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Experimental
Game Design
ARTS 4510
Wed 2 - 5:50PM
VAST
Studio, Sage 2411
c. Nova Radix EGD Sp2008 (Ian Keyworth, Chris Mui, Rory Pelner Ray Coulter)
Instructor:
Kathleen Ruiz
Associate Professor of Integrated Arts
email: ruiz@rpi.edu
phone: 518-276-2539
office: West Hall 314c
office hours: Tuesdays 1:30 – 3:30 PM by appointment
(please sign up on office door)
Student
Mentors:
Atira Odhner odhnea@rpi.edu
Justin White whitej5@rpi.edu
James Kane kanej7@rpi.edu
Experimental
Game Design is a studio arts course focusing on the creation
of innovative workable game prototypes using a variety of multimedia
approaches, methodologies and materials. Games are analyzed as cultural artifacts
reflecting behavior, social formation, and the representation of gender,
ethnicity and identity. Factors in game design including flow, game theory, and
game play gestalt are taken into consideration. The aesthetics of game design
including character development, level design, game play experience, and
delivery systems are covered. Alternate gaming paradigms such as first person
actor type games, social dynamics simulation, complex scenario planning,
non-violent problem solving, pervasive/convergence reality, abstract play, and
emerging forms are encouraged.
Primary to this course is the formation of
interdisciplinary collaborative teams consisting of talents from visual and
sound artists, programmers, cognitive scientists, designers, engineers, IT
professionals and others. Elements of successful collaboration are covered and
camaraderie of invention is encouraged.
________________________________________________________
The final project is a purposeful work which shows depth and quality of ideation,
innovation and interaction. The game prototype must be functional and must be
accompanied by a completed, well articulated game design document which
includes:
Title of the Game, Artist Statement/Philosophy/The WHY Factor (why create this
game? why would someone want to play it?), Predecessors or previous games/
distinctive factors in this genre, Target Audience, Introduction & Story,
Immediate and long term projected socio/cultural project impact, Delivery
System & Requirements, Interface, User Interaction, The World Layout, Level
Design, Visua
Students entering the course should have a basic general awareness of
contemporary socio-cultural issues, have some exposure to interactive digital
simulation, and possess the ability for personal expression using any one or
combinations of the following: media applications, drawing, music composition,
programming, visual art or design, or narration. Students entering this course
have had varied backgrounds coming from Arts, LL&C, Computer Science, Cognitive
Science, Engineering, IT and other areas.
Technical Skills Covered: game design fundamentals, character development,
level design, elements of interactivity, multimedia game play experience, and
delivery systems.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
1. Students will explore new approaches to the concept of “game” & “play”
and start to define alternate paradigms within this emerging expressive form.
2. Students will examine the work of several artists, theoreticians, and
institutions who engage in game creation.
3. Students will develop game programming or art making or design strategies
which merge concept, process and form - encouraging approaches that are at once
inquisitive, analytical, creative, experimental and articulate.
5. Additionally upon successful completion of the
course students will a detailed and elaborated game design document, summation
sheet, and poster.
Previous
Student work:
*
EXPERIMENTAL GAME DESIGN Sp 08
*
EXPERIMENTAL GAME DESIGN Sp 04+
*
EXPERIMENTAL GAME DESIGN Fall 03
Suggested
further readings:
Wardrip-Fruin, Noah and Pat
Harrigan, Editors. First Person: New Media as Story, Performance and Game
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=9908
http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/firstperson
Laurel, Brenda and Zimmermanm, Eric,
editors. Play as Design
Halter, Ed. From
Sun Tzu to Xbox: War and Video Games
Huizinga, Johan. Homo Ludens: A study of the Play Element in
Culture
Caillois, Roger. Man, Play, and Games
Lenoir-Lowood. Theaters Of War
Adams, Ernest. Fundamentals of Game Design, Second Edition
Jenkins, Henry. Complete
Freedom of Movement: Video Games as Gendered PlaySpaces
Baudrillard, Jean. Passwords (including the Oxymoron of
Virtual Violence)