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TDA580 / TIA098 Gameplay design lp2 HT24 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Contact details

These people are involved in running the course:
Staffan Björk: examiner & teacher (staffan.bjork@cse.gu.se)
Pauline Belford: teacher (pauline.belford@chalmers.se)
Natasha Bianca Mangan: teacher (natashab@chalmers.se)
Edvin Danielsson: TA
Anna Nilsson: TA

Course purpose

Game design focuses on how rules and game components can be used to create game environments that encourage and promotes specific interaction, either between humans or between humans and the game system. The aim of these environments can vary from experimental environments in the car and plane industries, learning environments in simulations to pure entertainments applications in home computers and game consoles. The course deals with general design methods that can be applied to all these use areas. The course aims to give an understanding in how the different components in a game environment interacts as well as what relations game design has to other areas, e.g. programming and graphical design, which are required in the development of modern interactive simulations. Central programs addressed in the course are how to motivate users to specific types of interaction, the relationship between interaction and narratives, how to balance interaction in multi-user environments, how to support and encourage creativity among users, how to modify designs to suit both novel and expert users as well as how to adapt design to suit interaction with specific time constraints.

Schedule

This course will be primarily given on Campus Lindholmen. However, supervision sessions will be in a hybrid format. 
Note that most lectures and exercises are planned to run until approximately 15.00 – not 17.00 – with the remaining time being available for supervision. 
Activity Title Notes
Tuesday November 5th 13.15-17.00 
Lecture
(Delta)

L1: Course Introduction and Definitions of Games
Thursday November 7nd 13.15-17.00  
 
Exercise 1
(High, Low)
"Extreme Makeover" 
Friday November 8rd 13.15-17.00
Lecture
(Beta)
 L2: Games as systems, Gameplay Design Patterns, and the MDA Framework 
Tuesday November 12th 13.15-17.00
Lecture
(Omega)
 L3: Machinations Deadline Assignment 1 21.59
Thursday November 14th 13.15-17.00 
Lecture
(Delta)
 L4: Games as Social Activities
Friday November 15th 13.15-17.00
Exercise 2
(High, Low)
 "Pattern Harvesting" 

Preparation for Assignment 2
Tuesday November 19th 13.15-17.00 
Exercise 3
(High, Low)
 "Gameplay is Everything"

Preparation for Assignment 3
Thursday November 21th 13.15-17.00 
Guest Lecture: Michael Heron
(Delta)
 G1: Accessibility
Friday November 22th 13.15-17.00
Lecture
(Beta)
 L5: Design Goals, Design Methods, and Playtesting Deadline Assignment 2 21.59!
Tuesday November 26th 13.15-17.00
Guest Lecture: Josefin Westborg
(Delta) 
 G2: Larp Design
Thursday November 28th 13.15-17.00 
Guest Lecture: Josefin Westborg
(Delta)
G3: Nerd Feminism
 Deadline Assignment 3a 21.59!
Friday November 29th 13.15-17.00
Prototyping
(High, Low)
  
Tuesday December 3th 13.15 - 17.00
Guest Lecture: Erik Svedäng
(Omega)
 G4: Indie development and prototyping Introduction to assignment 4 and the elective assignment
Thursday December 5th 13.15-17.00
Gameplay Tests
(High, Low,Jupiter 321)   
Friday December 6st 13.15-17.00
Gameplay Tests
(High,Low,Jupiter 321)   
 Tuesday December 10th 13.15-17.00  
Gameplay Tests
(High, Low, Jupiter321) 
 Deadline Assignment 3b 21.59!
Thursday December 12th 13.15-17.00 
Presentation Game Projects
(Svea119, Svea121, Svea216)
 Assignment 3c   See below for presentation schedule 
Friday December 13th 13.15-17.00 
Lecture (Beta)
 L6: Gamification
Tuesday December 17th 13.15-17.00
Supervision
(High, Low, Online )
Thursday December 19th 13.15-17.00
Supervision
(High, Low, Online )
Friday December 20th 13.15-17.00
Supervision
(High, Low, Online ) 
 Deadline Elective Assignment
Tuesday January 14th 13.15-17.00
 Supervision ( Online )
Thursday January 16th 13.15-17.00
 Supervision ( Online )
Friday January 17th
 Deadline Assignment 4 21.59!  
(TimeEdit should show the times and dates for activities but changes to time and dates may take time to show up there; use TimeEdit as a last backup). 

Schedule for presentation of Game Projects (3c)

TBA

Course literature

Fullerton, T. 2018. (2004). Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. A K Peters/CRC Press; 5th edition (April 19, 2024)

Course design

The course contains of lectures, exercises, supervision, and practical design work. The educational material is structured around four different assignments which have deadlines spread out over the course, and the third assignment having four different parts.
Passing scores on all assignments in necessary for a passing grade in the course. In addition, one needs to have successfully completed three exercises. The three exercises are scheduled to facilitate group work and supervision but if one misses these one can do them independently (alone or in groups of up to 6 students). The exercises are available in the File-section on Canvas after they have been run according to the schedule. If you are doing the exercises after the scheduled events, please send them to Staffan Björk via email (staffan.bjork@chalmers.se).

Changes made since the last occasion

Removal of game mechanics from assignments and lectures. Changes to the description of the elective assignment. Addition of team agreements to assignment 3A. Randomized groups for group assignmennts. Minor changes in the schedule.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Knowledge and understanding

  • Describe the role of a game designer within a game design project.
  • Discuss game design features explicitly using both de facto industry concepts and theoretical frameworks.
  • Relate current game designs to earlier examples, from the direct predecessors to the first recorded example of similar games. 

Skills and abilities

  • Plan game design projects according to best practice description.
  • Develop a game design concept from initial idea to a full game design document, using iterative design processes and prototyping.
  • Specify target audience and develop specific game design concepts for specific target audience.
  • Present game design concepts for an audience.

Judgement and approach

  • Motivate different perspectives on game games and use of games, both from practical and ethical aspects.
  • Analyze different game design using analytical tools to be able to suggest design changes and compare different game designs.
  • Evaluate game concepts and prototypes from the needs of different target audiences. 

Examination form

The course has the following grades: Fail (U), 3, 4, and 5. 
The grades received in the course is based on the number of points received for all assignments. The total points available is 100 (plus 10 for the elective assignment). A passing grade for the course requires a passing grade for all assignments (see the assignments for individual requirements and how many points each assignment gives) as well as having completed three exercises. Fulfilling these requirements provides a grade of 3. Fulfilling these requirements and having a total of 70-84 points gives a 4. Fulfilling the requirements and having a total of 85+ points gives 5.

Extracurricular Activities

A weekly board game night is offered in Piazza (Patricia building) on Tuesdays. For more information about the board game nights, talk to any of the teachers! 

Course summary:

Date Details Due