Experimental Game Design

Overview

This unit focuses upon experimentation and innovation with fundamental concepts of game design and play across multiple media. Research and presentation methods, group work and communication, planning and production are essential to the design process. This unit builds on knowledge from other units to explore the platform of experimental game design using the campus as a playground, with links to other forms of media including film, theatre, television, and the digital arts. In this unit, game design principles are expanded upon, and experimented with, through the development, promotion and play of game projects.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

1. Critically reflect on the relationship between games and culture in experimental game design
2. Synthesise broad discipline knowledge and theory to develop a working knowledge within an area of specialisation
3. Analyse aspects of narrative, mechanics, aesthetics and technology involved in experimental game designs and platforms, and communicate these a range of audiences
4. Apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice
5. Function and communicate effectively as an individual and in project teams, whether as manager, leader or team member

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• Experimental game design
• Pervasive game design
• Game design and production
• Game development
• Marketing and audience engagement
• Transmedia storytelling
• Serious games
• Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication 
• Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media 
• Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation 
• Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes 
• Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
• Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy