Introduction to Game Design

Intro to Class - Class Policies - Class Materials - Student Evaluation
Resources - Class Calendar - Avatars - Avatar Levels

Introduction to the Class        🔺Top

This class teaches fundamentals of game design and game analysis. Students will learn how to analyze computer games and identify the elements that make games successful or not successful. Students will also learn a process to design games and game elements. Class assignments will be written assignments posted to Canvas. You can create Word documents to upload as assignments or you can cut and paste text into the assignment text block. If you are not comfortable completing assignments by writing documents then you should not sign up for this class.

Description and Policies       🔺Top

Students will learn:

  • How to analyze types of computer games and identify their design features and game mechanics
  • The history of computer games and game genres
  • The process for designing and documenting your game.
  • How to use game prototyping and playtesting to create and evaluate game mechanics.

The Student Learning Outcomes for this class are:

  •  On completion of CISG 100 F, Introduction to Computer Game Design, the student will be able to identify major kinds of computer games
  • On completion of CISG 100 F, Introduction to Computer Game Design, the student will be able to create a basic game storyboard.

Students are expected to do their own work. Plagiarism is a violation of the student rules of conduct and institutional actions may be taken. Students will upload assignment through a Learning Management System (canvas). You are responsible for learning to use this system to submit assignment. Students are expected to read and follow the college student conduct code posted in the college catalog. A more complete list is posted at Catalog Policies. Services to students can be found on the Student Services page on the college web site.

The online class policies adopted by the Business and CIS Division include the following:

  • Students can be dropped from an online class for non-attendance if they do not login to the Canvas class and complete an initial assignment.
  • Students can be dropped from an online class for non-attendance if they do not complete discussion assignments or other assignments.
  • If students do not complete the Tell Me About Yourself assignment by Sunday, August 30 you will be dropped from the class for non-attendance

Class Materials       🔺Top

In this class you will be playing a number of different kinds of video games. Likely, you will already own a number of games, but you need to play different kinds of video games than you normally play. Some of the online game distribution sites, such as Steam, have a number of free-to-play games. It would be useful to (if you have not already done so) create a Steam account. You might also wish to create accounts on some of the other sites such as GOG (Good Old Games), Origin and Epic games. GOG is particularly useful because it has a number of very inexpensive classic games available for download.

In order to complete assignments you will have to play several types of games including:

  • Adventure Games
  • Role Playing Games
  • Platforming Games
  • Strategy Games
  • Additional types of games

There will be some freely available DOS games you can download and play.

The textbook for this class is:
gamedesignworkshop book
THE ART OF GAME DESIGN: A BOOK OF LENSES
Author: SCHELL - Edition: 3
ISBN: 9781138632059
New Price: $72.75 Used Price: $54.75

How you will be evaluated       🔺Top

This class is designed to be like a traditional Role Playing Game. This means that students start at an initial level and will get Experience Points (XP) by completing assignments and exams. As you increase your XP you will increase your Level. Reaching each level will automatically add XP to your character. 

The final grade for this class will be based on your total XP.

XP can be acquired by completing the Avatar Assignment,  game design assignments, a game journal, and participation in canvas discussions. 

The final grade will be based on your total XP in the class.
90-100% of possible XP = A
80-89% of possible XP = B
70-79% of possible XP = C
60-69% of possible XP = D
0-59% of possible XP = F

In addition to getting XP by completing assignments, design document, journal, and exams, you can also earn VCoins. These can be earned by completing additional assignments. VCoins can be used to purchase a power-up which can be used to get double credit for assignments. Acquiring VCoins is completely optional. Each student will automatically receive 10 VCoins when they reach a new level.

Level and XP Required Description
Mario

>400
Mario is depicted as a portly plumber who lives in the fictional land of the Mushroom Kingdom with Luigi, his younger, taller brother. In the television series and film, Mario and Luigi are originally from Brooklyn, New York. Little is known of Mario's childhood, though the infant version of Mario, Baby Mario, first appeared in 1995 in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, and has often appeared in Nintendo sports games since then. Baby Mario has a major role along with Baby Luigi in Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time and appears in Yoshi's Island DS. He, along with the adult Mario, is voiced by Charles Martinet. He wears a longsleeved red shirt, a pair of blue overalls with yellow buttons, brown shoes, white gloves and a red cap with a red "M" printed on a white circle. In Donkey Kong, he wore a pair of red overalls, and a blue shirt. In Super Mario Bros., he wore a brown shirt with red overalls. He has blue eyes, and, like Luigi, has brown hair, and a dark brown or black mustache. This consistent difference in color is attributed to being a relic from designing the characters for their original platforms, wherein certain features were actively distinguished while others had to be curtailed due to technical limitations. In a 2005 interview, Miyamoto stated that Mario's physical age was about 24-25 years old.
Luigi

