1 Semester

4 Hours per Week

Hawthorn

HET325 Principles of Game Design

Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Bachelor of Arts (Games and Interactivity)

Aims & Objectives:

• To introduce students to the fundamental concepts of game design and game play.
• To develop a critical vocabulary for understanding and evaluating games.
• To become accustomed to the nature and teaching of Games and Interactivity Labs.
• To gain exposure into other forms of media including: film, theatre, television and the digital arts.

Teaching Methods:

Lecture and laboratory based learning with ongoing project development and assessment tasks.

Assessment:

Assignments, class and oral presentations, peer review.

Generic Skills Outcomes:

The graduate attributes which relate to this unit of study help to produce graduates who:

• Are capable in their chosen professional areas.
• Are entrepreneurial.
• Are adaptable and manage change.
• Operate effectively in work and community situations.
• Are aware of environments.

Content:

Students are exposed to a variety of lab projects which will accommodate both materials from the lectures and ongoing discussion through the laboratory design process. Each lab draws elements from the other units studied into their project work for achievable and defined outcomes. Students will focus on a number of topics per lab which carry through to their project work. For the foundation lab, students will focus on the following areas:

• Research and presentation methods
• Oral presentation and peer group feedback
• Visual aesthetics and the game play experience
• Communication techniques
• Analysis of linear and non-linear narratives

Reading Materials:

TBA