ARTM3720 Game Design Studio 2: Schedule

1.23 Week 1 Motivation

• Discuss: Sequels, Painstation, Getting Over It
• Play: Calvin Ball https://calvinandhobbes.fandom.com/wiki/Calvinball
• Homework:
  • in teams of 3 generate 5 game ideas for games that do not have an explicit end state, exploring viral spread and changeable rules)
  • Post thoughts on what we played in class
• Read/Play: Cow Clicker, http://bogost.com/writing/blog/cow_clicker_1/, The Graveyard, Townscaper https://youtu.be/hqq25n6cQqo?si=leLV3KMoWNIXzbaM
• Questions:
  • What are the issues Ian Bogost raises about social games with Cow Clicker?
  • How do social games like FarmVille enframe friends?
  • How do social games destroy time outside of the game?

1.30 Week 2 Persuade

• Discuss:
  • Advergames – Pepsi Man, Sneak King, Chex Quest, M&M Kart Racing, America’s Army
  • Awareness Games – Vote!!!, Darfur is Dying
• Play:
  • The McDonalds Game
  • Monopoly
  • Cool Spot
• In Class Pitch – one of your endless game ideas (wrinkle – now make it a persuasive game)
• Homework:
  • generate 5 new game ideas that explore changing players minds about … (climate change, energy, politics, etc.)
  • Post thoughts on what we played in class
• Read: Advergames from Bogost, Ian. Persuasive Games: The expressive power of videogames

2.6 Week 3 Games for Change

• Discuss:
  • ARGs: A World Without Oil
  • Discovery Tour by Assassin’s Creed
  • Detroit Become Human
  • Factorio
  • Outer wilds
  • Gris
  • Gone Home
  • The Layoff Game
• Play:
  • Dumb Ways to Die
  • Fake it to Make it
  • Cards Against Calamity
  • Cast Your Vote
• Homework:
  • Post thoughts on what we played in class
  • Generate a list of five potential problems/issues that can be address using game play. Note, this week do not come up with ideas for games or mechanics.
• Read: Excerpts from Flanagan, Mary. Critical Play Radical Game Design, MIT Press, 2009

2.13 Week 4 Serious Games

• Discuss: Train, Crosser & La Migra, Ludoztil, Oregon Trail, Last Resort
• Play: 
  • Crossing the Bridge
  • Observance
• Homework:
  • Post thoughts on what we played in class
• Read:
  • Amy Bruckman “Can Education be Fun?” (1999)
  • Ian Bogost “Gamification is Bullshit” (2011)
  • Matthew Farber, “Why Serious Games Are Not Chocolate-Covered Broccoli” (2014)

2.20 Week 5 Simulation

• Playtest Game 1
• Discuss: Doctrine – Cognitive Task Analysis, Full Spectrum Warrior, Medical Simulation
• Play: Keep Talking and No-one Explodes
• Homework:
  • Post thoughts on what we played in class
  • Conduct a task analysis of an existing game
• Read:
  • Brian Winn, Carrie Heeter, “Resolving Conflicts in Educational Game Design through Playtesting“ Innovate: Journal of Online Education Volume 3, Number 2, December 2006

2.27 Week 6 Post Podcasts

3.13 Week 7 Prototype Game 2

3.20 Week 8 Playtest Game 2

• Playtest Game 2
• Discuss: Assessment/After Action Review
• Play: Keep Talking and No-one Explodes
• Homework:
• Read: Chen, S. and Michael, D. Proof of Learning: Assessment in Serious Games.

3.27 Week 9 Refine Game 2

4.3 Week 10 Playtest Game 2

4.10 Week 11 Prototype Game 3

4.17 Week 12 Playtest Game 3

4.24 Week 13 Refine Game 3

5.1 Week 14 Playtest Game 3

Final Play Test of fully developed game

5.8 Week 15 Final Presentations between 8:00 to 10:00am

Final Play Test of fully developed game