Game Design Class 1: What Is Game Design?

One of three Game Design courses at PROSA. You can participate in this without participating in the others.

Goal: Establish shared vocabulary and practice idea generation.

Key Topics:

  • Core pillars of game design: Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics (MDA)
  • Player experience goals
  • Defining “fun” - the most dangerous and elusive word in game design
  • Types of fun (Nicole Lazzaro's 4 keys, Bartle’s player types, etc.)

Hands-On Activities:

  • Rules Are Powerful:
    Take a familiar, simple game (Checkers, Blackjack, Yahtzee). Add a new rule. Theorize how this will change the game, then test to see if your theory is true. Keywords: game balance, emotion, goals, strategy. “A game is a series of interesting decisions”.
  • Design a Tiny Game in 15 Minutes
    Design a game using only the materials provided (paper, coins, dice, tokens) on a specific theme. Teams may include one or more optional “modifiers”. Keywords: constraints, possibility space, scope.
  • Game Analysis Workshop
    In small groups, choose a familiar game and analyze it using MDA or Lens of the Player Experience. Talk about who the game would appeal to most. Keywords: target audience, player personas, motivation.

Assignment/Prep for Next Class:
Think of a game concept you’d like to prototype in the next session — ideally a small mechanic or interaction.

Trainer:
The training is conducted by Brian Bartram - a game developer and non-profit educator with 20 years of experience in AAA games (BioWare, Maxis, Visceral, Massive). Co-founder of Divergent Neurons Academy to empower neurodivergent creators. With past experience building programs for at-risk youth in LA and SF, Bartram is an advocate for inclusive game development and neurodiversity in the games industry.

Practical information:

  • Training language and study materials will be in English.
  • PROSA will provide for a meal, soft drinks, water as well as sufficient amounts of coffee for the evening.

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Bliv medlem af PROSA

Som medlem af PROSA får du en lang række fordele, som bl.a.

  • Gratis kurser
  • Juridisk rådgivning
  • Faglige netværk
  • Gode bankaftaler og forsikringer

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