Introduction to Game Design Methods

Readings

Note: There are no assigned readings for weeks 3 and 9–14.

WEEK #	TOPICS	READINGS
1	Introduction	Gaver, Bill, Tony Dunne, et al. “Design: Cultural Probes.” (PDF) Interactions 6, no. 1 (1999): 21–29. Gaver, William W., Andrew Boucher, et al. “Cultural Probes and the Value of Uncertainty.” (PDF) Interactions 11, no. 5 (2004): 53–56.
2	Design	Bauza, Antoine. “Takenoko Rules.” (PDF - 6.3MB) Videos Watch It Played. “Takenoko - How To Play (feat. Collector’s Edition).” September 15, 2013. YouTube. Geek & Sundry. “Takenoko - Harley Morenstein, Rosanna Pansino, and Drew Roy join Wil on TableTop SE2E14.” November 14, 2013. YouTube.
4	Process	Buley, Leah. Chapter 6 in The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide. Rosenfeld Media, 2013, pp. 132–5 & 140–3. ISBN: 9781933820187. Design Process I Lecture Slides (PDF)
5	Design Teams	Brathwaite, Brenda, and Ian Shreiber. Chapter 1 in Challenges for Game Designers (PDF - 4.3MB). Charles River Media, Incorporation, 2009. Video How Brainwriting can Neutralize the Loudmouths.
6	Prototypes	Fullerton, Tracy. Chapter 7 in Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. A K Peters / CRC Press, 2014. ISBN: 9781482217162.
7	Playtesting	Playtesting Resources Niedenthal, Simon. “Real-time Sweetspot: The Multiple Meanings of Game Company Playtests.” DiGRA, 2007.
8	Game Design Research	Fallman, Daniel. “The Interaction Design Research Triangle of Design Practice, Design Studies, and Design Exploration.” Design Issues 24, no. 3 (2008): 4–18. Eladhari, Mirjam P., and Elina M. I. Ollila. “Design for Research Results: Experimental Prototyping and Play Testing.” Simulation & Gaming 43, no. 3 (2012): 391–412.