ahandrewh teaches IAT-165game design and development

January 7 (01)

Is fun?

An introduction to game design and thinking critically about games.

• Setting up our development environment
• Code tutorial on drawing using P5.js
• Thomas Was Alone critical play intro
• Introduction to P1: Pitching
• E1: Development setup

Hunicke, R. et al. (2013). "MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research." Retrieved 1/21/2026, from http://www.cs.northwestern.edu/~hunicke/MDA.pdf

January 14 (02)

Bits and bobs

Models of game design and the components that make a game.

• Code tutorial on variables
• Stanley Parable critical play
• E2: Mapping variables
• Introduction to Critical play #1

• E1: Development setup

Schell, J.. (2019). "The Game Begins with an Idea (Chpt 7)." The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. CRC Press.

January 21 (03)

Mechanicals

An introduction to game mechanics.

• Code tutorial on functions
• Fluxx or Baba is You critical play
• Introduction to P2: A Tiny Game
• E3: Functioning

• P1: Pitching
• E2: Mapping variables

Anthropy, A. & Clark, N.. (2014). "Verbs and Objects (Chpt 2)." A Game Design Vocabulary. Addison-Wesley.

January 28 (04)

How to act

Working with user input and accessibility considerations.

• Code tutorial on user input and triggering events
• Spaceteam critical play
• E4: Acting on command

• E3: Functioning

Mangiron, C.. (2021). "Game Accessibility: Taking Inclusion to the Next Level." Retrieved 1/21/2026, from https://sfu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1u29dis/TN_cdi_springer_books_10_1007_978_3_030_78092_0_17

February 4 (05)

Going with the flow

Planning out your game and prototyping.

• Coding tutorial on creating game states (eg. menu/play/pause)
• E5: Pause and play

• E4: Acting on command
• Critical play #1

Macklin, C. & Sharp, J.. (2016). "The Iterative Game Design Process (Chpt 5)." Games, Design and Play. Addison-Wesley.

February 11 (06)

Aligning bits

Translating a concept into gameplay and organizing your game development.

• Code tutorial on working with arrays
• Kingdom: Classic or This War of Mine critical play
• Introduction to P3: Playtesting
• E6: Arrayed

• P2: A Tiny Game
• E5: Pause and play

Platz, C. (2025). "Let the Right Ideas Win (Chpt 14)." The Game Development Strategy Guide. Rosenfeld Media.

February 18 (07)

Play play play!

Planning and running playtesting of a game.

• Code tutorial on loops and iteration
• E7: Repetition
• Introduction to Critical play #2

• E6: Arrayed

Fullerton, T.. (2024). "Playtesting (Chpt 9)." Game Design Workshop. CRC Press.

February 25 (08)

The core

Debugging, feedback and iteration in game design and development.

• In-class playtesting session for project
• Code tutorial on working with objects
• Introduction to P4: A Mini Game
• E8: Building an object

• P3: Playtesting
• E7: Repetition

Ellison, C. & Keogh, B.. (2015). "The Joy of Virtual Violence." The State of Play: Creators and Critics on Video Game Culture. Seven Stories Press.

March 4 (09)

The grid

User interface fundamentals for game design.

• Code tutorial on working with objects
• Dorfromantik or Stardew Valley critical play
• E9: Using an object

• E8: Building an object

Isbister, Katherine. (2016). "Bodies at Play (Chpt 3)." How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design. The MIT Press.

March 11 (10)

It's complicated

An overview of different disciplines involved in game design.

• Work and support time for the final project
• E10: Survey

• E9: Using an object
• Critical play #2

April 1 (11)

Gameday

Final debugging, playtesting and critique of projects.

• Work and support time for the final project

April 8 (12)

The game cabinet

Final presentation of games in the course game cabinet.

• P4: A Mini Game
• E10: Survey