Schedule may change, with notice, to better accommodate the class dynamic.

Introduction to Course

Handout (pdf)

Lecture 1: Intro to Course and Brainstorming

Due Today (9/8): Complete Short Survey (should take around 10 minutes)

Due Friday (9/9): Form Your Teams for the Quarter

Due Tuesday (9/13): Build Your Team's Game Studio

Due Tuesday (9/13): Brainstorm Ideas Individually and Pitch to Your Team (outside of class)

Due Tuesday (9/13): Read The Game Begins with an Idea

Class Discussion on Reading. Beginning the Production Process.

Games + Inspiration Examples

Lecture 2: Inspiration, Problem Statements, Brainstorms and Pitching

Due Thursday (9/15): As a team, prepare and practice your Game Mod Pitches for Thursday

Teams Pitch Their Game Mod to the Class and get Feedback.

Due Tuesday (9/20): Establish Team Schedules

Due Tuesday (9/20): Individual Blog Entry

Due Tuesday (9/20): Read: The Game Improves through Iteration

Remaining Teams Pitch Their Game Mod to the Class and get Feedback.

Class Discussion on Reading.

Lecture 3: Process and Protptypes

Workday if there's time.

Workday. I meet with groups.

Due Tuesday (9/27): Individual Blog Entry

Workday. Meet with groups.

Lecture then Workday.

Lecture 4: What do players really want?

Due Tuesday (10/4): Individual Blog Entry

Due Tuesday (10/4): Read Playtesting

Class Discussion on Reading.

Lecture 5: Playtesting

Due Thursday (10/6): Each team completes 5 tissue tests. Each Team must provide a One Page Report describing 10 improvements they'll make based on the playtests.

Students Play Each Other's Games and Provide Feedback.

Due Tuesday (10/11): Individual Blog Entry

Studios team up and discuss problems and brainstorm solutions for each other. Then a workday to iterate mods based on last week's playtests.

Due Thursday (10/13): Read XEO Design Handout

Class Discussion on Reading.

Workday. Prepare next week's presentations.

Due Tuesday (10/18): Individual Blog Entry

Due Tuesday (10/18): Presentation of Game Mod Alpha including 1 Minute Video Capture uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo.

Continue presentations if necessary and then a workday incorporating critical feedback on Alpha Milestones.

Due Tuesday (10/25): Individual Blog Entry

Implement changes and adjust your development schedule based on critical feedback on last week's Alpha Milestones. I meet one on one with individual groups to help guide these changes where necessary.

Lecture 6: Experience Loops

Then a workday to prepare for Beta Milestone and playtesting in class next week.

Due Tuesday (11/1): Individual Blog Entry

Due Tuesday (11/1): Have latest working builds ready for playtesting in class. Shoot for one full minute of compelling game experience.

Class Discussion on what students learned in Tuesday's playtests.

Workday to implement improvements based on Tuesday's playtests.

Due Tuesday (11/8): Individual Blog Entry

Workday to prepare for final playtesting sessions.

Due Thursday (11/10): Final Playtests and Reports

The Final Pruning Process is Painful!

Lecture 7: Edit out everything that doesn't enhance the mod.

Workday to implement improvements based on final playtests.

Due Tuesday (11/15): Individual Blog Entry (last one)

Lecture 8: Final Mods and Demo Day

Workday: polish, polish, polish. Continue to cut out any weak or confusing element. Be sure to put in evocative splash screens, and end screens, if applicable.

Due Tuesday (11/22): Final Presentations and Demos

Final Presentations and Demos