FIT2073 - Game design studio 1 - 2019

This unit provides a foundation in the theoretical and practical principles of game design and game narrative structures in the games development process. Utilising the principles taught in this unit, students will be given the opportunity to design innovative game applications and implement the consequences of their decisions as working game prototypes.

The combination of theory and practice in this unit is geared to equip students with the skills to not only design innovative games, but also to critique existing games and importantly new game ideas. The studio environment will facilitate considerable peer interaction, in particular in the design, communication, and critique of new game ideas. The unit provides knowledge and skills, which students can apply within their game development projects in the third year studio project/s (FIT3039/3040) and across all subsequent units.

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. construct a game narrative that expresses effective structure and mapping of plotlines and characters into interactive structures;
2. design environments with clearly indicated game challenges (time and intrinsic stress involved) and game balancing;
3. formulate a theoretical game design to a specific brief, implementing effective game narrative and balancing;
4. constructively critique game designs based on understanding of good game design principles;
5. work collaboratively in a team environment.

In-semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • three hour studio
   • one hour seminar
2. Additional requirements (all students):
   • A minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

See also Unit timetable information

Games design

Games development

Interactive media