Principles of Game Design
48 hours face to face + blended
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit introduces key concepts in game design. It aims to develop a practical understanding of the design process particular to games building on interactive game structures established earlier in the course. It introduces key aspects of the games industry production methodology and creative industries working towards the production of a simple working game prototype.
Requisites
Prerequisites
GAM10001
Introduction to Game StudiesRule
GAM10001 Introduction to Game Studies
OR
ART10004 Introduction to Game Studies
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Recognise and reflect on the relationship between game design and its place in culture and society
- Demonstrate knowledge in the design, development and playtesting of board games using principles of game design
- Formulate strategies for game design and marketing for specific audiences
- Integrate and apply knowledge of the art and knowledge of the game industry
- Apply aspects of narrative, mechanics, aesthetics and technology to the design, development, playtesting and production
- Demonstrate the capacity to function and communicate effectively in meetings and using a game design document as an individual and in project teams
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
---|---|---|---|
On-campus Lecture | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment | Group | 50% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Assessment | Group | 30% | 1,3,4 |
Report | Individual | 20% | 2,5 |
Content
- To introduce students to both the theory and practice of developing games
- To explore concepts of gameplay via critical examination of past, current and future trends in the definition of play
- To understand the game design process in practice
- To build a game project prototype
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.