Introduction to Game Design: Process and Creation

This course will be retired on September 30, 2023.

What is good game design? How do you come up with good game ideas? How do you start documenting your ideas? How do you create an experience? How do you write a rule book? These are some of the questions that will come up during the game design process, and this course will enable you to answer them.

When you’re designing a game, you’re designing an intricate system, so you will want a series of steps to help you through the game creation process. This course walks you through those steps—from determining a game’s success criteria and conceptualizing new aspects and core concepts to designing and prototyping your game, through to producing and finalizing your game. It explores what’s involved in designing game experiences for the gaming industry and which elements affect player experiences and behavior. It also identifies some key considerations in ideation and video game development: how to establish your game’s situation, design pillars and loops, and document your game ideas.

Topics covered include:

• The game design process
• Designing game experiences
• Envisioning game ideas

Module 1: Game design process

• Defining success for your game

• Creating a core concept

• Designing and prototyping your game

• Producing and finalizing your game

• Designing your packaging and rule books

Module 2: Designing game experience

• Experiences and your primary intention

• Elements affecting game experiences

• How to envision an experience

Module 3: Envisioning game ideas

• Establishing the narrative and situation

• Designing game pillars and loops

• Documenting your game ideas