EXAR 2900 - Game Design: Prototypes

Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts in computer game prototyping. Students will develop skills in scenario and gameplay prototyping, design pipelines, and team collaboration.

This course is aimed at game industry employees looking to upgrade their skills and practices, and game designers looking to differentiate themselves when applying to game design positions. The course would also be appropriate for artists looking to create innovative interactive experiences and new media art forms, and high school students looking towards a career in the games industry.

By the end of this course, students will:

• 🗸 Develop expertise in introductory game design theories and practice, including game feel, mechanics, visuals, sounds, and animations.
• 🗸 Understand how narrative frameworks, including branching narrative structures, influence game design choices.
• 🗸 Students will have built a game level as part of the prototyping process which addressed issues such as pacing, puzzle design, and game progression.
• 🗸 Students will incorporate these concepts into the design of a 2D game level built in Unity, an industry standard game engine.

• 🗸 The curriculum is based on hands-on game design challenges taught in person approximately six weekends per course (Saturdays).
• 🗸In preparation for the in-person classes, students will read online resources prepared by the teaching team.
• 🗸Assessment in this course is based on completing the game design exercises conducted in class.
• 🗸Successful completion of the course is a pass/fail standing.
• 🗸This is the first course in the Certificate in Computer Game Design.