DESIGNING THE ULTIMATE GAME DESIGN CURRICULUM: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

TLDR Version:

The four pillars of an effective game design curriculum:

• Art and Visual Design

• Technical Skills

• Core Game Design Principles

• Practical Projects and Industry Exposure

A game design curriculum should provide visionaries with a solid foundation of game development's creative and technical aspects. Here I will discuss my four pillars for creating an effective game design curriculum. This blueprint focuses on the content allowing flexibility within any exam boards. (Games Design & VFX Level 1-3 BTEC - Big Creative Education, 2024) (Ual, 2024a) 

Art and Visual Design

Art and Visual design are vital components of a player’s overall experience. To develop an engaging game, students must grasp the core principles and how to integrate them within gameplay and narrative.

Art Direction and Visual Storytelling

The Creator - Storyboards by Mario Alberti

Course Name:	Topics Covered: (Perkins, 2024) (Ual, 2024)
Level 5/6 in Art Direction and Visual Storytelling (Government Digital Service, 2014)	Principles of Visual Storytelling Composition and Design Fundamentals Concept Development Cinematography and Photography Character and Environment Design Branding and Advertising

Art direction is crucial for developing visually compelling games. Foundational principles of visual design, such as composition, colour theory, and typography should be taught to craft art styles that not only align with the game's narrative but also, enhance the player's emotional connection to the story. The curriculum should emphasise the importance of consistency in art direction, ensuring that every visual element, from character designs to environmental assets, contributes to a unified aesthetic that reinforces the game's themes and story. (Azsan, F, 2024a) (Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio, 2023) 

Student Engagement Idea: I propose a “Studio-based learning environment” where students take on game studio roles for original game projects that would be marketed and published via the institution. This approach addresses the educational flaw of compartmentalised learning by integrating art direction, visual storytelling, and collaborative production into a single, cohesive experience preparing them for challenges in the gaming industry. (Reserve for T Level, level 3 or University students)

UI/UX Design for Games

Course Name:	Topics Covered: (Ual, 2024c)
Level 3 in UI/UX Design (Government Digital Service, 2014)	Understanding User Needs Principles of User Experience Design User Interface Design Fundamentals Interaction Design Prototyping and Wireframing Testing and User Feedback

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design are critical aspects of game design. The curriculum should focus on teaching students how to design wireframes, Heads-Up Displays (HUDs), menus, understand diegetic/non-diegetic interfaces, and interactive simulations. By integrating principles of UX design, such as user testing and iterative design processes, students can learn to create smooth and engaging experiences. (BSc/MSCi Video Games Design | Escape Studios, 2024) (UXPin and UXPin, 2023)

Student Engagement Idea: Turn the learning process into a game, addressing traditional education's often passive and theory-heavy approach. Students actively engage with real-world UI/UX design challenges sourced from actual game studios, integrating practical experience with academic learning. This solves the issue of student disengagement and lack of practical experience, making learning more relevant, interactive, and fun. This would require a standardisation document from a participating game studio. (Reserve for level 2, level 3 and University students)

Technical Skills

A well-rounded game design curriculum should include a robust focus on key technical competencies. This enhances a designer's ability to prototype and iterate on concepts and improves communication across multidisciplinary teams. 

Programming Fundamentals

Unreal Engine 5

Course Name:	Topics Covered: (Game Programming - Foundation degree, 2024) (Computer Games Programming BSc (Hons) - University of Gloucestershire, 2024)
Level 3/4 in Programming Fundamentals (Government Digital Service, 2014)	Programming Basic Game Engine Scripting Creating and Managing Game Assets Physics and Collision Detection Interactive Elements AI Programming Debugging and Optimistation Networking Basics

While designers aren't expected to be expert coders, familiarity with programming languages commonly used in game development, such as C#, C++ or native visual coding languages is invaluable. Students should be trained to create minimal viable products (MVP), rapidly prototype their concepts, a process that allows them to quickly test and refine ideas. By learning programming fundamentals, students can effectively communicate with developers, troubleshoot simple issues, and understand the technical constraints and possibilities when designing a game. (Writers, S, 2024) (Game Programming - Foundation degree, 2024) 

3D Modeling and Animation Basics

Space Marines 2 by Saber Interactive

Course Name:	Topics Covered:
Level 3 in 3D Modelling and Animation (Government Digital Service, 2014)	3D Modelling Techniques Texturing and UV Mapping High-Resolution and Low-Poly Modelling Rigging and Skinning Animation Principles Lighting and Rendering Optimisation and Exporting

3D modelling, texturing, and animation basics are critical skills for game designers. Although some games may not require 3D assets, knowing the fundamentals has its benefits. It allows designers to create basic models and animations that can be used in prototypes or as placeholders during development. Moreover, this knowledge fosters better collaboration with artists, as designers can more effectively communicate their vision and understand the artistic challenges and possibilities within the game's development.

Core Game Design Principles

A well-rounded curriculum should ensure that students understand these fundamentals and how to apply them creatively and effectively.

