FIT2073 Game design and narrative - Semester 1, 2013

This unit provides a foundation in the theoretical and practical principles of game design and game narrative structures in the games development process. Utilising the principles taught in this unit, students will be given the opportunity to consider innovative games design applications together with a narrative structure and implement the consequences of their decisions as working game prototypes.

The combination of theory and practice in this unit is geared to equip students with analytical skills to assess the future capabilities of the computer game industry both commercially and for wider research purposes. The unit provides knowledge and skills which students can apply within their game development projects in the third year studio project/s (FIT3039 and FIT3040) and across all subsequent units.

Mode of Delivery

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorials/wk

Workload requirements

This will include:

• Lectures: 2 hours per week
• Tutorials/Lab Sessions: 2 hours per week per tutorial

Additionally, each student should spend a minimum of 8 to 12 hours for personal study every week and should allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups and discussion groups.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT2048

Prerequisites

Completion of 24 points of FIT units

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• an understanding of the key principles of game design;
• an understanding of critical factors that serve to balance game design and playability;
• an understanding of implementation techniques for narrative structures in interactive environments;
• developed attitudes that enable them to be aware of the ethical issues involved with games development;
• developed attitudes that enable them to appreciate effective forms of narrative construction employed in a game environment, such as embedded and emergent game narratives and the mapping of plotlines and interactive story structures;
• developed attitudes that enable them to explore new directions in the rapidly emerging discipline of game creation;
• developed the skills to prototype a game level and implement balancing techniques to eliminate design flaws and improve player experience;
• developed the skills to analyse, identify and implement key elements in game design and narrative structures;
• demonstrated the teamwork skills necessary to develop group working skills as a member of a project team.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Assessment Summary

Examination (2 hours): 40%; In-semester assessment: 60%

Teaching Approach

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Interactive Game Map

  Description:

  This assignment requires you to visualise the universe of your game through the creation and annotation of an original, interactive game world map (please note, this is not a level map). You may use any software you like to create a map with basic interactive features (rollovers, highlights, scrolling). The assessment for this project is divided into two parts: (a) a presentation of your work in progress and references, and (b) your submitted game map.
  
  Game Map Presentation (5%)
  
  Your presentation should be a PowerPoint file with between 10-20 slides and timed to around five minutes which explains your production, design, approach and process. Your submission may not be entirely complete at this stage, but it should be complete enough so that you can communicate it. Due in Week 5 tutorial.
  
  Game Map Submission (15%)
  
  Your game map submission should be easy to load and, once opened, self-explanatory. It should include images and text in an interactive format. Due end of Week 6.

  Weighting:

  20%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Game Map Presentation: Evidence of Preparation, Organisation of Slides, Communication of Process and Progress and Design Decisions

  Game Map Submission: Map Detailing and Interactivity, Communication of Game Genre/Game World/Game Dynamics, Map Annotations

  Due date:

  Progressively in Week 5 and Week 6

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Game Level Design

  Description:

  This assignment requires you to create a Game Level Treatment Document that details the characters, narrative, challenges and environment of a game level, using research from specified themes based on one of three supplied historical cultures.
  
  Once you have chosen one of these cultures as the setting/environment/genre for your game, you will create a Game Level Treatment Document, outlining the characters, expected story, example gameplay, environment and challenges that a typical player (or group of players) will encounter in the game level. You are encouraged to use original maps, photos and images to illustrate your design.
  
  As in Assignment 1 the assessment for this project is divided into two parts: (a) a tutorial presentation of your work in progress and references, and (b) your final game treatment document. Though your game level may share similarities with well-known game designs your submission is a new conception and an original creation.
  
  Game Level Presentation (5%)
  
  Your presentation should be a PowerPoint file with between 10-20 slides and timed to around five minutes which explains your conceptualisation, design, approach and reasoning behind your choices. Your submission may not be entirely complete at this stage, but it should be complete enough so that you can communicate it. Due in Week 10 tutorial.
  
  Game Level Treatment Document (25%)
  
  Your game document should be in either PDF, doc or docx format and be between 10-20 pages. Due end of Week 12.

  Weighting:

  30%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Game Level Presentation: Evidence of Preparation, Organisation of Slides, Communication of Process, Progress and Design Decisions

  Game Level Treatment Document: Design of: Environment; Narrative; Level Challenges.  Overall Originality and Creativity

  Due date:

  Progressively in Week 10 and Week 12

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Weekly Game Design Tasks

  Description:

  Each week (beginning from Week 3) you will be given a task in your tutorial that you must complete and bring to the following tutorial class for peer review and assessment by your tutor.

  Weighting:

  10% total (1% per weekly task)

  Criteria for assessment:

  Work will be assessed on creativity, stated expression of game design theory, completeness and adherence to task instructions.

  Due date:

  Progressively from Week 3 to Week 12

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  40%

  Length:

  2 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

Learning resources

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Recommended Resources

There are no recommended texts for this unit, though links to online publications and PDFs and books relating to weekly material will be provided in the lecture notes.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Based on student evaluation and feedback the technical aspects of this subject (as evaluated through group submission of a level created in the Unreal Engine) have been removed in order to facilitate a improved focus on the key elements of this subject, being the theoretical and design considerations behind game creation, narrative design and structure and evaluation/critical review and improvements of these core learning outcomes by students.

Other

Students may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook.