53-609 Game Design Spring 2008
Intro Lectures Assignments Readings Contact Info	Syllabus Link This is a lecture and project based course that teaches the mechanics and processes of good game design. The principles learned in this class apply equally well to card games, board games, party games, any types of games, and design many games. Anyone interested in interactive entertainment or in creating compelling experiences should benefit from this course. The class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30am - 1:20pm in the Multipurpose Room at the PTC on 2nd Avenue. The class is taught by Jesse Schell and the TAs are Nicole Epps, Andy Jih and Rich Marmura. Current Assignments: Pitch -Assigned: Thursday, April 10 -First Deadline: Tuesday, April 22 -Final Deadline: Monday, May 12 Mills Penny Arcade -Assigned: Thursday, April 24 On-Campus Students: We recommend taking the CMU PTC shuttle which leaves from the Morewood Gardens Turnaround at 11am and which departs from the ETC at 1:30pm. If you need to drive, be aware that you may NOT park in the ETC parking lot without a permit. Parking in visitor parking repeatedly will most likely result in a ticket ($20-$40). You may purchase a reduced parking permit for $25 a month if you want. Assignments will include: * Weekly readings * Weekly writing assignments * Several brief (one week) design assignments * Several longer game design and/or development projects (two weeks to one month each) * Playtesting of your games, and written analysis of the playtesting The purpose of the course is to help you develop your game design skills, and to give you an opportunity to practice them. Some of the games you will analyze and design will be computer games, but no programming skills are required. However, if you are so inclined, you will have the option of implementing a working computer game for one of the longer assignments. Be warned, however, that you will be expected to have the game functioning fully within about two weeks, so that there will be plenty of time for user testing and iterating. This is not an easy course - it is a graduate level course in game design. Good designs take time, and you will be expected to put in the time and effort necessary for good design.
Updated January 22, 2008