Becker College Spring 2020


Introduction to Game Design: GAME-1120-W03


Time: Mondays 9:00am - 11:30am



Max Anderson



Office Hours: By Appointment

Email: Maxwell.anderson@becker.edu

Course Description

“This course serves to introduce the various aspects of game design for those intending to work
as part of management, production, and/or design teams. The student will begin with an
analysis of gaming, with consideration of various platforms, game genres, playability, objectives,
rule dynamics, and overall quality. Further, the student will learn the elements of production
including game conceptualization, story development, and interface, character, soundtrack, and
level design.”


Required Text: (There will be weekly assigned readings and class discussions, so if you do not
already have the book, you will need to get it as soon as possible.)


Attendance: This class meets for 2 hours and 30 minutes every week, it is important that you
are in class on time. There will be a 15 minute break halfway through class. If you are not in
class you will miss out on class lectures and discussions as well as opportunities to work in
groups on current projects. Each student is encouraged to develop a professional work ethic
that refl ects initiative, responsibility, and teamwork. Excessive lateness/absences will negatively
impact your fi nal grade for the course. Up to three excused or unexcused absences are allowed
with no penalty. After three absences you may automatically receive an F for the course. All
students are expected to participate in group discussions and critiques.


Credit Hour Requirements: For every one credit hour taken, students are expected to spend a
minimum of two hours of independent study time per week outside of class. This means for
most courses you should be working for ~ 5 hours a week outside of class. To excel in college
courses you should strive to spend this time not just on homework assignments but also on
studying material above and beyond what is covered during class time.



Course Completion & Evaluation: Late, incomplete or sloppy work will negatively affect your
grade. Late assignments will be penalized 10 points for each week late.
Grading- Your grade for the course will be based on the following:


 

Blog Assignments 30% Grade             Numerical
Averages              Grade Points
A+                   As determined by faculty        
 4.00
Midterm 20 %
A                     95 – 100                                 
4.00
A-                    90 – 94                                   
Final 20%
3.70
B+                   87 – 89                                   

 3.30
Participation 15%
B                     83 – 86                                   
3.00
B-                    80 – 82                                   
Quizes 15% 2.70
C+                   77 – 79                                   

 2.30
Total = 100%
C                     73 – 76                                   
2.00
C-                    70 – 72                                   
1.70
D+                   67 – 69                                   
1.30
D                     63 – 66                                   
1.00
D-                    60 – 62                                   
0.70
F                      Below 60                                
0.00
 

 Academic Honesty & Integrity: The College upholds a strict policy against academic dishonesty.
Cheating, Forgery, & Plagiarism do not only apply to essays and written work but also to digital art
and project files. The internet makes it easy to view work by thousands of talented artists and
developers, but if you download and submit a file that is not your own work- that is cheating and it is
plagiarism. Plagiarism of digital files will not be tolerated and will result in failure of the
course. (There are some instances in this particular course where using sprites found on-line may be
appropriate but that will be addressed on an individual basis).

Schedule: 

please check Canvas for announcements & assignments.


Week Topics/Objectives Homework/Lab

1 • Intro to course Blog post- what kind of gamer are you?

• Overview of expectations Read chapter 1-5
and assignments Watch tutorial videos 1-5
• About you Quiz on reading

2 Blog post- what is your favorite game, and why?

Game design document/why they Read chapter 6-10
are important
Watch tutorial videos 6-10
Opening unity engine
Quiz on reading
Lab: work on tutorials

3 Creating a design document
Overview of game genres
Action game
Game pitches
Blog post- example of an action game & a pitch
your own action game
Read chapter 11-15
Watch tutorial videos 11-15
Quiz on reading
Lab: work on tutorials

4 Adventure games Blog post- example of adventure game and pitch

your own
Read chapter 16-20
Watch tutorial videos 16-20
Quiz on reading
Lab: work on tutorials
Midterm project
5 Fighting games Blog post- example of fighting game and pitch
your own
Read chapter 21-25
Watch tutorial videos 21-25
Quiz on reading
Lab: work on tutorials
Midterm project

6 Platform games Blog post- example of platform game and pitch

your own
Midterms
Read chapter 26-30
Watch tutorial videos 26-30
Quiz on reading
Lab: work on tutorials

7 Puzzle games Blog post- example of puzzle & racing game and
pitch your own
Racing games
Watch tutorial videos 31-35
Lab: work on tutorials

8 Role playing games Blog post- example of RPG and Shooter game
and pitch your own
Shooter games
Watch tutorial videos 36-40
Lab: work on tutorials
9 Simulation games Blog post- example of simulation and sports and
strategy games, pitch your own
Sports games
Watch tutorial videos 41-47
Strategy games
Lab: work on tutorials
Overview of final project

10 Finals work Blog post- example of strategy

Lab: work on tutorials
Final project work

11 Finals work Lab: work on tutorials

Final project work

12 Finals work Lab: work on tutorials

Final project work
13 Finals work Lab: work on tutorials
Final project work
 Final -
TDB

 _______________________________________________________________________________

Additional Policies



Additional College-wide policies are posted online at 

http://www.becker.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-policies/syllabus-policies.

These policies apply to all courses; students are responsible for reading and making sure they
understand these policies.