1. Intro to Game Design Getting in Your Way
Week 1: September 2, 2015
Intro to Game Design Getting in Your Way
Fall Mondays & Wednesdays 12:30 AM-3:15 PM
Instructor: Naomi Clark /
Teaching Assistant: Reynaldo Vargas

2. Welcome! This is: Intro to Game Design
Today’s Class
Introductions: you, me, us
Watch a short documentary
What we’ll be doing in this class
Tee up and play some holes of bolf
…after designing some holes of bolf
(take a short break)
Do some more level design on paper
Get your first assignment

3. Welcome! This is: Intro to Game Design
Now, who are you?
Please share with us:
Your Name
What you’re studying here at NYU
Your preferred gender pronouns (“I go by she and her”)
A recent emotional experience you had playing a game (>10s)

4. Designing

5. Enough talk: let’s make something!
Beanbag Golf (or “Bolf”)
Design two holes for bolf
A “learning hole” that introduces an idea
An “advanced hole” that makes this idea harder
Player starts on an “X” made with tape and tosses
The combined par for two holes must be 7 tosses
You may add stroke penalties, special areas, special rules
Use materials on the prototyping cart!

6. Intermediate Game Design: what we do each week
Course Structure: Inside a Week
Mondays (usually): discussion, explanations, and exercises - Readings will usually be due - Discuss the readings: come with questions if you have them! - Most of class: illustrating what we’re reading/thinking about through play
Wednesdays: lab for group collaboration Starting next Wednesday, lab time will be devoted working on your projects, getting feedback, and playtesting your games. Keep in mind: you must work on your projects outside of class too! It’s unlikely you’ll have enough time in lab sessions alone.

7. Intro to Game Design: the projects
The Things You’ll Make
Project I: ABSTRACT LEVEL DESIGN (starts today) Make 2+ levels for an existing game
Project II: EXPERIENTIAL LEVEL DESIGN A longer sequence of levels, this time with feeling
Project III: NARRATIVE RPG Tabletop roleplaying, with set rules + your story
Project V: CONCEPT PITCH Sell your idea. Then flesh it out!
Project VI: CARD GAME A complex, customizable economy

8. Intro to Game Design: extrinsic motivators
ABSTRACT LEVEL DESIGN
CLASS PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE
CONCEPT PITCH
PROTOTYPE READINESS
CONCEPT DOCUMENT
Grading Breakdown
EXPERIENTIAL LEVEL DESIGN
CARD GAME
NARRATIVE RPG

9. Intro to Game Design: extrinsic motivators
ABSTRACT LEVEL DESIGN
“Move Up, Move Back”
CLASS PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE
CONCEPT PITCH
PROTOTYPE READINESS
CONCEPT DOCUMENT
EXPERIENTIAL LEVEL DESIGN
CARD GAME
NARRATIVE RPG

10. Enough talk: let’s make something else!
Slider Puzzle Levels
Turn to the person next to you
You’re going to make a level for this game!
The basic rule: when the avatar moves in a direction, it moves until it hits something.
The basic goal: get to the exit
Design a level using only these rules, but see if you can work within this framework to create something new and interesting
The challenge: not too easy, and not too hard. Juuust right.

11. Sliding Puzzle Levels Slider Puzzle Game
What elements could be added to expand the level design possibilities of this game without radically changing it?
Next: pick an element to work with
Write down the rules for this element
Design two levels: one “tutorial level” for this element, and one more advanced challenge
Record your final two levels on a blank worksheet, including a key to what symbols you draw on the worksheet mean!
Bring this with you to class next week!

12. Project #1: Abstract Level Design
VVVVVV

13. Project #1: Abstract Level Design
Create at least two VVVVVV levels
Play this game if you don’t already know it!
Start playing with the tool to get a feel for it
Find a mechanic, a gameplay element, or an “experience idea” that’s made possible by VVVVVV
Examples: enemies, disappearing platforms, changing direction rapidly between screens, tight precision landings
Create at least two levels: one introduction, one advanced
Due in class in two weeks
We’ll be working on these levels in lab class next week

14. Project #1: Abstract Level Design
Create at least two VVVVVV levels
Deliverables for this assignment:
Overview: title of your levels, short description of the concepts you’re working with and/or the experience you’re trying to create
Design Process Statement: 1 paragraph talking about what challenges, opportunities, or discoveries you made in the process of creating these levels—what surprised you? What was harder than anticipated? Did you make any changes based on playtesting?
Levels: Your .vvvvvv file (from directory shown in “player levels” menu). Make sure it has a name, author and description.

15. Your other homework…
Readings