Video Games
CMN 176v
Instruction for Game Design Paper
In this individual activity, students will familiarize themselves with game design handbooks and then will apply design principles in a 7-page written proposal (12-font, 1-inch margins, Times New Roman font, APA 7th format). The proposal will either (1) sketch out recommendations to intensify and enhance a given outcome (e.g., player identification, enjoyment, guilt) or (2) outline an original game idea.
Option 1: Improving on an existing video game
1- Read the Game Design Essentials (Mitchell, 2012) and Art of Game Design chapters (Schell, 2008).
2- Identify a game that was personally influential. Choose a game that had a strong impact on you. Why was this game influential to you? Tie your experience to motivations for playing, identification, moral engagement, cognitive effects, or any other relevant class concept. Select two class concepts to discuss.
3- List the name, gameplay style, and ESRB rating of the game.
4- Briefly define each of the four basic elements of your selected game (Story/lore, Aesthetics, Mechanics, and Technology).
5- Create a flowchart summarizing the game’s starting point, story, and main events.
Keep it simple. If the game features complex branching stories that depend on character choice, then attempt to outline the game based on the classic three act structure (Act 1 - Setup: Exposition, inciting incident; Act 2 - Confrontation: Rising action, midpoint; Act 3 - Resolution: Pre climax, climax, story outcome). If the game has complex branching stories or is an open-world game then create a flowchart for a specific quest within the larger narrative. You may also select Flowchart tools
6-Using the game design readings, propose a new or improved (a) story/lore, (b) characters, (c) mechanics, and (d) technology for your game of choice.
7- Define the term theme and then summarize the theme of your chosen game. In
addition, discuss a concrete step that you would take to increase the resonance of the game’s theme.
8- Explain how your proposed game design elements may increase motivation for
playing, identification, moral engagement, cognitive effects, or any other relevant class concept.
Option 2: Propose a new game
1- Read the Game Design Essentials (Mitchell, 2012) and Art of Game Design chapters (Schell, 2008).
2- List the name, gameplay style, and ESRB rating of the game proposal.
3- Briefly define each of the four basic elements of your game proposal (Story/lore, Aesthetics, Mechanics, and Technology).
4- Create a flowchart summarizing the new game’s starting point, story, and main
events. Keep it simple. If the proposed game features complex branching stories that depend on character choice, then attempt to outline the game based on the classic three act structure (Act 1 - Setup: Exposition, inciting incident; Act 2 - Confrontation: Rising action, midpoint; Act 3 - Resolution: Pre climax, climax, story outcome).
5-Using the game design readings, propose a (a) story/lore, (b) characters, (c) mechanics, and (d) technology for your game proposal.
6- Define the term theme and then summarize the theme of your new game proposal. In addition, discuss a concrete step that you would take to increase the resonance of your game’s theme.
7- Explain how the game design elements of your new game proposal may increase motivation for playing, identification, moral engagement, cognitive effects, or any other relevant class concept.