CMS.301
Game Design Methods
Provides an introduction to the process of designing games and playful experiences. Familiarizes students with concepts, methods, techniques and tools used in the design of a wide variety of games. Focuses on aspects of the process such as rapid prototyping, play testing, and design iteration using a player-centered approach. Students work in project groups where they engage with a series of confined exercises, practice communicating design ideas, and discuss their own and others work in a constructive manner. No prior programming experience required. Limited to 15.
Spring 2016 · Introduction to Game Design Methods
Topics
- Course Presentation
- Contexts of Play
- Crit Session 1
- The Building Blocks of Game Design
- Gaming Session
- Crit Session 2
- Design Process I
- Crit Session 3
- Design Process II
- Crit Session 4
- Prototyping
- Crit Session 5
- Playtesting
- Crit Session 6
- Game Design Research
- Gaming Session 1
- Gaming Session 2
- Crit Session 7: Concept
- Low Fidelity Prototyping
- Crit Session 8: First Iteration Prototype
- Gaming Session 3
- Cross Section Testing
- Crit Session 9: Second Iteration Prototype
- Group Based Consultation
- Final Presentations
- Final Presentations (cont.)
Readings
- Gaver, Bill, Tony Dunne, et al. “Design: Cultural Probes.” (PDF) Interactions 6, no. 1 (1999): 21–29.
- Buley, Leah. Chapter 6 in The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide . Rosenfeld Media, 2013, pp. 132–5 & 140–3. ISBN: 9781933820187.
- 6 · Prototypes · Fullerton, Tracy. Chapter 7 in Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games . A K Peters / CRC Press, 2014. ISBN: 9781482217162.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-A
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2016
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.