Course Description

Fundamentals of Game Design

UW Bothell, Classroom, Autumn 2012

Instructor: Michael Moore

Tu, 10/9 - 12/11, 2012, 6-9 p.m.

Cost: $925 | 3 CEUs

This course covers a foundation of topics necessary to good game design. Its objective is to orient students to the numerous perspectives a designer must understand: psychology, project management, marketing, entertainment, narrative, technology, and others. The course also introduces the concept of a game design document and the other methods of communication that designers use to reduce their ideas to practice.

Over the course of the term students will work on creating a game design using the concepts explored in class. Students will work in groups to develop a game concept and prototype for presentation and review by peers and industry professionals.

Topics include:

• History of non-digital and digital gaming
• Overview of games and game industry today
• Economics of gaming and exploration of game genres
• Psychological dimensions of games, player objectives, rule systems, social game interaction, competitive and cooperative play, interface design and game mechanics
• Project management and team dynamics
• Conceiving and writing a game concept proposal
• Development of game prototypes and iterative playtesting