Design Research

This course is a blend of academic and applied science targeting core design principles through scholarly research methods. In this course students investigate the core principles of game design mechanics. An applied human design approach allows students to experience a game design mechanics challenge mirroring the challenges they will find in the real world. Students will move past surface level references to game design mechanics, endeavoring to explore complex game mechanic constructs such as; reward systems, timing, skills, rules, and knowledge structures, immersion, mental models and many more. The study of a core game design concept provides the opportunity and knowledge to complete a in-depth research study that is scholary enough to be presented to the game and science domains. Students will also partcipate in a leadership seminar focusing on team building and design.