Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.
This course takes students through the process of going from a game idea to a playable prototype. Students learn about the various roles, skills, technologies, and processes that need to come together to deliver a working game. Projects will be done in teams, and will mimic as closely as possible the processes used in commercial game studios.
Goal of the CourseThis course will provide students with the fundamentals of the game development process. Students will learn about the essentials of game design, as well as practices and processes of game development - from the initial idea to the final product. This course takes students through the process from a game idea to a playable prototype with the various roles, skills, technologies, and processes that need to come together. Learning Outcomes (General)Students who successfully completed this course will:Be able to describe the design elements that contribute to a successful gameBe able to describe the roles of team members in a commercial game development teamHave had experience working in a team to devise and develop novel game conceptsBe able to describe the main features of current game platforms and relevant technologies and their developmentHave produced and presented a game prototype in a team setting that required all major points along the development timeline to be met Have produced a team design report that describes a novel game development in-depth, including a discussion of the relationship between the major game features developed and the elements needed for a successful game product
Simon Hoermann
Alison Lowery
Rob Lindeman
In-term tests and assignments to assess taught material plus a major report describing the game design, prototyping process and outcomes of the major game development group project. Students will deliver a working game prototype using digital technologies as well as a final presentation in front of invited academics and peers.
Bates, Bob; Game design ; 2nd ed; Premier Press, 2004.
Bond, Jeremy Gibson; Introduction to game design, prototyping, and development : from concept to playable game with Unity and C# ; Second edition; Addison-Wesley, 2018.
De Byl, Penny; Holistic game development with Unity : an all-in-one guide to implementing game mechanics, art, design, and programming ; Third edition; CRC Press, 2019.
Futter, Michael; The gamedev business handbook : how to build the business you'll build games with ; Bithell Games, 2017.
Koster, Raph,1971-; A theory of fun for game design ; Paraglyph Press, 2005.
Rabin, Steve; Introduction to game development ; 2nd ed; Course Technology Cengage Learning, 2010.
Schell, Jesse; The art of game design : a book of lenses ; Third edition; CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2020.
Domestic fee $867.00
International fee $4,250.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Product Design .