FIT2073 Game design and narrative - Semester 1, 2015

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

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• Two hours of lectures
• One 2-hour tutorial

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading, assignment and exam expectations.

See also Unit timetable information

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT2048

Prerequisites

Completion of 24 points of FIT units

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Based on student evaluation and feedback, the previous technical aspects of this subject (as evaluated through group submission of a level created in the Unreal Engine) have been realigned to focus on the key theoretical and design considerations behind game creation, narrative design and the evaluation and critical review of these core learning outcomes.

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.

Teaching Approach

Assessment Summary

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

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Game World Map

  Description:

  This assignment requires students to visualise the universe of your game through the design and annotation of an original digital game world map. You may use any software you like to illustrate, annotate and add basic interactive features to your map (for example, using Powerpoint or a hyperlinked webpage). The assessment for this project is comprised of a one page proposal of your concept (5%) and the presentation and submission of your game map (10%)

  Weighting:

  15% (5% Concept, 10% Presentation and Submission)

  Criteria for assessment:

  Game Map Concept: Communication of Concept, Research and References
  
  Game Map Presentation & Submission: Communication of Map Design Decisions 
   
  Communication of Game World Genre, Explanatory Annotations & Basic Interactivity 
  
  
  

  Due date:

  Week 2 (Concept) Week 4 (Presentation and Submission)

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Game Character Set

  Description:

  In this assignment, students will explore the creation of an original game character set of 4-5 interrelated characters. Students are encouraged to either sketch, photoshop or use freely available character creation software to draft the physical appearance of their characters. Please note however that assessment is largely focused upon the written description of each of the characters, their cohesion as a set,  and considerations for how they interact in the imagined game world. One of the challenges will be to identify and avoid established cliches in game character design.

  Weighting:

  10% (Presentation and Submission)

  Criteria for assessment:

  Communication of Key Characters

  Originality of Character Briefs 

  Research and References 

  Due date:

  Week 7 (Presentation and Submission)

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Game Level Concept

  Description:

  While the creation of a game world map is a broad and high concept exercise, the design of a game level is much more specific and particular. In this assignment, students demonstrate their understanding of game challenges and mechanics through the creation of an original game level concept based upon one of several supplied themes. The assignment components include a background document, level map and detailed game level design document.

  Weighting:

  25% (5% Presentation, 20% Submission)

  Criteria for assessment:

  Communication of Level Design Work in Progress
  
  Communication of Game Level Map and Background
  
  Challenge and Environment Design and Decisions
  

  Communication of Challenge Type, Structure and Balancing 

   

  Due date:

  Week 11 (Presentation) Week 12 (Submission)

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Game Design Study Tasks

  Description:

  There are 5 minor game study assessments worth 2% each (totalling 10% of assessment) to be completed during semester.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Work will be assessed on creativity, stated expression of game design theory, and adherence to assessment guidelines.

  Due date:

  Progressively from Week 3 to Week 10

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 and tutorial notes.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

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.