Principles of Game Design

Course Objective and Grading Criteria

Course Prerequisite

GA1121 Survey of the Game Industry

 Required Text

Game Development Essentials: An Introduction, by Jeannie Novak (Thomason / Delmar Learning) 2005, ISBN # 1-4018-6271-3. [Note, this is the same book used in Survey of the Game Industry, so you should have a copy already.]

Methodology

The primary methods of instruction are through lectures presented by the instructor; students can pose questions and answer them (with the possibility to earn an extra credit point at the instructor's discretion) at any time. Supporting the lectures are ‘laboratory’ gameplay sessions. Here, students will play a games and analyze their elements that highlight each lesson.

In addition, there are two game projects that students work on in this class. The instructor will subjectively evaluate these.

• The first is the Weekly Homework Game that sharpens a particular design skill learned in class that week. This game project will not result in finished game, but is intended to build up the student’s newly discovered game design ‘muscles.’
   

•  The second is the Graded Course Project Game. It is a complete game intended as an original ‘portfolio piece.’ It will demonstrate the student’s ability to conceptualize and communicate a complete, coherent game design.

Evaluation and Grading

Evaluation of Student Performance

1. The 50 points for Homework assignments vary. Each week's assignment has a value of from 4 to 9 points.

2. This means that over one quarter of the points for the class are earned on during the final session. That is: 5 points for the last Homework Assignment + 52 for the Course Project; this equals 57 out of 200 possible points!

3. The 60 points for the Graded Course Project are broken down into individually graded categories as follows: Concept [4], Ergonomics / Ease of Use [4], Physical Component Quality [8], Ease of Setup and Play / Clarity of Goal [8], Rules [12], and the Fun Factor [24].

4. Note that extra credit assignments are usually provided during the course and extra credit points might also be awarded for class participation. Students may voluntarily participate in extra credit assignments but are not required to do so. Points earned for extra credit are in addition to the above schedule.

5. A student’s final score, including extra credit, will be divided by two to get a percentage (100 scale) value. Grades based upon that result are as follows:

Grading Scale (percentage):

A   =     4.0     100 to 92

A-  =     3.7     91.9 to 90

B+ =     3.4     89.9 to 88

B   =     3.0     87.9 to 82

B-  =     2.7     81.9 to 80

C+ =     2.4     79.9 to 78

C   =     2.0     77.9 to 72

C-  =     1.7     71.9 to 70

D+ =     1.4     69.9 to 67

D   =     1.0     66.9 to 60            

F   =     0.0     59.9 and below 

* How your grade is computed, simply:

1. Add up all of the values of the optimum possible number of points that you could have earned to date.
2. Divide the number in your Total * column on the far right side of the table by the sum from step 1.
3. Multiply the result by 100 to obtain your Percentage Score.
4. Compare your Percentage Score with the Grading Scale above, and that's where you currently stand.

For example, let's say that, to date, the optimal possible score would be 55. Your total score, including -1 point for a tardy and +1 point of extra credit, is currently only 38 out of that possible 55 points, so the math works out thus: (38 / 55) * 100 = 69.1 (when rounded up to the nearest tenth of a point). If you look up 69.1 on the above Grading Scale, you're only getting a D+. (However, you're very close to a C-, so just try a little harder!)

Course Policies

• Learning the material in this course involves hearing the lectures, participating in class discussions, reading the "Required Reading" section on each week's web page, and completing the weekly homework assignments.
   

• Negative points are scored for absenteeism. The penalty of -1 point is assessed per tardy (with attendance taken twice per session) and -3 points for a complete absence. The life lesson here being that "half of success is just showing up."
   

• You must turn in assignments at the beginning of class. If you must miss a class meeting, please contact me in advance to make alternative arrangements for submitting that week’s homework. Click here to send me an email.
   

• No late homework assignment will be accepted after one week. All late homework assignments are worth one less point for being late regardless of the reason.
   

• If you miss an exam, attend the next class session 1/2 hour early. You will be given a special make-up exam at that time only. Any other special arrangements for making up exams or homework will be made entirely at the instructor’s discretion.

Exam Schedule

Lessons and Homework by Week (Course Syllabus)

Below is a detailed, week-by-week look at the course, complete with hyperlinks to various materials in this web site. If you get lost during a given week of class, you can always find you way back by looking here. Note: the various lecture links provide the weekly Review Sheet notes for students; these are password protected files.

You will need Adobe Reader to view most of the lecture files. If you don't have have it, don't panic; it's a free download from Adobe. Just click on this button and download the proper version.