Course detail

Game Design - Board Games

FaVU-1HERDES-ZSAcad. year: 2024/2025

The course allows for situations in which the goal is to apply game mechanics and principles to projects that do not purely function as stand-alone games or toys. This can be an authorial project already in progress that works with physical, material representation (including escape games and installations). The course can be taken individually or in a team.

The course focuses on the basic methods of designing and subsequently rapid prototyping board and card games. The core of the approach to prototyping here is iterative development, which is applied to arbitrary situations the project goes through during the semester. The initial state focuses on the preparation of the design document and the role of project documentation over time. The final state presents a playable prototype in a version that is implemented during the course at the individual or team development level.

 

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Credit is awarded based on attendance (max. 3 unexcused absences) and submission of partial semester assignments. 

Aims

The aim of the course is to gain experience in developing and completing a playable prototype of a board or card game of any typology and form. Where appropriate, apply game mechanics and principles to an individual project type. 

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Geoffrey Engelstein, Isaac Shalev: Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: An Encyclopedia of Mechanisms, CRC Press, 2019 (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme DES_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Practical class

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Solo development vs team - strategy, planning and game development

Design document - preparing project documentation

Rapid prototyping - material prototype development and implementation

Focus test alpha version - targeted testing of game mechanics

Play test - collective testing of final prototypes