Digital Game Design(COM435)
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credit | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM435 | Digital Game Design | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Prerequisites | |
| Admission Requirements |
| Language of Instruction | English |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Course Level | Bachelor Degree |
| Course Instructor(s) | Çakır AKER (Email) |
| Assistant | |
| Objective | In this course, where the concept of game and player experience will be examined in detail, students will gain knowledge in the field of game experience and basic game design concepts. In addition, the usability principles in games that the students can benefit from in the design processes will also be taught and applied. |
| Content | The course will provide students with an introductory knowledge of the field by bringing a fundamental approach to the existing playground. In addition, beyond the basic concepts, the field of player psychology will be mentioned, and how games create experiences will be analyzed theoretically and practically. This course teaches students the fundamentals of game psychology and fundamental concepts such as cognitive abilities, memory, and attention. It also includes game-oriented topics such as attachment theories, entertainment, user experience, game experience, game heuristic effects, gamification, and flow theory. |
| Course Learning Outcomes |
At the end of this course, the student; -Becomes familiar with basic game design and play concepts. -Learns the basics of game/player psychology. -Gains knowledge about the game's relationship with society and culture. -Learns and applies usability principles. -Knows game elements and mechanics. -Knows PX. -Gains the capacity to apply the theoretical knowledge learned in the field of digital game design practically. |
| Teaching and Learning Methods | The course will be conducted face to face. Even if it has a theoretical intensity, there are sometimes assignments that require team play in the course. Students will be able to benefit from all kinds of school opportunities. |
| References |
Caillois, R., (1961). Man, Play, and Games. University of Illinois press. Costikyan, G, (2002). I Have No Words & I Must Design: Toward a Critical Vocabulary for Games. CGCD Conf. Csikszentmihalyi, M., (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper Perennial. Hodent, C. (2017). The Gamer’s Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Madigan, J. (2015). Getting gamers: the psychology of video games and their impact in the people who play them. Ebook. Gonzalez-Holland, E., Whitmer, D., Moralez, L., & Mouloua, M. (2017). Examination of the Use of Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics & Outlooks for the Future. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 61(1), 1472–1475. Bernhaupt, R. (2010). Evaluating User Experience in Games. Aker, Ç., Rızvanoğlu, K., & Bostan, B. (2017). Methodological Review Of Playability Heuristics. Proc. Eurasia Graphics, Istanbul, Turkey, Nov, 405. |
Theory Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory Course – Introduction to the course materials |
| 2 | Inspecting the play |
| 3 | Inspecting the game |
| 4 | Game elements and mechanics |
| 5 | Psychology and Games I (Perception) |
| 6 | Psychology and Games II (Memory) |
| 7 | Psychology and Games III (Attention) |
| 8 | Psychology and Games IV (Motivation) |
| 9 | Psychology and Games V (Emotion) |
| 10 | Presentation Week |
| 11 | Hero’s Journey and Player Journey |
| 12 | The field of HCI, User Experience & Usability |
| 13 | Player Experience (PX) |
| 14 | Final Project |
Practice Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|
Contribution to Overall Grade
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 1 | 45 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 55 |
| Toplam | 2 | 100 |
In-Term Studies
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 2 | 20 |
| Presentation | 1 | 25 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 1 | 55 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Toplam | 4 | 100 |
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Workload | 0 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 0.00 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 0 | ||