General provisions

The course is part of the Bachelor's programmes Game Design and Graphics, 180 Credits, Game Design and Programming, 180 Credits, Game Design and Project Management, 180 Credits and Game Design, 180 Credits.

Entry requirements

Game Design 2: Game Development, 7.5 credits

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• describe and apply methods and theories of level design,
• design game environments, both with the intent to achieve specific emotional resonance and to enhance or illustrate specific parts of gameplay,
• design and implement an interactive environment as well as conduct iterative testing and modification of the design.

Content

Students study some of the many roles levels and level design play in game design: Levels as a learning environment, as a tool to communicate narrative, as a collection of geometry and as a set of game objectives.

By studying examples of levels and level design, students are introduced to level design concepts and theories. By creating and discussing several examples of level design, students exercise their ability to value design decisions in an early stage of production.

Students then apply these concepts, through production of their own level designs, tests and through implementation. The production is done in project form.

Through testing and implementation of levels in their projects, students explore how they can fine-tune levels in order to fulfil specific functional or experiential goals. The students also develop their ability to communicate with the player by utilizing several different storytelling techniques, as well as game specific architecture and game rules.

Instruction

Instruction takes the form of lectures, workshops and seminars.

Assessment

Assessment is composed of one seminar on level design, one playable level, and one presentation of the playable level. The course grades are Pass with distinction, Pass or Fail. For the grade Pass or Pass with Distinction, participation in workshops and seminars is required. For the grade Pass with Distinction, a Pass with Distinction grade is required on the presentation.