Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Milestone 1: Your Game Idea

Welcome to the Game Design and Development Capstone. In this module I will give you a little bit of a sense of what to expect over the coming weeks. I am going to be honest with you though, this is going to be a fair amount of work. As you have learned, making games takes time and effort. And the goal of the Capstone is to prove that you have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to make games. So, get ready to flex those game design and development muscles that you have developed across the specialization. The first thing you need to do is come up with a game idea and then flesh it out into a high concept and pitch.

Milestone 2: Early Prototype, Blueprint, and Progress Report

Now you have to start the process of making your game a reality through early prototyping. No matter how you do this, either as a non-digital prototype or a digital prototype, you need to start building and testing some of your core gameplay systems and mechanics. Along the way, it is helpful to further document your design by creating "Design Blueprints". The result of this module is an early progress report to make sure you are on track.

Milestone 3: First Playable and Fun Test

The next step is the hardest one. It is time to fire up Unity and start game dev'ing. The goal is to build the first playable version of the game. With the first playable you are able to truly playtest and iterate on the game to "find the fun." Good luck.

Finishing Up

You are almost to the finish line! In this module, you finish up and submit your first playable prototype for peer review. I will also discuss what would be the next steps for your project if it shows promise, in the "Preparing to Ship" lecture. I also included several "Career Journey and Advice" guest lectures. Watch as many of these as you like. And last, but not least, I will close out the course and specialization by discussing your possible "Future Directions" after this course.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills for game design and game development in a capstone project

Suitable for learners with some experience in game design and development, as work must be original

Taught by Brian Winn, an instructor with experience in game design and development, who is well-respected in the industry

Focuses on creating a playable prototype of a game, which helps learners acquire hands-on experience

Includes guest talks from industry professionals at top game companies, providing learners with insights into the field

Requires learners to demonstrate their design blueprint and early progress, providing opportunities for feedback and improvement

Reviews summary

Capstone project completion

According to students, this capstone project course is a largely positive and engaging experience that provides freedom in creating a full game. Students say that the supportive documents, well-explained concepts, and peer community create a valuable learning environment. However, some learners note that peer reviews can be delayed and that there is limited additional value compared to other courses in the specialization.

Students appreciate the supportive learning environment.

"This is a great course to learn the right methodology to start your videogame prototype and all the supportive documents"

"Welll explained and the community of pairs all have interesting insights and provide valuable ideas."

Peer reviews can take a long time and feedback can be lacking.

"A veces te pueden quitar puntos sin decirte la razón en las peer review luego de tardar muchísimo tiempo en ser corregidas, pero es realizable."

Some learners feel that there is limited additional value compared to other courses in the specialization.

"Interesting end to the course. You have complete freedom in this course to make a full game; after completing the first four specializations you should be able to do this (although you should download some free assets)."

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 Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project with these activities:

Explore Gamasutra's Design Post-Mortems

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Familiarize yourself with the challenges and triumphs of real-world game design through the post-mortems of industry professionals.

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Visit the Gamasutra website and browse their Design Post-Mortems section.
Choose a post-mortem of a game that interests you.
Read the post-mortem carefully, taking notes on the challenges faced and solutions implemented.
Reflect on the lessons learned and how they apply to your own game development journey.

Read 'Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses' by Jesse Schell

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Develop a comprehensive understanding of game design principles and methodologies through the lens of various perspectives.

View The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third... on Amazon

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Acquire a copy of 'Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses.'
Allocate dedicated time for reading and reflection.
Take notes and engage with the content actively.
Apply the concepts to your own game design projects.

Organize Your Course Materials

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Improve your organization and study efficiency by compiling and reviewing your course materials regularly.

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Gather all your course notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Review and organize the materials chronologically.
Highlight key concepts and make personal annotations.
Create summaries or mind maps to connect different topics.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Design Mini-Games and Puzzles

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Sharpen your design skills by creating a series of mini-games and puzzles that showcase your creativity and problem-solving abilities.

