Game Design Workshop |
This course provides a foundation of knowledge for understanding games as playable systems. Students learn the language of Playcentric Design and practice the craft of prototyping, playtesting, and iteration in an environment independent of computers. This is to provide the student hard skills that can be used throughout a career in games—transcendent of changing technologies. The student will: 1) Understand Fundamental Theory – See how any game breaks down into Formal, Dramatic, and Dynamic systems. And learn how the three interrelate. 2) Learn Core Development Process – Acquire the skills of prototyping, playtesting, iteration, presentation, and collaboration. These timeless skills can be applied to all game types present and future. 3) Practice, Practice, Practice – All students prototype multiple games -on paper regardless of technical skills. All students gain extensive experience critiquing and analyzing games via formal playtests with fellow students. At the end of the course each student will have a portfolio of paper game prototypes. |
![]() |
Narrative Design Workshop |
This course examines the critical elements that make strong story concepts and how they can be shaped to create the foundations of great games. Students will design, narrative, game play, physical environment (world, gameplay spaces), and other key elements. Guest speakers will include veteran game designers and writers. |
![]() |
Game Studio: Agile Development |
This hands-on game studio course is focused on the production and development of digital games and is at the heart of the program. Students will form their own game studio development teams comprised of fellow students (2-4+). Students will conceptualize and build a working game then learn and employ Agile and SCRUM methodology and Playcentric Design. Using online tools such as Confluence to document their work and JIRA to manage their tasks, course will teach game production workflow. Emphasis is placed on managing the design, development and testing of a working game by end of semester. Students are supported by a technical instructor/mentor who assists with programming as an active member of their team. Students take two variations of this course in the course of the program so they will acquire more sophisticated skills in successive semesters. At the end of the program they will have multiple working software projects. |
![]() |
Game Studio: Coding Lab |
This is a companion to the Game Studio: Agile Development class. Students work in teams to build their working digital game and receive individualized tutelage and direct coding support from their instructor. Students learn that they can produce working software—even with beginner skills in a short time. They sharpen their skills by practicing this process multiple times in the program. |
![]() |
3D Art and Animation |
This course introduces students to Autodesk’s Maya Animation, Visual Effects, and Compositing software, a robust application used throughout the video game industry for the creation of visual assets. Students learn how to optimize the Maya interface for enhanced productivity. They are introduced to polygon tools and taught polygonal modeling in a hands-on environment. Students gain practical understanding of polygonal modeling for organic characters, and hard surface models. Students will also learn the basics of UV mapping, nurbs modeling, texturing and three-point lighting using D-map and raytrace shadows. |
![]() |
Game Analysis: Playable Systems |
The focus of this course is the study and deconstruction of video games. Students learn how to break any game down into Formal Elements, Dramatic Elements, and Dynamic Elements and become versed in the language of Playcentric Design. Students are exposed to the video game canon via study of both seminal games as well as contemporary masterpieces. Deliverables are game deconstruction presentations suitable for a student portfolio. |
![]() |
Improvisational Acting for Game Designers |
Students learn by doing that improvisational acting helps them develop skills in team communication and collaboration. They also learn about problem solving, spontaneity, and listening skills through group performance. |
![]() |
Game Design Workshop II |
This course builds upon the foundations established in the Game Design Workshop I course, and focuses on advanced study of systems literacy and play mechanics. The course is workshop-focused, meaning a substantial portion of time is spent actively engaged in the paper prototyping process. Readings and lectures supplement discussions as we explore more sophisticated facets of the playable systems and user experience design. Creating system literacy is the primary goal; and everything else we do supports that aim. Students will leave the course with multiple portfolio-ready game prototypes. |
![]() |
Art Direction for Game Designers |
This course examines the role of visual design in building games. The course exposes students to the craft of the Art Director via a combination of theory and practice. Students learn basic skill set presentation (art history, color theory, composition, typography, basic digital media skills). Students learn to think about projects in terms of the constraints of technology, client needs, and end-user experience. The course covers basic UX/UI concepts. Students learn formal ideation and problem solving for visual design. Students learn to master the look and feel of an experience. |
![]() |
Narrative Game Design Workshop II |
This course builds upon the learnings from Narrative Design Workshop I. It provides the student with more in-depth understanding of the art and craft of narrative and storytelling in games. Lectures and case studies provide advanced level exposure to story structure, character, and how Dramatic Elements and Formal Elements of games interrelate. Examples include Embedded versus Emergent Narrative; Ludology versus Narratology; and others. Students will craft their own interactive narratives via in-class exercises and multi-week assignments. |
![]() |
Game Studio: Producing |
This is a second hands-on game studio course focused on the production and development of digital games. Students will form their own game studio development teams comprised of fellow students (2-4+). Students will conceptualize and build a working game then employ Agile methodology with a special emphasis on good creative producing techniques. Students will continue honing skills with tools such as Confluence and JIRA. Students are supported by a technical instructor/mentor who assists with programming as an active member of their team. The reason students take two variations of this course is so they will acquire more sophisticated skills in successive semesters. At the end of the program they will have multiple working software projects. |
![]() |
Game Studio: Coding Lab II |
This is a companion to the Game Studio: Producing class. Students work in teams to build their working digital game and receive individualized tutelage and direct coding support from their instructor. Students learn that they can produce working software—even with beginner skills in a short time. They sharpen their skills by practicing this process multiple times in the program. |
![]() |
Game Analysis: Industry |
This course educates the student on many of the fundamentals and various business models found within games industry today. Included are an in-depth review of the online, social and mobile business models, the proposal and contract development process and success metrics associated with a successful game. In addition students will be exposed to best practices for acquiring work in the game industry through hands on assignments. |
![]() |
More Information |
More details about the One-Year in Game Design Conservatory is available here. |