Before taking this class, my understanding of play and game design was limited. I really enjoyed board games (Catan, Ticket to Ride, cards – I have always loved social games that require strategy), but I lacked the ability to analyze their impact on me, and the elements that contributed to my enjoyment. Digital games were mostly unfamiliar territory, and I had never delved into the formal aspects of game design.
So, one of the best takeaways for me from this class was the MDA framework. This framework has allowed me to understand why certain aspects of certain games appealed to me. By examining specific rules and dynamics, I gained insights into the factors that evoked different emotions. This was deepened for me through the Critical Plays: I loved exploring noteworthy games through the lens of particular themes, such as Puzzles and Feminism.
Besides Critical Plays, any experiential learning we did was very highly effective for me. For example sketchnotes were super useful – topics like loops and arcs, or onboarding, resonated with me better through visual representations compared to traditional lectures. Additionally, engaging in-class game-playing that directly related to our learning also left a lasting impact. Whether it was the Monsters game or playing SushiGo to grasp the concept of branding, these experiences reinforced the lessons taught in class. Finally, I really enjoyed exploring game modifications when developing social games in the first half of the course.
I definitely faced challenges and grew in this class. Working in two different teams within a short timeframe taught me how to adapt to and receive feedback constructively. For the second game, in the process of creating my personal puzzle, I learned to coordinate parallel workflows and consider the ripple effects of changes I made. I also discovered the value of documentation: while it got me stuck in the intricacies of my project, it was ultimately great to produce a comprehensive final writeup.
Looking ahead, I am inspired to venture into coding digital games! Playtesting the projects created by my peers has motivated me to explore this realm further and enhance my skills in game development. Thanks Christina and TAs!!
Above is my P2 team (Team 15) after our final playtest, which went super well!! 🙂
