Design and construction of digital games

The course can be part of the following programmes:

1. Computer Science, Bachelor's Programme (N1COS)
2. Software Engineering and Management, Bachelor's Programme (N1SOF)

The course is a also a single-subject course at Gothenburg University.

Students taking this course are expected to have experience in software development, equivalent to having completed a course of at least five credits in an imperative programming language such as Java, C# or Python.

Applicants must prove knowledge of English: English 6/English level 2 or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

This course is divided into three successive parts. These parts cover design, construction and evaluation of games. The largest part will be given to game development in Unity or Unreal.

The first part is about the topic of game design. It will cover requirements gathering and specification: what do you want a game to do; for whom are you designing a game; and what does success look like? Students on this course will develop the design documentation for their own game as a deliverable for the first part.

The second part will take that design documentation and turn it into an prototype using Unreal or Unity. A playable demo of a game design is produced here.

The third part takes the prototype created in the previous part and focuses on playtesting. This will include ensuring accessibility for an audience that includes disabled gamers. Together those are the deliverable for the final part of the course.

Each part will also introduce theoretical concepts through lectures, academic papers,
books, and professional literature.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Identify game accessibility issues and incorporate solutions
• Document a game design against budgetary and time constraints
• Identify an audience for which to design a game

Competence and skills

• Design an experiential framework for a game
• Make use of standard game design frameworks
• Incorporate game assets
• Make effective use of game development frameworks
• Develop effective prototypes of a game design

Judgement and approach

• Effectively define success criteria against which a game should be assessed
• Analyze playability tests conducted with actual users
• Iteratively evaluate game goals against user feedback

Each part will have a lecture series in which key concepts are introduced, along with practical hands-on workshops where the key actionable skills are taught. Each part has academic and professional reading with which students are expected to become familiar.

Language of instruction: English

The examination takes place in two parts. Partly, group work is assessed. Each student also submits an individually written report for assessment. The assessments are the basis for the individual grading.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

Sub-courses

1. Assignments, 7.5 credits
   Grading scale: Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3) and Fail (U)

The course is evaluated through meetings both during and after the course between teachers and student representatives. Further, an anonymous questionnaire is used to ensure written information. The outcome of the evaluations serves to improve the course by indication which parts could be added, improved, changed or removed.

The course is a joint course together with Chalmers.