Introduction to Game Design: Process and Creation from edX

This introductory course is based on the Game Design & VFX School at LaSalle College’s Vancouver campus, crowned the #1 undergraduate school in Canada for video game design by the Princeton Review 10 years in a row.

What is good game design? How do you come up with good game ideas? How do you start documenting your ideas? How do you create an experience? How do you write a rule book? These are some of the questions that will come up during the game design process, and this course will enable you to answer them.

When you’re designing a game, you’re designing an intricate system, so you will follow a series of steps to help you through the game creation process.

This course walks you through those steps—from determining a game’s success criteria and conceptualizing new aspects and core concepts to designing and prototyping your game, through to producing and finalizing your game.

It explores what’s involved in designing game experiences for the gaming industry and which elements affect player experiences and behavior. It also identifies some key considerations in ideation and video game development: how to establish your game’s situation, design pillars and loops, and document your game ideas.

What you'll learn

Understand the design process and how to approach designing a game from scratch.
Envision and create game experiences for your target audience.
Define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype the game idea you have selected.
Produce and finalize your game, including finalizing card games and board games as well as designing the packaging and a clear rule book
- Outline criteria for your game, gameplay situations, and narrative in game design and concretize your narrative or situations into goals and actions through game pillars and loops

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a solid base for beginners seeking to understand game design principles and processes

Taught by instructors Tahirah Mirza and John Appleby, who are recognized in the industry for their work in game design

Helpful for aspiring game designers seeking to understand the steps involved in developing a game from concept to completion

Provides guidance on defining game success criteria, conceptualizing aspects, and designing and prototyping

Explores key aspects of game design, including player experiences, behavior, ideation, packaging, and rulebook writing

Recommended for students interested in developing skills in game design, prototyping, and production, particularly for board and card games

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Game Design: Process and Creation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Artist

A Game Artist creates the visual assets for video games, such as characters, environments, and objects. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Artists who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Producer

A Game Producer is responsible for the overall production of a video game. This includes managing the budget, schedule, and team. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Producers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Tester

A Game Tester plays video games to find bugs and other issues. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Testers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Designer

A Game Designer creates video games and other game experiences. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Designers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Developer

A Game Developer is responsible for developing the code and assets that make up a video game. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Developers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Animator

A Game Animator creates the animations for video games. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Animators who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Designer (Board Games)

A Game Designer (Board Games) creates board games. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Designers (Board Games) who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Designer (Card Games)

A Game Designer (Card Games) creates card games. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Designers (Card Games) who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for the planning, execution, and closure of a project. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Project Managers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Designer (Role-Playing Games)

A Game Designer (Role-Playing Games) creates role-playing games. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Designers (Role-Playing Games) who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the development and launch of a product or service. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Product Managers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Entrepreneur

An Entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs their own business. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Entrepreneurs who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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UX Designer

A UX Designer is responsible for the user experience of a product or service. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring UX Designers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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Game Writer

A Game Writer is responsible for writing the story and dialogue for a video game. This course introduces the fundamentals of game design. It covers the process of designing a game from the initial idea to the finished product. You will learn how to define success for your game, evaluate its viability, design and prototype your game idea, and produce and finalize your game. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Writers who wish to build a foundation in the field.

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