Instructor: Simeon Poulin – Parsons the New School for Design
Class Resources
Class Blog:
http://parsonsgames.wordpress.com
Supplies:
Book
Rules of Play by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman (optional but highly recommended)
Game Design Supplies:
Checkers/Chess Set
Dice (2xD6)
Deck of Cards
Large (11 x 17) Sketch Book
Small notebook
Markers and Pens
Poker Chips
Circle Labels
Week 1: Core Concepts
Day 1 – Monday August 2
INTRODUCTION
Introductions
Who are you?
Why are you here?
What do you want out of this class?
What…is your favorite game (digital or analog)
Why?
About Me
Example: My Thesis as a game system
Discussion + Q&A
Systems
a set of parts that that inter-relate to form a complex whole
(Zimmerman/Salen page 55)
- Puzzles/Riddles
- Chance
- Skill
- Bluffing
- Interactivity
- People interacting with systems
- Designing Interactions – Define your audience – Aim for them!
- Agency – people have to make meaningful choice within the game system
- Who is your audience
Play: Card Games
Examine Systems and Mechanics
Defining Games
- What defines a play experience?
- Mechanics – What do people do?
- Examples:
- Settlers of Catan (Trading Mechanic)
- Battleship – (Fog of War)
- RISK – (property/competitive)
- Pandemic – (property/cooperative)
- Poker – (Bluffing/Betting)
- Soccer (defending/attacking property)
- Stuff!
Magic Circle
- When are we playing?
- Can be broken if people give up/refuse to play
Context/Expectations – What are player’s expectations?
- Poker (lying) vs. Battleship (honesty)
Playing Games
- Strategy
- Tactics
- Emergent Behavior
Homework:
write a 1 page essay on what interests you about game design
Day 2 – Tuesday August 3
Present your essay+ Discussion
DESIGN PROCESS
Examine your favorite Board Game. What are the systems that make it work? Play a game Change one of the rules? How does it work? Better/Worse?
Rules
- Defining rules clearly – INSTRUCTIONS (hard)
- Complicated (Chess) vs. Simple (Go)
Mechanics
Discussion – Games as Motivation?
PLAY- RISK
- Critique of Instructions
- Examine mechanics and systems
- Look for emergent bahaviors
Homework:
Jane MacGonigal Video
Leave a response comment on the Blog.
Day 3 – Wednesday August 4
Discuss Video Comments
PLAY: Pandemic
- Compare and contrast to RISK
Begin Designing Board Games
(groups of 2-3 students)
Using:
1-Deck of standard cards
2- Dice (2 x d6)
3- Poker Chips – (Play pieces or currency)
4- Chess board (8 x 8 grid)
Design Constraints
Themes for games
Homework:
Settlers of Catan Article: http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/17-04/mf_settlers
Day 4 – Thursday August 5
Designing a Game!
- Design Process
- Initial concept
- Theme/Story
- Mechanic
- Play – Make people not in your group play your game!!!
- Iterate
- add “Stuff”
Play – Settlers of Catan
- Discuss rules
- Balance
- Refinement
Homework: Continue developing your games!!
Reading: Sample outline for a game design
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/specs.htm
Day 5 – Friday August 6
Continue Designing Games
Final Stages – Polish and refine!
Final Presentation of Board Games
Guest Critic TBA
Week 2 -
Day 6 – Monday August 9
Level Design
- What is leveling?
- Balance (skill vs hardness)
- Guest Speaker Kyle Lee – Intro to Little Big Planet
Begin Designing Level Based on a piece of Art found around Parsons/New School
Homework: Work on Level Design
Reading Becoming a Level Designer and Env. Artist Part 1
Post Comment in the blog.
Day 7 Tuesday August 10
Discussion of reading homework
Continue working on Level Design
Discussion of integrating design themes into your levels. Translating a theme into your game mechanic.
Homework – Continue working on Level in Little Big Planet
Day 8 – Wednesday August 11
Finalize levels in LBP.
Presentation of Levels – Informal Critique
Introduction of Game Maker
Discussion
- custom assets
- levels
- game physics
Groups decide whether to continue working in LBP or to switch to Game Maker
Day 9 – Thursday August 12
Continue working on Level Designs
- Test your Levels!
- Non group members play the levels
- Iterate!
Day 10 – Friday August 13
Finalize Level Design!!!
- Final Presentations
- Guest Critique TBA
- Pizza!!!
