All dates and assignments are tentative except for the final exam
date. I will adjust this schedule as the semester progresses.
| Week |
Monday Class |
Wednesday Class |
Readings |
| 1 Jan 9, 11 |
Lecture: Introduction to
Game Design |
Assign first game teams
Lecture: Working
in a Group |
Part 1: Design Theory
(pp. 12–31) |
| 2 Jan 16, 18 |
No Class — MLK Day |
Lecture: Play, The
Magic Circle, and Rules as Limitations and Affordances |
|
| 3 Jan 23, 25 |
|
Assignment: Game Analysis #1
Lecture: Definitions of Game
Play |
|
| 4 Jan 30, Feb 1 |
Lecture: A Game
Ontology |
First game due
Assign second game teams |
|
| 5 Feb 6, 8 |
Game Analysis #1 due (midnight)
|
Lecture:
Game Mechanics and Genres |
|
| 6 Feb 13, 15 |
Assignment: Game demo request
|
Second game concept
due |
|
| 7 Feb 20, 22 |
Lecture: Game Concept Documents
Game demo choice due |
Game Demo 1: Birth of the Federation (strategy)
Game Demo 2:
Civilization (strategy)
Game Demo 3: Combat Arms (first-person
shooter) |
Time
Atari Article |
| 8 Feb 27, 29 |
Midterm Exam:
open-book, open internet
|
Second game due
Assign third game teams
|
|
| 9 Mar 5, 7 |
Game Demo 4:
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (fighting)
Game Demo 5: Dark Souls (role playing)
Game Demo 6: Portal (puzzle) |
Game Demo 7:
League of Legends (fighting)
Game Demo 8: Eve Online (simulation)
Game Demo 9:
Borderlands (role-playing) |
Part 2: Design Process
(pp. 72–160) |
| 10 Mar 12, 14 |
No Class — Spring Break |
No Class — Spring Break |
|
| Mar 19, 21 |
Lecture: Idea Generation
Assignment: Game Analysis #2 (Non-Video Game)
Game Demo 10: L.A.
Noire (exploring / adventure)
|
Lecture: Narratives and Objectives |
|
| 11 Mar 26, 28 |
Third game concept due |
Game Demo 11:
Darksiders (adventure / puzzle)
Game Analysis #2 due (11:30pm) |
|
| 12 Apr 2, 4 |
Game Demo 13: Castlevania -- Aria of Sorrow (platform /
fighter / adventure) |
Game Demo 12:
iPhone Puzzle Games (puzzle / mobile)
Game Demo 14:
Soul Caliber 5 (fighting)
|
|
| 13 Apr 9, 11 |
Third game prototype
due |
Lecture: Designing
Game Demo 15:
Super Mario Brothers 3 (platform)
|
|
| 14 Apr 16, 18 |
Third game prototype due #2;
allowing
(perhaps partial) gameplay
|
Game Demo 16:
Bastion (role-playing)
Game Demo 17:
Minecraft (sandbox) |
|
| 15 Apr 23, 25 |
Lecture: Level Design
Game Demo 18:
DJ Max Portable (music game) |
Third game class
presentation
Game Demo Night, 6 pm |
|
| 16 |
Mon, April 30:
Final Exam, 3–6 pm, Butler
100 |