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Brainstorm different game mechanics and puzzle types.
Design and prototype several mini-games or puzzles.
Test your designs and iterate based on feedback.
Document your design process and lessons learned.

Participate in Peer Feedback Sessions

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Enhance your game design by seeking feedback from peers and offering constructive criticism to others.

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Organize or join a peer feedback group.
Present your game idea or prototype for feedback.
Listen actively to feedback and take notes.
Provide constructive feedback to other peers.

Design a Game Document

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Showcase your game design skills by creating a comprehensive document outlining your game's concept, mechanics, and target audience.

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Brainstorm your game idea and create a high-level concept.
Define the core gameplay mechanics and how they interact.
Identify your target audience and their expectations.
Write a clear and concise game document that outlines your design vision.

Attend Game Design Workshops

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Accelerate your game design skills by attending workshops led by industry experts and learning from their experiences.

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Research and identify relevant game design workshops.
Register and attend the chosen workshops.
Actively participate in discussions and exercises.
Connect with fellow game designers and professionals.

Contribute to Open Source Game Projects

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Gain practical experience and showcase your skills by collaborating on open source game development projects.

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Identify open source game projects that align with your interests.
Review the project's documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills.
Submit your contributions and collaborate with the project team.

Career center

Learners who complete Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Designer

A Game Designer designs and develops board, card, and electronic games. Game Designers who have studied Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project may have a leg up on the competition as they could have experience creating an original game from the initial concept to the first playable version. Understanding how to find the fun in a game could be a highly valuable skill for a Game Designer to have. Gaining exposure to guest talks from game industry professionals at Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Games, and more could also help someone on their path to becoming a professional Game Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Developer

Game Developers use their technology skills to bring the vision of Game Designers to life. By taking Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project, Game Developers can gain insight into how to bring an original game from initial concept to the first playable version. The opportunity to flex skills learned across a specialization could be attractive to potential employers. The added value of having the opportunity to workshop ideas in front of peers may not be apparent to those who haven't been through a similar experience.

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Software Developer

Software Developers write and maintain the code that makes software run. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project may be of particular interest to Software Developers as they could gain experience using Unity to build the first playable version of a game. This game development background could set them apart from those without the experience.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create user manuals and other instructional materials that help people use complex products and systems. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project may be of some use to Technical Writers in creating training materials for video game software and hardware. Learning how to document design clearly with Design Blueprints could be a valuable skill for a Technical Writer.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects to achieve specific goals. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project exposes learners to game design and development from initial concept to first playable version, so Project Managers could learn how to plan and execute a project to achieve a specific goal.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test software to identify bugs and ensure it meets requirements. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project may be of some value to Quality Assurance Analysts as they will gain experience playtesting and iterating on a game to find the fun. This experience will allow them to spot bugs and identify issues that may not be obvious to other testers.

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Audio Engineer

Audio Engineers design, develop, and maintain sound systems for a variety of purposes, including music, film, and video games. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project could be of interest to Audio Engineers as they would be able to learn about the process of game development and how to create sound effects and music that are appropriate for a particular game.

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User Interface Designer

User Interface Designers design the user interfaces for products and services. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project may interest User Interface Designers as they learn how to make a game fun through playtesting and iteration. Playtesting could also help User Interface Designers understand how users interact with interfaces and how to design interfaces that are both user-friendly and efficient.

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Software Architect

Software Architects design and develop the overall architecture of software systems, ensuring that they are scalable, reliable, and efficient.

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Game Producer

Game Producers oversee the development and production of video games. Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project is an excellent option for aspiring Game Producers as it covers the entire game development process from beginning to end, including aspects such as project management, budgeting and scheduling. Students who take this course will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as Game Producers.

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Graphic designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall strategy, development, and marketing of a product.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, interpret, and present data to help businesses make informed decisions.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs.