Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:  

• Describe and apply the iterative game design process
• Create and analyse board game rule systems on a prototype level
• Explain different subthemes of game design like narrative design, level design etc.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 30.08.2021 - 20.10.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Miikka Junnila

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The course covers the bases of theory and methods of game design and includes practical design exercises. The nature of games and game design is discussed, meaningful decisions and balance of chance and skill. Different subthemes inside game design are also covered by visiting speakers, including prototyping, level design, narrative design, mobile game design and game design values. Board game design exercises bring a hands-on aspect to the course.

   

   

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The course is assessed based on the written lecture reflections.

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  One week intensive workshop with lectures and exercises (40h), followed by weekly lectures by industry specialists and group discussions on those (18h). Also independent work, looking into extra materials to go deeper and writing a reflection based on that (24h).

DETAILS

Study Material

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Extra reading materials for those interested:

  Schell, J. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. Morgan Kaufmann 

   

   

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The course usually gets full of game major and minor students. If you don t fit in, consider the course Game Design Basics, which covers some of the same topics in workshop format.

  Teaching Period:

  2020-2021 Autumn I

  2021-2022 Autumn I

  Teaching period changed by decision of Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25 August, 2020.

  Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=DOM-E5080

  Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

  In Weboodi, at the latest one week before the course starts.

   

  The order of priority for admitting students to courses at Aalto ARTS 1.1.2018 onwards (approved by The Committee of Arts, Design and Architecture on 10.10.2017)

  The order of priority is as follows:

  1. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have scheduled it for the current academic year in their personal study plan (HOPS);
  2. exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester;
  3. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
  4. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year
  5. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
  6. students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
  7. students, for whom the course is part of his/her minor subject s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
  8. students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
  9. other students.

   

  Courses that are intended to be multidisciplinary (e.g. UWAS courses) may apply an order of priority based on the learning outcomes of the course, while bearing in mind the university obligation of enabling students to complete their degrees within the normative duration of study set for the degree. The order of priority does not apply to courses organised by the Centre for General Studies or doctoral courses.

  This decision on the order of priority does not influence the right of the teacher to define prerequisites for the course.

Description