax and the HL2 editor, as it's something that I know was done by guys at uni, but I imagine there was more to it than just that.

My uni loved the people who developed learning software in Flash, and flash IS really easy to learn if you bothered to look at it.

Also, XNA I'm told (no experience myself) is quite an easy language to learn, as my friend who did his project in it learnt XNA over the summer, so it's something you should look at.

 

[peetee]

If you're thinking of using Flash to do a programme make sure you also look at Director, Iv used both repeatedly, and stupidly chose to use Flash for my diss, whereas Director is the better tool half the time and IMO has a better programming language...(usually less to write)

This isnt always true, I think its probably about 50% of the time.