Course detail

Digital games prototyping

FaVU-1DGP-ZAcad. year: 2019/2020

Students create games during the course both individually and in groups. The course focuses on the following topics: game design basics (rules, conflict, formal systems, motivation); genre specifics (asynchronous games, balancing, difficulty, onboarding, probability); narrative tools (nonlinear dialogue, environment narration, audiovisual narration); working with tools (VUE, Unity, Twine / Inklewriter); game production (2D skill based - platformer/shooter, 3D story driven, competitive card game, game-book).

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Department

Filozofická fakulta (FF MU)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will finish/aquire:

portfolio:
• playable prototype – sklil-based digital game (2D, 3D, platform game)
• playable prototype – narrative-based digital game (exploration, game book)
• playable prototype – card game

ability to:
• design and analyze gaming mechanisms
• create game prototypes
• visualize interaction systems
• basic control and work in UNITY

knowledge:
• on instruments commonly used in the game industry
• of the development cycle (pre-production, production, release)

Prerequisites

Ability and willingness to work in a group, endurance, creativity, knowledge of digital games.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Theoretical preparation, creation during the lessons, project work in groups outside the classroom, project consultation.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

• final (group) project (60 % of the evaluation)
• game prototypes finished during the cousre (40% of the evaluation)

Course curriculum

• game design basics (rules, conflict, formal systems, motivation); genre specifics (asynchronous games, balancing, difficulty, onboarding, probability); narrative tools (nonlinear dialogue, environment narration, audiovisual narration)

• work with VUE, Unity, Thread / Inklewriter

• 2D skill based gameplay - platformer / shooter, 3D story driven, competitive card game, gamebook

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The course focuses on the practical development of digital game prototypes by using common practice of iterative development cycle: game design> prototype creation> playtest> repeat.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Compulsory attendance (how many lessons can be missed will be specified in the beginning of the semester).

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

A theory of fun for game design. Edited by Raph Koster. Scottsdale, AZ: Paraglyph Press, 2005. x, 244 p. ISBN 1932111972.
CRAWFORD, Chris. The art of computer game design : [reflections of a master game designer]. Berkeley: Osborne
FULLERTON, Tracy. Game design workshop : a playcentric approach to creating innovative games. Edited by Eric Zimmerman. 3rd edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, 2014. xxvii, 507. ISBN 9781482217162.
KOSTER, Raph. A Theory of Fun for Game Design. 2004. ISBN 978-1-932111-97-2. info
McGraw-Hill, 1984. xiv, 113. ISBN 0881341177.
SCHELL, Jesse. The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses. 2008. ISBN 0-12-369496-5.
TEKINBAŞ, Katie Salen a Eric ZIMMERMAN. Rules of play : game design fundamentals. London: MIT, 2004. xv, 672. ISBN 0262240459.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer