Informatics 397G - ST- CreativeGameDesign&Devlpmt

In this class, we will explore, through a series of projects, the fundamental questions of game design. What are the common features of hopscotch, Skyrim, boxing, Farmville, poker, and Tic-Tac-Toe? How do you create an engrossing, challenging, vivid, or surprising environment of play? How do you determine the value of skill, chance, cooperation, and competition in game play? What effect does the social, sexual, gender, political, and economic environment of the game's creation have on the play of the game? This course will introduce students to theoretical structures and demonstrate their implementation through the development of several small physical and digital games, ending with a group digital game project. Not for CS Major/Minor Requirements.

Open to undergraduate students NOT majoring in Computer Science. INFO 101 or 150 w/ C NOT FOR CS MAJOR/MINOR REQUIREMENTS. STUDENTS NOT MEETING PREREQUISITES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE INFORMATICS PROGRAM (BDIC) OR COMBINING ART WITH COMPUTING, MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides.