HBO-ICT Propedeuse GD Playbook

During the first project, you’ll be recreating a classic video game by yourself. During development of the game, you will learn the basics of game programming, as well as how you can learn different methods and techniques to accomplish your goals.

You are taking your first step into a larger world! Since you are probably new at developing video games, we need to start at the beginning. Classic video games are relatively easy to understand and recreate. The game design challenges have already been solved for you, since you don’t have to brainstorm about gameplay just yet. However, classic games are the perfect type of games to introduce you to the basics of programming video games.

During the project you will mainly focus on programming techniques such as variables, if-statements, for-loops, functions and other methods. If, however, you are starting to notice that you are getting pretty good at the programming part of the game and you are finished early, there are some game design methods & techniques for you to consider such as juicing and polishing the final version of the game.

• Game Prototypes
• Final Game
• Optional: enhanced game (polished)

During the second project, you’ll design and develop a video game that is inspired by good old fashioned retro games. During development of the game, you will be working with another developer. It will be the first time you’ll be actively working with game design methods and techniques.

Your journey continues! You’ve the basics in programming down, so now it is time if we can create a video game from our own imagination. By focusing on retro gameplay, we can learn new things about designing and developing games while getting inspired by games that have been created before. The game design challenges are now starting to show themselves. A retro game is the perfect game to introduce you to the basics of designing video games.

Game Design methods & techniques such as:

• Formal Elements
• MDA Framework
• Level Design
• Playtesting
• Polishing

• Prototypes
• Game design artifacts
• Playtest reports
• Final Game

During the third project, you’ll design and develop a more advanced video game. During development of the game, you will be working in a team. It will be the first time you’ll be defining specific Learning Stories that will help you describe the things you want and need to learn in order to create your game.

Time to step it up! You’ve gained some experience in game design techniques. Now we are going to step it up a notch by creating more thorough designs. Because you now work as a team, you need to be sure you are all on the same page. You can do this by creating documents such as Game Design Documents (GDD) to fully map out your game. You’ll also be introduced to new and more advanced game design theory, methods and techniques.

Game Design methods & techniques such as:

• Reward Systems
• Feedback Loops
• Flow Theory
• Playtesting
• Polishing

• Pitch Decks/Documents
• Game Design Documents
• Prototypes
• Game design artifacts
• Playtest reports
• Final Game

During the final project, you’ll design and develop a video game with some multiplayer aspects. During development of the game, you will be working in a team again. More advanced game design techniques will be introduced.

Home stretch! In this final game, you and your team have to show what you are made of. You will learn more advanced game design methods & techniques, and also a lot of game design theory will be introduced. This will help you and your team design your video game in a way that is very thought through, so that development of this game will become a walk in the park.

Game Design methods & techniques such as:

• Design Pillars
• One Page Design
• The 4 Elements of Game Mechanics
• Playtesting
• Polishing