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

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 Introduction to Game Design: Process and Creation with these activities:

Review Game Design Workshop

Show steps

Gain valuable insights from Tracy Fullerton and Chris Swain's book, which offers practical advice and techniques for creating engaging games.

View Game Design Workshop on Amazon

Show steps

Read Chapter 2: "The Game Idea: Concept and Pitch" to understand the fundamentals of game design.

Review card and board game creation skills

Show steps

Solidify your foundational knowledge by reviewing basic principles and techniques involved in creating card and board games.

Browse courses on Game Creation

Show steps

Review historical and modern examples of card and board games to refreshen your memory.
Consider the target audience, game mechanics, and narrative for your game.

Explore online tutorials on game design

Show steps

Expand your knowledge by following online tutorials that cover various aspects of game design, such as level design, character creation, and storytelling.

Browse courses on Game Design

Show steps

Search for reputable online platforms and tutorials that align with your learning goals.
Select a tutorial that focuses on a specific area of game design that you want to improve.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, taking notes and applying the concepts to your own game design projects.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Design and iterate on a game idea

Show steps

Develop your game design skills by practicing the process of creating and refining your own game ideas.

Browse courses on Game Design

Show steps

Brainstorm and select a game concept that aligns with the course objectives.
Sketch out the core mechanics, gameplay loop, and narrative of your game.
Create a prototype of your game to test its viability and identify areas for improvement.

Attend local or online game design workshops

Show steps

Enhance your game design skills by attending workshops led by industry professionals, where you can learn new techniques and gain hands-on experience.

Browse courses on Game Design

Show steps

Search for game design workshops offered by local universities, colleges, or organizations.
Register for a workshop that aligns with your learning goals and interests.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in activities and discussions.

Participate in online or local game design meetups

Show steps

Connect with other game design enthusiasts by attending meetups where you can exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from others.

Browse courses on Game Design

Show steps

Research online platforms and local communities where game design meetups are organized.
Attend a meetup and introduce yourself to other attendees.
Actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your own insights.

Create a game design blog or portfolio

Show steps

Showcase your game design skills and ideas by creating a blog or portfolio that demonstrates your process and progress.

Browse courses on Game Design

Show steps

Choose a platform for your blog or portfolio, such as WordPress, Medium, or ArtStation.
Create regular posts or updates that document your game design journey, including your inspirations, design decisions, and successes.
Share your content with others and invite feedback to improve your game design skills.

Develop a fully functional game prototype

Show steps

Solidify your understanding by creating a fully functional prototype of your game, allowing you to test its mechanics, balance, and overall gameplay.

Browse courses on Game Design

Show steps

Finalize the game design document and create assets for your game prototype.
Use a game development engine or programming tools to implement the core mechanics and gameplay.
Test the prototype with players and gather feedback to refine and improve your game's design.

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Animator

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.

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

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.

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

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer (Role-Playing Games)

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer