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Principles of Game Design

You have a great idea for a game. Turning that idea into a reality isn't just about knowing the tools. In this course you will practice moving from game concept through design documentation, prototyping and testing. Numerous elements go into the overall process of game design. These range from topics such as idea generation, story, character, and game world development, game mechanics and level design, and user experience design. You will explore the process for designing meaningful experiences for your players. At the end of the course learners will have produced a game's high concept document, one page blueprint, a physical prototype, pitch and supporting design documentation to move from an idea in your head to a fleshed out design, ready for implementation.

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Good to know

Know what's good

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, and possible dealbreakers

Students who want to clarify and refine their game's idea into a prototype and more

Game creation is no longer just about understanding the tools, hence, this is perfect

Ideal for individuals interested in understanding the processes of game design

This course explores the process of designing meaningful experiences for players

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Reviews summary

Game design process guide

This course provides a comprehensive guide to the game design process, from ideation and concept development to prototyping, testing, and documentation. While some reviewers found the content valuable, others felt that it focused too much on theoretical concepts and not enough on practical application and hands-on experience.

Provides a framework for hobbyists and experienced designers

Students will produce game design documents, blueprints, prototypes, and pitches

Course is heavy on writing documents, not enough on practical game design

"The title of this course is misleading, it should be called "Writing a game design document"."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Principles of Game Design with these activities:

Practice drawing and sketching

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Helps develop visual design skills, which are important for game art and world-building.

Browse courses on Art

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Practice drawing basic shapes and objects
Experiment with different drawing techniques
Study the work of other artists and designers

Keep a notebook of design ideas

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Helps practice documenting and refining game ideas throughout the process.

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Create a simple game using a game engine

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Helps develop practical skills using game engines and implementing game mechanics.

Browse courses on Unity

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Choose a game engine and learn its basics
Design a simple game concept and mechanics
Create a prototype of your game in the game engine
Test and refine your game

Four other activities

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Find a mentor who can provide feedback on your game designs

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Provides guidance and support from experienced game designers.

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Identify potential mentors in your network or through online platforms
Reach out and introduce yourself
Ask for feedback on your game designs

Design a board game from scratch

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Helps practice moving from game concept to design documentation.

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Brainstorm and refine your game concept
Design the game mechanics and rules
Create a prototype of your game
Playtest your game and gather feedback
Refine your game based on feedback

Contribute to an open-source game project

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Helps you understand real-world game development practices.

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Find an open-source game project to contribute to
Understand the project's codebase
Identify an area where you can contribute
Make your contributions to the project
Get feedback on your contributions from the community

Participate in a game design competition

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Provides a challenging environment to test and refine your skills against others.

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Find a competition that aligns with your interests
Develop your game concept and design
Create a prototype of your game
Submit your game to the competition
Get feedback on your game from the judges

Career center

Learners who complete Principles of Game Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Designer

Game Designers are responsible for the overall concept, design, and development of video games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game design, including idea generation, story development, character creation, and game mechanics. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating successful and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Level Designer

Level Designers are responsible for creating the environments and levels in video games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of level design, including world building, level layout, and gameplay flow. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing levels, which is essential for creating engaging and challenging levels.

See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer

Game Producer

Game Producers are responsible for the overall production of video games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game production, including project management, budgeting, and marketing. The course also covers the process of pitching and selling game ideas, which is essential for securing funding and support for game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Game Programmer

Game Programmers are responsible for the coding and development of video games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game programming, including programming languages, game engines, and artificial intelligence. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating bug-free and efficient games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Game Writer

Game Writers are responsible for writing the story, dialogue, and characters for video games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game writing, including storytelling, character development, and dialogue writing. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing game scripts, which is essential for creating engaging and immersive stories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer

Game Artist

Game Artists are responsible for creating the visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and props. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game art, including 3D modeling, texturing, and animation. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing game art, which is essential for creating visually appealing and immersive games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Game Tester

Game Testers are responsible for testing video games to identify and fix bugs. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game testing, including test planning, execution, and reporting. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating high-quality and bug-free games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

Game Designer (Tabletop)

Game Designers for Tabletop games are responsible for the overall concept, design, and development of board games, card games, and other tabletop games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game design, including idea generation, story development, character creation, and game mechanics. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating successful and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer (Tabletop)

Game Developer

Game Developers are responsible for the overall development of video games, including design, programming, art, and production. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game development, including project management, budgeting, and marketing. The course also covers the process of pitching and selling game ideas, which is essential for securing funding and support for game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Game Writer (Tabletop)

Game Writers for Tabletop games are responsible for writing the story, dialogue, and characters for board games, card games, and other tabletop games. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game writing, including storytelling, character development, and dialogue writing. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing game scripts, which is essential for creating engaging and immersive stories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer (Tabletop)

Game Designer (Educational)

Game Designers for Educational games are responsible for the overall concept, design, and development of video games that are designed to teach or educate players. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game design, including idea generation, story development, character creation, and game mechanics. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating successful and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer (Educational)

Game Developer (Educational)

Game Developers for Educational games are responsible for the overall development of video games that are designed to teach or educate players, including design, programming, art, and production. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game development, including project management, budgeting, and marketing. The course also covers the process of pitching and selling game ideas, which is essential for securing funding and support for game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer (Educational)

Game Designer (VR/AR)

Game Designers for VR/AR games are responsible for the overall concept, design, and development of video games that are designed to be played in virtual reality or augmented reality. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game design, including idea generation, story development, character creation, and game mechanics. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating successful and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer (VR/AR)

Game Developer (VR/AR)

Game Developers for VR/AR games are responsible for the overall development of video games that are designed to be played in virtual reality or augmented reality, including design, programming, art, and production. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game development, including project management, budgeting, and marketing. The course also covers the process of pitching and selling game ideas, which is essential for securing funding and support for game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer (VR/AR)

Game Designer (Mobile)

Game Designers for Mobile games are responsible for the overall concept, design, and development of video games that are designed to be played on mobile devices. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of game design, including idea generation, story development, character creation, and game mechanics. The course also covers the process of prototyping and testing games, which is essential for creating successful and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer (Mobile)

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Principles of Game Design.