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Experimental Game Design
Schedule of
Readings/Research/Assignments
Week 1
August 31
Introduction
Lecture & Discussion
* questionnaire
Readings (for 9/7):
* Your personal research.
Please cite your references in your presentation.
* Rules of
Play: Game Design Fundamentals by Katie Salen
and Eric Zimmerman, Unit 3: PLAY pg. 298-361. - Defining Play - Games
as the Play of Experience, Meaning, Pleasure
* Jesper
Juul Gameness
Assignments (for 9/7):
• If you have not done so already, bring sample of best work to
next class
• Personal Game Archaeology Project (see assignments section for
details)
Week 2
September 7
* Personal Game Archaeology Project presentations
Lecture & Discussion
Readings (for 9/14):
• Beyond
Productivity: Information Technology, Innovation and Creativity, edited by William Mitchell,
Alan Inouye and Marjory Blumenthal, The National Academies Press, Wash.,
D.C., Computer Games, Cultural Challenges, Overcoming Preconceived Notions
about Computer Scientists and Artist and Designers, pg. 48-56.
http://books.nap.edu/html/beyond_productivity/ch2.html
(near footnote 43)
• Finish in Salen /Zimmerman (Unit 3:
PLAY)
Assignments:
refine work if assigned to do so
Week 3
September 14
Lecture & Discussion
Formulate teams and
work in studio on Scenario Game of the Future
Assignments:
Work
with your team on your Scenario Game of the Future
Week 4.
September 21
Lecture & Discussion
Team work in studio on Scenario Planning Games
Readings for 9/28:
On storyboarding: http://www.mediaed.org.uk/posted_documents/Storyboarding.html
Storyboard examples: http://movies.warnerbros.com/ed/cmp/storyboards.html
, http://movies.warnerbros.com/eraser/cmp/sketches.html
, http://sleepers.warnerbros.com/cmp/storyboards.html
The Construction of Experience:
Interface as Content David Rokeby
http://homepage.mac.com/davidrokeby/experience.html
Assignments for 9/28:
Finish work on Scenario
Planning Game Design with your team
Week 5
September 28
Scenario Planning Game Design Presentations
Lecture & Discussion
Visiting
Artist
Readings:
* Salen/Zimmerman pp. 421-458 (Chapter 27 Games as
the Play of Simulation)
Assignment due 10/5:
Work on Phase I Proposal of Final
Project: rough storyboards,
concept ideas presentations
Week 6
October 5
Phase I Proposal of Final Project
Presentations: rough storyboards, concept ideas
Lecture
Lecture &
Discussion
Readings:
- WarCraft
- Genderplay:
Successes and Failures in Character Designs for Video games April 16, 2003
posting by Jane
- Sublimation
-Beyond Shoot your Friends http://www.cpandfriends.com/writing/digital-illusion.html
- Lenoir-Lowood_TheatersOfWar
- The Addictiveness of Games,
Steve Meretsky
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-867451.html
Assignments due 10/12:
Phase
II of Final Project:
Rough Prototypes design document outline, research with artist
statement including treatment, narrative, more refined story board, and at least
5 citations of games/ websites/readings/ literature/ films that have
influenced you. (conceptual geography, maps,
scenarios, trainers, strategies, symbolism, scoring, rules, etc.) The following will be very
helpful as a guide:
gamedesigndocument.htm
Week 7:
October
12
Discuss
* Phase II of Final Project: Rough Prototypes
Presentations
Lecture & Discussion
Readings:
-
Everything But the Words: A Dramatic Writing Primer for Gamers byHal Barwood http://www.gdconf.com/archives/2000/barwood.doc
- Storytelling in Action by Bob Bates http://www.gdconf.com/archives/2000/bates.doc
- Building
Character- An Analysis of Character Creation by Steve Meretzky
- Building Character By Toby Gard
Assignments for 10/26:
Phase III Game Prototype
Week
8:
October
19
Readings:
-
The Art and
Science of Level Design by Cliff Bleszinski
also other articles at: http://www.cliffyb.com/rants/
- How
to Build a Better Cutscene
- Color Theory
for Game Design
Assignments for 10/26:
Phase III
Game Prototype
Week 9:
October
26
Discuss
*
Phase III Game Prototype Presentations
Lecture /Discussion
Readings:
•
Salen/Zimmerman pp. 377-419; 461-489 (Chapters 26
Games as Narrative Play and 28 Games as Social Play)
• McGonigal—A
Real Little Game: The Performance of Belief in Pervasive Play (download pdf, top paper listed at: http://www.avantgame.com/writings.htm)
Assignments for 11/2:
Craft
your User
Evaluation Test Plan
Week 10:
November
2
User evaluation test plan
Presentations
Lecture /Discussion
Readings: none
Assignments for 11/9:
User
Evaluation Testing Summary and
Recommendations
Week 11:
November 9
User evaluation summary and
recommendations Presentations
Readings: personal
research bibliography
Assignments for 11/16:
Phase
IV- Final Project Pre-Reviews
Week 12:
November
16
Final Projects Pre Review
Presentations
Readings: personal
research bibliography
Assignments due 11/30:
refine work for final projects
Week 13:
November
23:::::::::: OFF for Thanksgiving
Readings: personal research bibliography
Assignments for 11/30:
complete work on final
projects
Week 14:
November
30 :::::::::::::::FINAL PROJECTS DUE
*
Phase V- Final Completed Game Project
Readings: personal research bibliography
Assignments for 12/7:
complete and refine all work
on final projects
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