12/18/2025 4:55:46 PM	FMA 11 Course Outline as of Fall 2026	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  FMA 11	Title:  COMM & GAME DESIGN
Full Title:  Communication through Game Design
Last Reviewed:12/9/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Students will explore the historical, theoretical, and philosophical functions of games as cultural artifacts for meaning making. Students will examine a wide range of fundamental game principles related to non-digital games, such as aesthetics, iteration, playtesting, and group interaction. Additionally, students will critically analyze game mechanics, design, and gaming cultures.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will explore the historical, theoretical, and philosophical functions of games as cultural artifacts for meaning making. Students will examine a wide range of fundamental game principles related to non-digital games, such as aesthetics, iteration, playtesting, and group interaction. Additionally, students will critically analyze game mechanics, design, and gaming cultures.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2026	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe and explain the formal elements, theories, and techniques of game design.

2. Analyze and critique the historical and cultural principles of game design.

3. Demonstrate team collaboration in the iteration and development of an original game.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Explore the historical development of game design structures.

2.  Identify how game design, the human experience, and culture influence each other.

3.  Critically analyze the components of various published games.

4.  Evaluate the principles of theoretically sound game design, including gameplay, feedback, interactivity, core mechanics, and game balancing, and how these elements create meaningful experiences for players.

5.  Describe the roles of a game development team and the stages of game development.

6.  Investigate the ways game design elements communicate and structure player experience.

Topics and Scope

I. Role of Game Design Team

    A Working in an agile development team

    B. Understanding and negotiating group roles and expectations

    C. Game design

         1. Passion

         2. Communication

         3. Teamwork

         4. Process control

         5. Inspiration and creativity

II. Communicative Structures of Games

    A. Rules

    B. Objectives, challenges, and actions

    C. Procedures and mechanics

    D. Resources

    E. Conflict verses cooperation

    F. Goals

    G. Victory, loss, and termination condition

III. Iterative Design Process

    A. Brainstorming

    B. Game concept and pitch

    C. Rapid prototyping and modifying

    D. Design documentation

    E. Playtesting

    F. Production

    G. Quality assurance

IV. Game Design Analysis

    A. Formal elements of games

         1. Rule development and structure

         2. Player-centric game design

    B. Dramatic elements of games and narrative

    C. Systemic elements of games

         1. Game balancing

              a. Dominant strategy

              b. Asymmetrical game balancing

              c. Chance versus luck

              d. Fairness

              e. Manage difficulty

              f. Positive feedback

              g. Catchup mechanisms

              h. Challenges and structure

    D. Building game literacy

         1. Analyzing analog games

              a. Mechanics

              b. Art and layout

              c. Theme

              d. Rules and procedures

V. Cultural Structures of Games

    A. Historical development of game design and mechanics

    B. Cultural function of games

    C. Critical game design

    D. Global perspectives on game designs

Assignments:

1. Assigned weekly readings (20-30 pages)

2. Quizzes and/or Exams (2-4)

3. Writing assignments totaling 1250 to 2500 words that integrate design research such as: design documents, post-mortem essays, and cultural analysis.

4. Group projects (2-4), such as game analysis, iteration, design exercises, and group work.

5. Experiential exercises such as playtesting and small group activities

6. Additional assignments as determined by instructor may include:

    a. Game critique

    b. Presentations

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 25%
Writing assignments
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 35%
Group projects
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 35 - 45%
Exams, quiz(zes)
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 10%
Attendance; participation, experiential exercises; game critique, presentations (if assigned)

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. 4th ed. Fullerton, Tracy. Peters, AK /CRC Press. 2018. (Classic).

Game Development Essentials Novak. Jeannie.  4th ed. Cengage. 2022.

The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses.  Schell, J. Burlington. MA: Elsevier. 2019. (Classic).

Challenges for Game Designers. Brathwaite, Brenda. and Schreiber, Ian. 1st ed. Charles River Media. 2008. (Classic).

Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping and Development. Gibson, Jeremy. 3rd ed. Addison-Wesley. 2022

A Theory of Fun For Game Design. Paraglyph Press, Raph Koster. 10th ed. 2013. (Classic).

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