MEDIA309

In this paper, students will be introduced to the principles and practices of game design, with a focus on how games create meaningful and engaging player experiences. They will explore the relationship between game systems and players, while considering the cultural and social contexts of play.

This paper emphasises learning by doing. By the end of the course, the students will have developed a playable prototype and gained insight into the diversity of design disciplines involved in game development (such as game design, level design, narrative design, character design, and UX), as well as the diversity of players, including considerations of experience(s) and accessibility. This paper is structured around three interconnected dimensions of game design: player, game system, and context of play. This framework ensures that the students will not only learn how to design engaging mechanics and narratives, but also understand how player experience and cultural context shape games.