CS 389: Foundations of Game Design and Development

This course covers a complete and practical approach to game design. Students learn the essentials skills of player-centric game design from initial concept to final turning. The topics include, but are not limited to, concept of game development, gameplay design, core mechanics of games, user interfaces, storytelling and balancing, analysis of the specific design challenges of all major game genres. In the end, students will be able to define challenges and actions at the heart of gameplay; write a high-concept document and a full design script; understand the essentials of user interface design and how to define a game's look and feel; design a variety of input mechanisms; construct a game's core mechanics; develop appealing stories and game characters; make their games acceptable to a broader audience, such as children, people with disabilities, and casual players.