Introduction

This is a shortened five week game design introduction course built for ACG based off of my previous syllabus for a 10 session workshop over 5 weeks, which aims to cover the basic elements of game design using tabletop simulator online. It's a completely remote course. The aim of this course is for students to walk away with multiple well-built and tested game prototypes that they can develop into larger portfolio projects.

Course meets daily from 8am to 10am EST, which is 8pm to 10pm in Beijing.

Assignments

Card Game Modification

Students will be given simple card games and will be asked to modify the rules and playtest them in Table Top Simulator. Students must rewrite the rules and find what aspects can be changed. How can you make this game more fun and interesting? Can be found here: Intro to Game Design Assignment 1 - Card Game Modification

Mechanics Game

Students will build games based on two gameplay constraints. Using only the pre-built elements on tabletop simulator, students will have to design a gameplay experience where the structures come together to build an interesting gameplay experience. Can be found here: Intro to Game Design Assignment 2 - Mechanics Game

Theme / Story Game

Students will build games around a specific thematic constraint. Using this constraint they must select and use mechanics which match the desired feel and idea behind the theme. The goal of this assignment is to learn how different mechanics can make us feel differently, and how that can relate directly to the theme we are building around. Can be found here: Intro to Game Design Assignment 3 - Story Game (Group)

Polished Game

Students will take one of their previous games from the course and polish it. This means playtesting, rewriting rules, creating mechanics out of ideas, and adhering to the original thematic format for the project. The goal of this is to build a strong project which demonstrates the fundamental elements of game design, and thus the completion of the course. Can be found here: Intro the Game Design Assignment 4 - Polished Game

Days

Day 1

• Group Icebreakers (15 min)
• Course Overview: What are doing here? (10 minutes)
• Course Objectives: What are you going to come away with? (10 minutes)
• How do we use Tabletop simulator? (30 minutes)
• Exercise: Game Design Exercise - Tic Tac Toe (45 minutes)

  Day 2

• Lecture: How to make a Game (30 minutes)
• Play & Analyze: Ticket to Ride (45 minutes)
• Assignment 1 Given: Card Game Mod (Due Session 3)

  Day 3

• Playtesting Assignment 1 Games (30 minutes)
• Lecture: Probabilities (20 minutes)
• Play & Analyze: Quacks of Quedlinburg (45 minutes)

  Day 4

• Exercise: Game Design Exercise - Die vs Die (45 minutes)
• Exercise: In-class game research. Find games on the Steam Workshop and explore new mechanical ideas. Decide on the two mechanic constraints for your game by the end of this class. (60 minutes)
• Assignment 2 Given: Mechanics Game (Due Session 5)

Day 5

• Lecture: Theme in Play (25 minutes)
• Playtesting Assignment 2 Games (30 minutes)
• Discussion: Why do games have stories? What are some games you know which have impactful stories? What makes those ones so impactful?
• Exercise: In-class game research. Go online and find games which are theme-driven, and analyze them. Decide on your thematic constraint by the end of class. (60 minutes)
• Assignment 3 Given: Theme Game (Due Session 7)

Day 6

• Play & Analyze: Carcassonne (45 minutes)
• Lecture: Playtesting (30 minutes)
• Exercise: Group Worktime and Playtesting. Let's spend some time together in class playing each other's game prototypes, to see what we can learn from them. (45 minutes)

Day 7

• Playtesting Assignment 3 Games (30 to 60 minutes)
• Exercise: Final Project Research. Go online and find games similar to the final project you are making. By the end of this class, decide which game you will be using for your final, and find reference games for it. (60 minutes)
• Final Project Given: Polished Game (Due Session 10)

  Day 8

• Play & Analyze: Your choice! Choose games that you want to test with your classmates online, so that we can learn and analyze games that are important to your final project together (120 minutes)

  Day 9

• Final Project Playtests: Bring a working version of your final project into class, and we will play it together as a group. You will receive feedback from your classmates and from the instructor. Come prepared with a ruleset, pieces, and any other elements already loaded into tabletop simulator. (90 minutes)

  Day 10

• Final Project Playtest & Showcase: Bring your final project to class fully setup in Tabletop Simulator, and we will all play them together. (90 minutes)
• Course Review (15 minutes)
• Course Retrospective (15 minutes)
• Celebration!