Game Design
- Unit 2: Design
- Lab 2.0: Mechanics, Dynamics, and Prototyping
- Lab 2.1: The Role (Roll?) of Chance
- Lab 2.2: Strategy
- Lab 2.3: Game Design Document (guild 100 xp)
- Lab 2.4: Alpha Testing Notes (guild 100 xp)
- Lab 2.5: Alpha Testing Solutions (guild 100 xp)
- Lab 2.6: Beta Testing Notes (guild 100 xp)
- Side Quests
- Getting Unstuck: Take the five tips for what to do when you get stuck designing a game and turn it into a full-color poster. The poster should be at least 11" x 17" and include both text and illustrations. (3 Tokens)
- Ask a Friend: Teach someone who isn't taking Game Design how to play a tabletop game that is new to them (if you can't find one, ask your instructor for help). Then convince them to write a 500+ word review of the game and use that review as your artifact. (4 Tokens)
- Roving Reporter: Attend a public tabletop game event. Write an article or make a documentary video reporting on the event. (4 Tokens)
- Film Critic: Write a review of Indie Game: The Movie. Your review should be at least 500 words in length. (4 Tokens)
- Late Proposal: Create a game proposal for an existing ?tabletop game. Use 1.0 as your version number. (2 Tokens)
- Unit 1: Good Games, Bad Games, and Ugly Games
- Lab 1.0: Theme and Simulation, with links to game rules
- Lab 1.1: Diplomacy and Socializing
- Lab 1.2: Variety and Tension
- Lab 1.3: Role Identification
- Lab 1.4: Analyze a Game for Features
- Side Quests
- Create a poster about one of the seven game features (theme, simulation, diplomacy, socializing, variety, tension, role identity). The poster needs to be full-color, complete with examples and illustrations, and at least 11" x 17". Have it checked with the instructor, then get it laminated in the LMTC and post it in the room. (3 tokens)
- Go out to eat with your entire guild. The artifacts you'll need to deliver are a picture of your guild at the table and a copy of the bill. Bonus token if you play a tabletop game while you're there. Don't forget to tip! (2 tokens each, +1 token each for bonus)
- Visit a brick-and-mortar game store and ask for recommendations for each of the seven game features (theme, simulation, diplomacy, socializing, variety, tension, position identity); you may need to explain the meaning of one or more features. Write up your experience as an interview, with you as the interviewer and the customer service person at the store as the interviewee. Make sure that you include the reasons each game fits each feature, and be prepared to explain to the person at the store what each feature means. (5 tokens)
- Watch one of the gameplay episodes of Tabletop, a YouTube show starring Wil Wheaton that shows (usually famous) people playing a tabletop game. After watching the video, write a paper that covers how the game featured in the episode exhibits the seven game features (theme, simulation, diplomacy, socializing, variety, tension, role identity). Be sure to describle the game itself, in case the reader isn't familiar with it. Support your assertions with examples from the episode (ideally with references to times in the video). (4 tokens)
- Unit 0: Introduction to Games
- Lab 0.0: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Game Design (solo 100 XP)
- Lab 0.1: Learn a Game (solo 100 XP)
- Lab 0.2: What is a Game? (solo 100 XP)
- Lab 0.3: Rebuild (solo 100 XP)
- Side Quests
- Make a World War II style recruiting poster (here are some examples), suitable for display in the classroom, for your guild, nation, or alliance. (2 Tokens)
- Pick a video game of your choice and write a review of it. If you need tips on how to write a review, try this page or just google it. (2 Token)
- Write a readable walk-through (not just a list of commands) for how to get 33 points in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy text adventure. Make sure it's your own work; Google is very good at finding copies, and Mr. Pavao is very good at using Google. (3 Tokens)
- Check out this video and write an essay that answers the following questions. What are the four main features or a gamer that Dr. McGonigal lists, and what is the definition of each? For each one, discuss whether she is correct, giving your own evidence to support or refute her claims. (5 Tokens)