Units
Fundamentals of Game Design
Unit code: INB280
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Modern games production is a complex process involving various businesses and organisations, working with budgets in the tens of millions. One of the roles within a game production team is that of the game designer. It is crucial that a game designer understands how to create a game world, the rules that govern game play and other high level design tasks. This subject provides an introduction to game design, by starting with high level conceptual design tasks before moving to more concrete tasks.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Modern games production is a complex process involving teams in the order of a hundred people or more, working with budgets in the tens of millions. One of the roles within a game production team is that of the game designer. It is crucial that a game designer understands how to create a game world, the rules that govern game play and other high level design tasks, as the result of these activities can determine whether the player finds the game enjoyable or not. This subject provides an introduction to game design, by starting with high level conceptual design tasks before moving to more concrete tasks.
Assumed Knowledge
It is expected that students undertaking this unit will have an understanding of computer and video games and the game industry, as developed in INB180.
Aims
The aim of this subject is to introduce students to the field of game design. This unit will provide you with theoretical and practical knowledge of games design; that is, the activities undertaken by game designers and their purpose. By the end of this unit you will have the knowledge to identify problems and suggest solutions for innovative game designs, as well as understand how to start the process of designing a game yourself. You will possess both practical and theoretical knowledge of game design issues such as: how to design a game world, how to define rules for the world and how to balance the rules to ensure enjoyable game play. At the end of the subject, students will have worked in a small project team to create a game (or game prototype) that demonstrates their understanding of these concepts.
Objectives
On the completion of this unit you should be able to:
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to pursue professional activities in the area of game design. These include theoretical and practical knowledge of game design issues such as designing a game at a high level, creating rules and balancing game-play, designing a system of competition and understanding how the design affects the user (GC1).
- Apply critical and creative thinking to the examination of game behaviour and the evaluation of game design issues, including the effectiveness of game rules, concepts and balance (GC2).
- Demonstrate understanding of how game elements may be combined in a game design process to produce positive user experiences (GC6).
- Identify, discuss and justify opinions on major issues related to the theory and practice of game design (GC6)
- Contribute to multi-disciplinary group discussions and participate in the development of game ideas (GC5).
Key:Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and skills
GC2 - Critical and creative thinking
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and ethical responsibility
Content
The topics that will be covered in this subject include:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The teaching in this unit will be comprised of an intensive period of lectures which will take place during the early part of semester. Lectures will provide stimulus material when appropriate, but much of the learning will take place through active participation in a practical setting. Lectures will explore critical issues and examples of good and bad game design. This information will provide you with the knowledge required to understand the process of designing a game, the tasks that are involved and what separates good game design from bad game design, both in theory and in practice.
Practicals will give you a structured opportunity to apply lecture concepts through hands-on activities and to acquire practical skills in the design and analysis of a game. The activities you do in the practicals will provide you with the skills and knowledge that you will use in the major piece of assessment for this subject, a design project. Much of the learning in this unit is achieved through direct experience and discussion, therefore your active participation in practical sessions is encouraged.
Assessment
Appropriate assessment criteria will be made available to you at the introduction of each assignment.
Assessment name:
Reflective Journal
Description:
Throughout the semester you will be assessed on game development activities. One of these activities will be a journal showing development of ideas and decision making process.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Early in Semester
Assessment name:
Project (Applied)
Description:
You will be assessed on a design document which provides a template for the game demonstrated via prototype for assessment item 3.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 and 5
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group with Individual Component
Due date:
Mid Semester
Assessment name:
Design
Description:
You will be required to design a game and create a prototype demonstrating key aspects of the game in groups of 3, which will include supporting materials and evidence of playtesting.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 and 5
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
End Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Readings will be provided to students or made available via the library.
No extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit.
Risk assessment statement
There is minimal health and safety risk in this unit. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas and laboratories.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 14-May-2012
