DESMA 157
Game Design
Description: (Formerly numbered 157A.) Studio, six hours; outside study, nine hours. Preparation: completion of preparation for major courses. Enforced requisites: courses 22, 28, and 101 or 104. Introduction to game design, with focus on developing conceptual and practical skills that form basis for both digital and nondigital game development. Development of four playable game projects that explore various aspects of game design: rule design, game balance, multiplayer strategy, complexity, randomness, polemics, narrative, physical interaction, and aesthetic and pragmatic aspects of physical game design. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 0.0
Units: 0.0
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2017 - When I took the class, we had three projects in total: 2 were tabletop games, and the final project was with Unity. As someone who has more coding experience than crafting experience, I definitely found the tabletop games much more difficult to execute. I also disliked how costly it was to use the tools in the Fab Lab. But fortunately, I had a lot of fun designing a game with Unity at the end. As for Eddo and his teaching-style, I would say overall the class lectures are pretty boring and mediocre. But honestly, I find it hard to sit through two hour lectures regardless of the person speaking. You can get a sense that Eddo is very very passionate about games, especially more traditional games (Backgammon & LARPing). He is a very knowledgeable professor, but definitely a lot more helpful outside of class. People who don't take the time to get to know him or to just ask him questions in class will most likely not enjoy the class as much. He actually loves helping students, although sometimes he passively imposes his own ideas on students' projects a little too much. But as long as you put in effort, make your games fun, then the class is great for those who are interested in game design!
Fall 2017 - When I took the class, we had three projects in total: 2 were tabletop games, and the final project was with Unity. As someone who has more coding experience than crafting experience, I definitely found the tabletop games much more difficult to execute. I also disliked how costly it was to use the tools in the Fab Lab. But fortunately, I had a lot of fun designing a game with Unity at the end. As for Eddo and his teaching-style, I would say overall the class lectures are pretty boring and mediocre. But honestly, I find it hard to sit through two hour lectures regardless of the person speaking. You can get a sense that Eddo is very very passionate about games, especially more traditional games (Backgammon & LARPing). He is a very knowledgeable professor, but definitely a lot more helpful outside of class. People who don't take the time to get to know him or to just ask him questions in class will most likely not enjoy the class as much. He actually loves helping students, although sometimes he passively imposes his own ideas on students' projects a little too much. But as long as you put in effort, make your games fun, then the class is great for those who are interested in game design!