Ludology and Game Play

Course Cover

A foundational course in game design covering ludological principles, game mechanics, player psychology, and the complete game design process from concept to prototype. Students will understand what defines a ‘game’, explore game mechanics and rules, and create proof of concept proposals for new games.

Course Structure

Week 1: Introduction and Course Overview

• Course Introduction and Syllabus
• Reflective Writing and Learning

Week 2: Games as Engines of Experience

• Games as Engines of Experience
• Game Design Process and Ideation

Week 3: Fundamentals of Game Design

• Game Design Fundamentals

Week 4: MDA Framework

• The MDA Framework
• Bartle’s Player Types

Week 5: Design Patterns and Analysis Tools

• Design Patterns in Game Design
• Schell’s Game Design Lenses

Week 6: Documenting and Testing Game Designs

• Documenting Game Design
• Gameplay Design Principles

Week 7: Level Design and Game Balance

• Level Design Fundamentals
• Game Balance and Difficulty

Week 8: Prototyping and Implementation

• Non-digital and Digital Prototyping
• Social Issues for Game Designers