Course Title: Design games
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2020
Course Code: COSC6212C
Course Title: Design games
School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6151 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media
Course Contact: Nat Bates
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email: svdsc.mac@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Suzanne Thomson
suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au
9925 4815
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
In this course you will cover the skills and knowledge required to design technically feasible games and document production requirements.
It applies to individuals who generate and develop a game idea through to documentation of the mechanics and design. They communicate the vision for a game to the rest of the team.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUADIG504 Design games |
Element: |
1. Identify project requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Confirm objective and outcomes of a game proposal or brief in consultation with relevant personnel 1.2 Identify factors that may impact game’s design 1.3 Clarify target audience to determine format and delivery platform of the game in discussion with relevant personnel |
Element: |
2. Research games and generate ideas |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify and source a full range of genres, in consultation with relevant personnel 2.2 Select and play different genres as a source of inspiration, including traditional and state of the art games 2.3 Search game literature to identify various games’ objectives and game theory 2.4 Generate a range of ideas for game designs that are technically feasible, respond to the proposal or brief, and provide creative solutions to design issues 2.5 Discuss ideas and creative solutions in collaboration with relevant personnel |
Element: |
3. Select a game genre |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Identify a range of game genres with potential to meet the game brief, and present to relevant personnel for consideration 3.2 Select the game genre that meets the creative, technical and production requirements of proposal or brief in consultation with relevant personnel |
Element: |
4. Draft game design document |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Propose a game concept that is original and compelling for users 4.2 Establish game strategy outcomes 4.3 Develop the structure of the game and document all elements, including style and game mechanics 4.4 Develop criteria to determine the scope of a prototype game sequence to be used in the development phase 4.5 Confirm the proposed prototype can test effectiveness of the game-play elements 4.6 Develop a register of game assets in consultation with relevant personnel 4.7 Use various presentation techniques to present a draft game design document for feedback from other team members |
Element: |
5. Finalise game design document |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Review game design objectives based on feedback on the draft game design document 5.2 Discuss and confirm additional requirements or modifications to the game design with relevant personnel 5.3 Specify game production requirements, including appropriate testing strategies 5.4 Produce 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
This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: CUADIG507 Design digital simulations
In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:
• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• WIP (work in progress) reviews
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:
• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT OneDrive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
| Week 1 | 6/7 |
Introduction to Game theory, Genres and Unity refresher. Learn about both traditional and digital game theory. Refresh your Unity skills. Working on AT1 Q1 and Q2. Game Coding: You will learn the basics of moving character around by keyboard input. |
EOP Learning Activity |
| Week 2 | 13/7 |
Game play and mechanics Explore traditional and digital games through game play. Working on AT1 Q3 and Q4, AT2 art A Section 1 |
|
| Week 3 | 20/7 |
Game Flow, Game Documentation & Unity Explore design process, including game flow charts and its effect on your role as a game designer. Learn more about the technological developments and how they have shaped the gaming industry. Finally touch on the main coding concepts for gaming development. Game Coding: You will learn the basics of game project set up, methods and player control scripting. |
|
| Week 4 | 27/7 |
Testing strategies and finalising assessment task 1. Explore the multiple styles of gaming testing strategies. There will also be a Q and A on AT1 part A. Game Coding: You will learn the basics of positions and player bounds. |
AT1 |
| Week 5 | 3/8 |
Introduction Assessment task 2 & Developing your Game Canvas Working on your concept and research for AT2, but learning how to complete a game design canvas. |
|
| Week 6 | 10/8 |
Concept development Pitch and feedback Learn about what goes into a pitch document and pitch your concept to your peers for feedback. Game Coding: You will learn the basics creating enemies/obstacles. |
|
| Week 7 | 17/8 |
Game Proposals Learn about the format and content for a formal game proposal document. Use your research, game pitch and game canvas to create your game proposal. Game Coding: You will learn the basics of how to detect collisions. |
|
| Week 8 | 24/8 |
Game Proposal Document - Finalisation Bringing it all together into formal documentation to propose your game concept. Game Coding: You will learn the basics scoring, UI menus and sound management. |
AT2 Due |
| Week 9 | 7/9 |
Introduction Assessment 3 and IP Taking that next step, from concept to game development. You will also learn about IP and game design industry. Game Coding: You will learn the basics adding the final SFX to games. |
|
| Week 10 | 14/9 |
Game testing strategies & conditional statements (the math stuff) Take a close look at the different types of game testing strategies. Also take time to think about assumed formulas that apply to games for example gravity. |
|
| Week 11 | 21/9 |
Simulation Knowledge In this week we will learn about digital design process in relation to stages of game design, technical standards including platform functions, web standards, documentation types related to design of digital applications and the intellectual property right and how they are managed with the digital design industry. |
|
| Week 12 | 28/9 |
Game development workshop Time in this week is dedicated to the development of your game. |
|
| Week 13 | 5/10 |
Game development workshop Time in this week is dedicated to the development of your game. |
AT4 Due |
| Week 14 | 12/10 |
Game development workshop Time in this week is dedicated to the development of your game. |
|
| Week 15 | 19/10 | Game development workshop Time in this week is dedicated to the development of your game.. |
|
| Week 16 | 26/10 |
Game development workshop Time in this week is dedicated to the development of your game. |
AT3 Due |
| Week 17 | 2/11 | Time dedicated to catch up. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The learning Lab
www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
English for uni workshops
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/workshops/english-uni-workshops
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
Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
Assessment 1 Game Design Theory
For this assessment you will asked to answer all the question which relate to game design theory. Please answer all question using your own words and in full sentences, some questions require you to fill in the table provided.
Due week 4
Assessment 2 Game Design
You are part of an Indie Game Design studio dedicated to creating fun, colourful non-violent games. As an up and coming game designer it is your role to pitch game concepts in order to obtain investment and funding for the company.
This Indie Game Design studio develops a wide variety of game genres of a non-violent nature. You have been asked to pitch a concept to your team and develop a game proposal document to help obtain funding for the game development.
Due week 8
Assessment 3 Game Simulation
Using your Game Design Proposal final concept from AT2, you will now develop a draft simulation of the game for review against the project outcomes and objectives. This means you will develop a draft simulation of the game, test the game on at least 3 users, adjust any specifications required and then finalise the game design documentation.
Due week 16
Assessment 4 Knowledge Evidence
For this assessment you will asked to answer all questions which relate to digital design industry. Please answer all question using your own words and in full sentences (no dot points).
Due week 13
Graded assessment in this course uses the following grades:
CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.
Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. You are strongly advised to attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Information about your studies:
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. https://www.rmit.edu.au/students
Assessment:
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time): https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview