Play, Analyze and Ideate

Week 1 What Makes a Good Game? 1.21 – Remote

• Discuss: what makes a good game?
• Play:  Jackbox
• Homework: 5 game ideas that can utilize social distancing as a mechanic or make it part of the game
• Read: Kobold Guide to Game Design: Part 1
• Optional Read: Rules of Play: chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
• Play, watch or explore on your own and be prepared to discuss next  week
  
  • http://www.molleindustria.org/mcdonalds/ 
  • Explore: http://www.tiltfactor.org/game/layoff/
  • Explore: You have to burn the rope:
    • https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/09/29/have-you-played-you-have-to-burn-the-rope/ 
    • https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/04/05/you-have-to-burn-the-rope/ 

Week 2 Play Narrative 1.28

• Discuss: McVideo Game, Layoff, You have to burn the rope
• Discuss: The magic circle, and game pacing
• Present top 2 ideas in class, post all 5 to the class blog
• Play: Flux, Love Letter, Bang
• Read: Kobold Guide to Game Design: Part 2
• Homework: 5 game ideas that can be played using cards

Week 3 Worlds & Conflict 2.4

• Discuss Metaphor vs Mechanics
• Discuss: Competition vs Collaboration
• Present top 2 ideas in class, post all 5 to the class blog
• Play: Pandemic, Argument, Hanabi, Forbidden Island, Munchkin
• Homework: 5 game ideas that revolve around a mechanic or metaphor (p.19-23, 56-60) of your choice. Further, your next round of ideas, and game reviews should be a single sentence , at most a paragraph.  A single sentence idea/ review will use Matt Forbeck’s formula (p.21): 

[Game name] is a [category of] game in which [the players or their avatars] [ do or compete for something] by [using tools the game provides them].

Week 4 Building 2.11

• Discuss: Writing Rules & building a game kit
• Present top 2 ideas in class, post all 5 to the class blog
• Play: Carcassonne, NanoBot, Dominion, Gloom Munchkin,
• Homework: 5 game ideas that revolve around a theme of being lost and be considered a gateway game (p.50-56)
• Read: Kobold Guide to Game Design p.90-98
• Homework: begin writing rules for 2 of your top ideas

Week 5 Resources, collecting and trading 2.18

• Present top 2 ideas in class, post all 5 to the class blog
• Play: Settlers of Catan, Splendor, Bonanza,
• Homework: 5 game ideas that revolve around the theme of collecting
• Due: draft of first 2 rule sets
• Assign: Student Presentation

Prototype

Week 6 2.25 – Play Testing

• Discuss: Playtesting and iteration
• Present top 2 ideas in class, post all 5 to the class blog
• In class: choose 2 more ideas to prototype
• In class prototype and test: Begin testing first & second rule set
• Homework: prototype 3rd idea

Week 7 3.4

• Student Presentations:
  • Ryan: Chess
• Play: testing 3rd rule set
• Homework: prototype 4th rule set

Week 8 3.11

• Student Presentations
  • Brady: Battleship
  • Tasia: Werewolf
  • Emily: Mahjong
  • Nico:  Trivial Pursuit
  • Allee: The Game of Life
  • Frankie:
  • Emma:
• Play: in groups play test 4th rule set
• Homework: refine 1 large or 2 small rule sets

Week 9 3.18

• Student Presentations
  • Amanda: Settlers of Catan
  • Alexa: Code Names
  • Madisyn: Monopoly
  • Mackenzie: Trouble
  • Anna: Clue
  • Austin: Spelunky
• Play: in groups play test a refined prototype
• Read: Kobold Guide to Game Design: Part 3
• Homework: refine one more of your initial prototypes

Develop 

Week 10 Materials and crafting 3.25

• Read: Kobold Guide to Game Design: Part 4
• Play: playtest refined prototype

Week 11 4.1

• Refine and test

Week 12 4.8

• Refine and test

Week 13 4.15

• Refine and test

Week 14 4.22

• Final Play Test of fully developed game

Week 15 4/26 1:30pm to 3:30pm

• Final Play Test of fully developed game