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Explore the comprehensive study of non-digital game design through this MIT course that combines theoretical analysis with hands-on creation. Learn to design, develop, and test original games while examining the fundamental principles that make games engaging across diverse genres including sports, card games, board games, role-playing games, and schoolyard activities. Master iterative design processes, prototyping techniques, and understand how strategy, skill, and chance interact in game mechanics. Analyze the social functions of games, explore puzzle design principles, and investigate the relationship between abstraction and simulation in game systems. Examine games as teaching tools, artistic expressions, and commercial products while considering ethical implications and intellectual property issues. Develop skills in knowing your target players, creating sequels, and incorporating fiction and storytelling elements into game design. Gain practical experience through team-based projects where you'll brainstorm concepts, form development teams, and thoroughly playtest your creations to understand how game rules evolve through player interaction. Study historical contexts and compare designs across various gaming traditions to build a comprehensive foundation in game design theory and practice.
