Course Title: Design games

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: COSC5948C

Course Title: Design games

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6087 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Arthur Michalopoulos
Phone: 9925 4111
Email: arthur.michalopoulos@rmit.edu.au



 

Nominal Hours: 30

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency is delivered in the class Games 3. This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to Design Games in the pre-production stage. Tasks will involve the research, design and understanding of games – both non digital and digital. Aspects such as design, game play, level maps, as well as team logs and organizational structures will be considered.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFDIG504A Design games

Element:

1 Identify project requirements.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Confirm the objective and desired outcomes of a game proposal or brief in consultation with relevant personnel.
1.2 Identify factors that may have an impact on how a game is designed.
1.3 Clarify target audience to determine format and delivery platform of the game through discussion with relevant personnel.

Element:

2 Research games and generate ideas.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Select state of the art games from different genres to play as a source of inspiration.
2.2 Search game literature for each game and identify the games' objectives.
2.3 Generate range of ideas for game designs that are technically feasible, respond to the proposal or brief, and provide creative solutions to design issues.
2.4 Discuss ideas and collaborate, as required, with relevant personnel to ensure contribution of a range of ideas and creative solutions to initial concepts.

Element:

3 Select a game genre.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Identify and present a range of game genres to relevant personnel for consideration in terms of their characteristics, differences and ability to meet requirements of proposal or brief.
3.2 Consult with relevant personnel to ensure that a full range of genres has been identified and sourced.
3.3 Select the game genre that best meets the creative, technical and production requirements of proposal or brief.

Element:

4 Draft game design document.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Establish the game strategy outcomes.
4.2 Use design techniques to develop the structure of a game ensuring that all elements, including style and game mechanics are fully documented.
4.3 Use a range of criteria to determine the scope of a prototype to be used in the development phase.
4.4 Ensure that the prototype selected is capable of testing the effectiveness of the proposed game.
4.5 Include a register of game assets in consultation with relevant personnel.
4.6 Present draft game design document for discussion with and feedback from other team members.

Element:

5 Finalise game design document.

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Re-evaluate game design objectives on the basis of feedback on the prototype and draft game design document.
5.2 Discuss and confirm additional requirements or modifications to the game design with relevant personnel.
5.3 Specify the game production specifications, including appropriate testing strategies.
5.4 Write final game design document to reflect all additional requirements or modifications.

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to establish project parameters, research game genres, plan and structure gaming products whilst drafting and finalising game design documents.


Details of Learning Activities

Computer lab based practical activities.
Presentations.
Discussions
Project work


Teaching Schedule

Week Class Content

Elements

 
Week 1 Introduction
What is a game? Rules and restrictions
Activity: Making simple games on paper that can be played in groups		 1,2
Week 2

 

Making simple games on paper (formative assessment 1 based on ideas and discussions from previous week)
Class presentation/discussion & critique of assignment
(assessed in class)		 1,2,3
Week 3 Introduction to Summative Assessment: Joint Game project: Pre-production
Initial discussions, Document criteria, visual designs, maps, final art, influences from different genres, organizational structure and log etc.		 1,2,3,4
Week 4

Making simple games in groups (formative assessment 2 based on creating a game that can be played in a group by adapting a computer game – and researching the genre)
(assessed in class)

 1,2,3,4
Week 5 Joint Game project: Pre-production project work at concept, flow chart and initial graphics stage – Includes group discussions and evaluations 1,2,4
Week 6 Joint Game project: Pre-production project work at concept, flow chart finalization and developing graphics stage – Includes group discussions and evaluations 3,4
Week 7 Joint Game project: Pre-production project work at concept, flow chart finalization and final graphics stage – Includes group discussions and evaluations 1,2,3
Week 8 Game Document Review (formative assessment 3)
(assessed in class)
Joint Game project review of Design Documents and identification of issues and overall areas of improvement		 1,2,3
Week 9 Finalize Game Document in preparation for submission
Presentation and Discussion		 1,2,3,4,5
Week 10  Submission of Summative Assessment: Game project Pre-production
Document		 1,2,3,4,5
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Internet


References

None


Other Resources

Extensive use of web for research as required.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.


Assessment Tasks

This semester, a series of tasks primarily involving the research, design and understanding of games – both non digital and digital. Aspects such as design, game play, level maps, as well as team logs and organizational structures will be considered. Formative assessment involves an on-going process of presentation, feedback and critique – in the context of peer discussion in class. Summative assessment involves the submission of work that will be marked within the criteria presented in the assignment brief.

 Formative assessments (non graded):

Formative assessment 1 Making a simple game on paper - Due week 2
(Refer to assignment brief for details)

Formative assessment 2 Making a simple game in groups  - Due week 4
(Refer to assignment brief for details)

Formative assessment 3 Finalise Game Document. Presentation and Discussion - Due week 8
(Refer to assignment brief for details)
 Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment (not graded)

CA Competency achieved
NYC Not yet competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment

 Summative assessment:

Game project Pre-production document Due week 10
Submission of final Design document. The game developed in this document is a joint project between Design Games 3 and Interactive 3 (Design Digital Simulations).

This project will be an end of semester folio piece called Game Design & Production
(Refer to assignment brief for details)

The fully realised  game will become the Game folio piece at the end of semester 1

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:

CHD    Competent with High Distinction
CDI      Competent with Distinction
CC       Competent with Credit
CAG     Competency Achieved - graded

NYC     Not Yet Competent
DNS     Did Not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration.

Other Information

Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.

Plagiarism - RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity

Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online

Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)

Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees

Course Overview: Access Course Overview