RAPID IDEA PROTOTYPING
Spring 2024
Introduction
TODAY’S OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTIONS
OVERVIEW OF THE
COURSE
“CLASS” ACTIVITY
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WELCOME TO
RAPID IDEA
PROTOTYPING!
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1
INTRODUCTIONS
Let’s get to know each
other!
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About Me
Erica Kleinman
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Postdoctoral Research Associate with
the Ghost Lab
Research at the intersection of
games, learning, and Visualization
and UX of AI
PhD in Computational Media from UCSC
(2023)
Prior to that: BA from Skidmore, MS
from Drexel, MS from NEU
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Introductions
Tell Me:
Your Name
Your Favorite Game you’ve played
A Game you’re currently playing
Post this information to the appropriate discussion board on Canvas by 1/14 at
midnight
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COURSE OVERVIEW
What’s this course
about?
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Official Course Description:
Provides students with the experience of building small
proof-of-concept prototypes of games. Teaches digital and non-digital
prototyping techniques through weekly activities in which students
build and critique prototypes around a variety of game design themes.
Offers the students an opportunity to build a portfolio of small game
prototypes over the course of the semester. Additionally, teaches
students how to iterate on a single prototype through a semester-long
project in which students work individually on a larger game design.
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Official Course Description:
Provides students with the experience of building small
proof-of-concept prototypes of games. Teaches digital and non-digital
prototyping techniques through weekly activities in which students
build and critique prototypes around a variety of game design themes.
Offers the students an opportunity to build a portfolio of small game
prototypes over the course of the semester. Additionally, teaches
students how to iterate on a single prototype through a semester-long
project in which students work individually on a larger game design.
Learn to Embrace Failure…
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Failure Leads to Success!
1.
2.
Fail Fast
Fail Cheap
3.
4.
Fail Painlessly Learn From Failure
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Failure Leads to Success!
“Fail Early, Fail Often”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDjrOaoHz9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOO6hyOKoUM
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Official Course Description:
Provides students with the experience of building small
proof-of-concept prototypes of games. Teaches digital and non-digital
prototyping techniques through weekly activities in which students
build and critique prototypes around a variety of game design themes.
Offers the students an opportunity to build a portfolio of small game
prototypes over the course of the semester. Additionally, teaches
students how to iterate on a single prototype through a semester-long
project in which students work individually on a larger game design.
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Typical Class Period
Discussion
(Sometimes) Lecture
In-Class Activities
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Estimated Weekly Breakdown
Mondays
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Discussions of Readings
and Assignments
Lectures
Short Exercises
Wednesdays
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Recap and Debrief of
Monday’s topics
Discussions of any
Readings of Assignments
Longer Exercises and
activities
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Grading
Canvas Participation
5%
In-Class Assignments
15%
Homework
30%
Midterm Mini-Project
10%
Semester-Long Project
40%
The course grading scale is one where 90-100 is in the A-/A range,
80-89 is the B-/B/B+ range, 70-79 is in the C-/C/C+ range, etc. You
should not expect a curve to be applied.
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Attendance
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You can miss up to 2 classes during
the semester using wellness days
Any additional days will be considered
unexcused absence
Each unexcused absence will result in
a half grade deduction from your final
grade
If you have to miss more than 2 days
for a valid reason please contact me
ahead of time to explain and make
arrangements
Classes missed due to illness are not
counted in the above policy but you
must still inform me that you are sick
If you test positive for COVID or
exhibit any COVID or COVID like
symptoms do not come to class
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Mondays of Note
▪
University Holidays (No Class):
▫ January 15th
▫ February 19th
▫ April 15th
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Instructor Absence:
▫ January 22nd
■ There WILL be a “class”
activity for you to do
outside of the classroom and
there will be a deliverable
involved
■ You will also be expected to
use this time to visit and
receive trainings at the CAMD
maker space
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Homework
▪
2 Kinds of Homework Assignments:
▫
Reflections: you will submit
a written reflection on a
topic we read or discussed in
class or an activity we
performed
▫
Prototyping: you will be
asked to create a design
sketch and/or prototype for
use and discussion during
class
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Late Work
▪
Late reflections are not
accepted
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All other deliverables will
receive a 10% deduction per day
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If circumstances arise that
prevent you from turning your
assignment in on time inform me
immediately and ahead of the
deadline
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In-Class Prototyping
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Quick and dirty prototyping
activities
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Primarily non-digital
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Avoid programming as much as
possible!
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You are encouraged to build
your own prototyping kits
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Prototyping Kit
▪
Sketchbook or journal
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Game Pieces (dice, pawns,
spinners, cards, etc…)
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Office supplies (pens, pencils,
markers, index cards, post-its,
etc…)
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Access to a printer
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Other Labs and Resources
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https://camd.northeastern.ed
u/media-studios/makerspaces/
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https://camd.northeastern.ed
u/media-studios/labs/
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Office Hours
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By Appointment
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Email me at
e.kleinman@northeastern.edu to
schedule an appointment
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Privacy Policy
▪
Neither the instructor nor any
student shall record any part
of class discussions without
prior consent of all
individuals
▪
This is to help create a safe
environment where everyone
feels comfortable sharing their
ideas, opinions, and answering
questions
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Collaboration Policy
▪
You may discuss and share ideas
with classmates, in fact, you
are encouraged to seek input
and feedback from classmates!
▪
All work that you turn in to me
with your name on it must be in
your own words and produced
entirely by you
▪
Plagiarism and cheating are
strictly forbidden
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ANY QUESTIONS?
Shoot me an email
if so!
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NEXT ASSIGNMENTS
Some stuff to work on
for next week
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Homework
▪ Remote Introductions!
▫ Post a short introduction to Canvas in the
appropriately named assignment
▪ Post introduction to Canvas by 1/14 at midnight
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Homework
▪ Readings:
▫ “MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design
Research” by Robin Hunkcke et al.
▫ “Game Design Logs” by Dan Cook
▪ Read and post responses to Canvas by 1/14 at
midnight
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Next Monday’s “Class Activity”
Think of a verb that’s never been in a game
before
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Create a list of verbs that have “never been in a game”. Write
them down.
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Verbs are words like “run”, “sleeping”, “act”, etc… but your
verb can also be a phrase like “being bad at flirting”
“Never been in a game” is a loose phrase, I want you to think
of verbs that have never, or not often, been the core mechanic
of a game. So think about what makes something a core mechanic
and what you haven’t or have rarely seen before. It’s ok if it
has actually been in a game, the idea is just to think of
creative actions.
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Next Monday’s “Class Activity”
Think of a verb that’s never been in a game
before
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Generate 10-20 verbs
For your term projects you will have to pick a verb from
the final list created by combining everyone’s lists to use
as your core mechanic so make sure you think up something
good!
You can work on this alone or group up with 2-3 classmates
Submit your final list and short write up of the core
mechanic idea to canvas by 1/16 at midnight
▫ If you work in a group, have every member submit the
same document with everyone’s names listed at the top
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