When I was choosing courses for this quarter my main motivator was just completing as many requirements as possible. I was worried that this class would be the same as some of the other upper division CS classes that I have taken, plagued with subpar instruction, leaving students to fend for themselves, and with limited accommodation. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a grave understatement. Looking at the 3 hour class times, I expected to complain or even just drop the course before the 3-week deadline. However, I instead found myself looking forward to class every Tuesday/Thursday and leaving more energized than I walked in. The content was incredibly helpful and the teaching team really brought with them unforgettable excitement that was all-around contagious. I came in with no experience on game design, but I walked out with so much more. Learning about MDA for example really improved my communication, not just regarding game design and theory, but overall. I was even able to apply that framework on an ethics paper I wrote this quarter. Beyond that, as someone who’s played only a handful of mobile games, I really appreciated the exposure I got to how broad gaming can be and the impact of play on one’s mental health, learning, and society in general.
On top of all of that, and what really drove the learning home for me, was being able to actually apply it to our games. Very few things in the course felt arbitrary, and it ignited in me a love for learning that I haven’t had a chance to enjoy a lot of this year, and I’m really thankful for. Lastly, and my favorite part, is that I really appreciated the focus on team-based work and the emphasis on group feedback. I feel like I came out of this class with good friends who I would have never crossed paths with otherwise.