Player Psychology and Experience Design

Player Types by Starloop Studios

Course Name:	Topics Covered:
BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Experience (Government Digital Service, 2014)	Player Psychology Emotion and Engagement Cognitive Load and Information Processing Reward Systems and Motivation Flow Theory and Player Immersion Social Dynamics and Multiplayer Psychology Cultural and Demographic Considerations Ethics and Player Well-Being

To create games that truly resonate with players, students should have a firm understanding of player psychology and experience design. This involves delving into players' motivation, how to design experiences that evoke specific emotions, and how to maintain player engagement through techniques like flow theory. By focusing on the player's experience, students learn to create games that captivate and retain their audience, leading to a more immersive and enjoyable experience. (The University of Salford, 2024)

Student Engagement Idea: Students study player psychology by analysing their institution’s e-sports team. This approach addresses the UK educational system's flaw of separating theoretical knowledge from practical application by immersing students in real-world research that directly impacts game design. This transforms the study of player psychology into a dynamic, interactive process where students directly engage with live subjects in a high-stakes environment. 

Narrative Design and Worldbuilding

Overwatch Uprising

Course Name:	Topics Covered:
Level 5/6 in Narrative Design and Worldbuilding (Government Digital Service, 2014)	Principles of Narrative Design Complex Story Structures and Nonlinear Narratives Character Development and Dialogue Writing Environmental Storytelling Integrating Mythology and Symbolism Player Choice and Consequence Narrative Pacing and Player Engagement Transmedia Storytelling and Expanding Universes

In this part of the curriculum, students should learn how to craft narratives that enhance the gameplay experience, integrating story elements seamlessly with game mechanics. This includes developing memorable characters, creating detailed and believable worlds, and designing story arcs that adapt to player choices. By mastering these techniques, students can create worlds and stories that draw players in and keep them invested in the game. (Queensland University of Technology, 2023)

Practical Projects and Industry Exposure

• Game Jams and Rapid Prototyping: Participate in regular game jams through itch.io to encourage creativity and teach rapid development skills.

• Major Projects: Culminate the courses with a major group project that synthesises all learned skills to be showcased at a digital/physical exhibit.

• Internships and Industry Partnerships: Facilitate internships and gather guest speakers from game studios and other institutions to provide real-world insights, networking opportunities and work experience.

By combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills and industry exposure, this concept for a game design curriculum provides an expansive foundation for institutions to work from. The industry is constantly evolving so the curriculum would be regularly updated to reflect current industry trends and technologies.

Bibliography:

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2. Allmer, M. (2023) The 13 basic principles of gameplay design. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-13-basic-principles-of-gameplay-design. 

3. Azsan, F. (2024a) 'The Understanding Art Direction in Video Games - Polydin,' Polydin, 31 July. https://polydin.com/art-direction-in-video-games/. 

4. BSc/MSCi Video Games Design | Escape Studios (no date). https://www.escapestudios.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/games-design/. 

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6. Computer Games Programming BSc (Hons) - University of Gloucestershire (2024). https://www.glos.ac.uk/courses/course/cgp-bsc-computer-games-programming/#course-modules. 

7. Games Design & VFX Level 1-3 BTEC - Big Creative Education (2024). https://bigcreative.education/courses/gaming/. 

8. Game Programming - Foundation degree (2024). https://ucleeds.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-courses/game-games-programming-foundation-degree/. 

9. Government Digital Service (2014) What qualification levels mean. https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels. 

10. Juegoadmin (2024) 7 Essential game design principles – Every game designer should know. https://www.juegostudio.com/blog/game-design-principles-every-game-designer-should-know. 

11. Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio (2023) Art Direction in Video Games | A game development podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNKAg2wfyGc. 

12. Perkins, B. (2024) Visual Storytelling | New Masters Academy. https://www.nma.art/courses/visual-storytelling/. 

13. Queensland University of Technology (2023) Unit. https://www.qut.edu.au/study/unit?unitCode=DXB205. 

14. The University of Salford (2024) BSc (Hons) Psychology of Sport | University of Salford. https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/psychology-of-sport. 

15. Tyler, D. (2023) '3 Game design principles (The most important),' Video Game Design and Development, 7 September. https://www.gamedesigning.org/learn/game-design-principles/. 

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17. Ual (2024a) BA (Hons) Games Design. https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/animation-interactive-film-and-sound/undergraduate/ba-hons-games-design-lcc. 

18. Ual (2024b) MA Narrative Environments https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/architecture-spatial-and-interior-design/postgraduate/ma-narrative-environments-csm 

19. Ual (2024c) User Experience UX Design short course. https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/animation-interactive-film-and-sound/short-courses/interactive-design/user-experience-ux-design-short-course-chelsea. 

20. UXPin and UXPin (2023) Game UX — blending game design and user experience. https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/game-ux/. 

21. Writers, S. (2024) 'What is a video game designer? | Skills and career paths,' ComputerScience.org, 28 August. https://www.computerscience.org/careers/video-game-designer/.