>300
Luigi is portrayed as the taller, younger brother of Mario, and he is usually seen dressed in a green shirt with dark blue overalls. Although Luigi is a plumber, like his brother, other facets of his personality vary from game to game. Luigi always seems nervous and timid but is good-natured and not as quick to anger as his more famous brother. A baby version of the character named Baby Luigi debuted in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, who is held captive by Kamek. He also appeared in Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time as a playable character along with Baby Mario.
While it has not been made official, Daisy may be Luigi's romantic interest. They were a romantic couple in the Super Mario Bros. film and in Mario Kart Wii they are seen in statue dancing together. She was his caddy in NES Open Tournament Golf as Peach was to Mario. Also on Daisy's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, it says that she is possibly Luigi's answer to Mario's Peach.
Wario

>250
Wario was a childhood rival to Mario and Luigi who became jealous of their success. The exact nature of their childhood relationship is briefly shown in Mario vs. Wario, which reveals young Wario's bullying at the hands of a well-intentioned child Mario, who did not realize the lasting effect of his games.Wario's greed pushes him to commit malevolent acts, such as the seizing of Mario's castle. Wario has also proven to be very cunning as he has tricked Mario on many occasions. He often goes out on his own adventures, from stealing treasure to running a microgame making company. Wario has helped heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom on a few separate occasions as well.
Toadette

>200
Originally introduced as a playable racing partner for Toad in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, she has since appeared in other games as a playable character and has played supporting roles in several titles, and as a main character in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. While she has very similar traits to other characters, she is the most commonly recurring female Toad in the Mario franchise. Toadette has been shown to be on good terms with such characters as Princess Peach, Toad, Toadsworth, and Mario.
Diddy Kong

>100
He is a young monkey who lives on Donkey Kong Island in the Kongo Jungle, and is identified by his red hat with the Nintendo logo on it, and his red shirt with stars on it. Diddy Kong is Donkey Kong's sidekick, best friend, and is described as his "nephew wannabe" in the Donkey Kong 64 manual. He has a girlfriend named Dixie Kong. He was originally created by Donkey Kong Country developer Rare as an updated version of Donkey Kong Jr., but he was renamed, due to Nintendo's response.
Nabbit

> 50
Nabbit is a thief who steals items, particularly from Toad Houses, and runs away with them in his bag. He is a purple rabbit with round eyes, long ears, and black limbs. He also wears a white handkerchief with a drawing of a large mouth with sharpened teeth, similar to Bowser Jr.'s mask (though despite this he does not work for Bowser), as well as orange shoes and white gloves.
Zombie Chicken

0
Everyone starts at this level. Zombie Chickens have a very short life and are likely to be gone by the second week of the semester.

A Web Page will be posted on this web site and a link posted in Canvas that lists the current XP for each student. In order to maintain confidentially each student will choose an Avatar name and an Avatar icon. For the online classes the response to assignments and discussions will be 48 hours excluding weekends.

Resources       🔺Top

Using DOS Box Games - dosboxgames.zip
DDos Box for Mac OS X
Internet Archive DOSBOX Games
Internet Archive - Classic PC Games
Cave Story Game
EnviroBear Game
Undertale Demo Game
 Chex Quest Game

www.gog.com (good and inexpensive games)
www.gamasutra.com
The Architect of Games (youtube channel)
https://becausegamesmatter.com
Metro Exodus Open World Game Design
Resource Management in Outer Wilds
How to use Mario Maker 2
NoClip Game Design
AI Generated Dungeon text adventure - Designing Demons for DOOM Eternal
WarCraft III early Days
History of Real Time Strategy games
Writing on Games Youtube Site
Witcher 3 and Narrative Management
Two types of Random
Zelda Open World Design
Controls in Celeste
Game Design with Michael (Youtube Site)
Molleindustria games
Final Fantasy 7 (spoilers)
These GDC videos address various game design and programming topics.
 GDC Yourtube Site

Design Videos
Five Techniques from Quite Inventive Designers
Another five techniques from crafty designers
Five further techniques from clever designers
2017 Failure Workshop
2018 Failure Workshop
2019 Failure Workshop
West of Loathing Design Postmortem
Darkest Dungeon Postmortem

Materwelonz Playthroughs
NeverKnowsBest – Game Analysis
Errant Signal – Game Analysis
Skill up -Game Reviews/Analysis
NoClip – Game Documentaries
 Game Developers Conference

Short Hike Postmortum
Short Hike Walkthrough
The making of Outerwilds
OuterWilds Walkthrough
History of Bayonetta
Game Design as Narrative Architecture
Celeste Narrative
History of RPGs
Dungeons and Dragons
PCGamer History of RPGs
D&D Online
Hero with a Thousand Faces
Bloody Baron Quest in Witcher 3
Playtesting Overwatch
Subnautica Developer Interview


Class calendar - see canvas for calendar       🔺Top

Avatars       🔺Top

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11564 Avatars XP VCoins Level

RoadKill
10 10
Zombie Chicken
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13736 Avatars XP VCoins Level

RoadKill
10 10
Zombie Chicken