Game design basics (5 cr)

Objective

You have the basic knowledge of game terminology, genres and game design process.
You have a basic understanding of the history of video gaming.
You understand the basic elements of game design (idea/objectives/mechanics/story/structure/characters and levels).

Content

What is a game?
What are the different tasks, roles and jobs in the game production process?
What is involved in the game design process?
What kind of narrative structures are used in games?
How to implement different game mechanics?
What are the basic character types in video games?
How to write various game design documents?

Course material

Lectures, videos, links and tutorials on Learn.

Study forms and methods

The course mostly online. Contact lessons are on campus when the group has contact days.

If you have a comparable previous academic achievement (i.e., a higher education-level course completion), have studied for a year in, for example, a folk high school, and have work samples to present, or if you have skills equivalent to or exceeding the course level, for example, through work experience and have a portfolio to show, you may seek to have the course accredited. However, you must first discuss this with the course instructor.

RDI and work-related cooperation

The core focus is on the basic skills. No work-life co-operation.

Further information

Students complete assignments independently with the help of instructions and video tutorials. In class, a student will receive feedback and deepen their expertise.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Completed assignments.