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    Back to Introduction to Game Design

    Learner Reviews & Feedback for Introduction to Game Design by California Institute of the Arts

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarHalf Faded Star
    4.7
    stars
    2,862 ratings

    About the Course

    Welcome! This course is an introduction to the primary concepts of gaming, and an exploration of how these basic concepts affect the way
    gamers interact with our games. In this course you will understand what defines a “game” and the mechanics and rules behind different types
    of games. Through four linked assignments you'll learn ways to create and describe a game concept, and specifically what makes a compelling
    game. This course focuses on the conceptual underpinnings of games, and all assignments can be completed with a pencil and paper – no
    previous programming knowledge is required.
    ...

    Top reviews

    TN

    Apr 12, 2020

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    I really loved doing this course. Learnt how to make a simple game and make it really interesting! I loved how the easily the instructor was able to teach us and make us curious throughout the course.

    DG

    Feb 12, 2020

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    The lecture videos from Professor Fran and his old friend were surprisingly entertaining. Kudos to the team because they were able to make it fun, informative, and engaging throughout the four weeks.

    Filter by:

    651 - 675 of 843 Reviews for Introduction to Game Design

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    By Cemil B U

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    May 18, 2021

    Awsome

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    By Nelson J R d S

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    May 27, 2020

    top d+

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    By Chris T

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    May 26, 2018

    fun ;)

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    By Licínio S

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    Mar 19, 2018

    Great!

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    By Daniel D

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    Jan 26, 2017

    Nice!!

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    By Joel P

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    Mar 5, 2017

    Great

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    By HIMANI S

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    Jan 11, 2025

    best

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Vissveash A M

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    Oct 22, 2024

    nice

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    By Charalambos

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    Jul 30, 2024

    good

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    By Bách N Đ

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    Jan 9, 2024

    Good

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    By Jeremy D Y L

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    Sep 14, 2021

    good

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    By Luis A D B

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    Apr 23, 2021

    cool

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Syed F B S A R

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    Jun 23, 2020

    Fun!

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By 盛成成

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    Oct 15, 2017

    nice

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Daniel O

    •

    Nov 22, 2021

    ok

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Javier I C S

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    Jul 10, 2020

    OK

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Bilge K

    •

    Nov 28, 2015

    <3

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarStar

    By Oguz G

    •

    Apr 17, 2016

    This course provides a nice insight into the gaming theory. Do not expect to make a dive into video game analysis. This game focuses on the fundamental ideas behind gaming, which includes all games. However, the assignments revolve around building board games, so you do not need to worry about not knowing any coding to make video games. Assignment criteria could use some polish, as the rubrics focus too much on mechanics (is it one page long?) rather than content elements. The delivery of the content is interesting. The instructor has gone to great lengths to bring in features that will help you focus better. There could be a better 100% integration between the material in the videos and the assignments, as sometimes you are asked to use only a tiny portion of 30 minutes of videos for the week, and that can make the videos less useful, or the assignment not as educational.

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    By Kumsal O

    •

    Oct 24, 2015

    This course was interesting. It's truly an introduction to the field. I've actually read about Game Design in my spare time and it was nice to remember some of the concepts I've seen. It's all positive and good but I'd have liked to see the assignments handled a bit differently. It just felt too much one way, especially with one page rule. I do understand this is done to keep people organized and not going crazy with their ideas because since it's peer reviewed it should be fair. Also, once your game idea from an earlier week didn't have much room to introduce the aspect presented in the current week you feel kind of stuck. Although assignments mention we should build on previous weeks' games there is also mention to building a new game too. That part could be clarified or the nature of the exercise can be much more varied than one page requirement.

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    By Anne K

    •

    Nov 25, 2015

    I really enjoyed this course! The videos were fun and informational, the assignments were enjoyable, and reviewing other student work was helpful. I also liked hearing from my fellow students and their ideas about my work and improvements I could make.

    I would give the course five stars except for one thing - there was no one from the university to interact with. No one answered our questions on the forums, so questions went unanswered, ambiguities remained, and some issues grew as we progressed. Someone, even just a grad student or two, needs to be involved with the course in my opinion.

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    By Oleg L

    •

    Sep 17, 2018

    The course is more of "teach yourself" variety - you're given brief advice, you're given the task, you're given one week to do it. Good for trying different ideas and improving your ability to see the idea through instead of leaving it hanging in your head. You also see others' ideas at peer review, and one can learn a great lot by noticing opportunities they missed themselves.

    For those taking the course, I advise to make a new game each time rather than alter one idea you got at the very beginning over and over. You're learning _design_, not _polish_.

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    By Jordan L

    •

    Jan 24, 2016

    This course is an excellent introduction into the world of game design. Fran Krause's teaching style is both engaging and fun. While the lectures are really short, and there's not really a whole lot of material, I found that I learned well through the doing the projects.

    My only criticisms are that this course is a little too easy and a little too short. A good game increases it's difficulty as the levels progress. If you don't increase the difficulty, you take away from the reward. The same can be said about a good course.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarStar

    By Deleted A

    •

    May 18, 2024

    The course materials are great and fun. I learned a lot and ended up with a board game I am proud of and that I can create in real life. This class would get five stars if there were a better mechanism for verifying submissions meet a minimum standard before getting into the grading/peer review pipeline. I realize this would mean a bit of human intervention, but it would add a great deal toward satisfaction with the overall dependence on peer reviews for learning for courses like this that rely on peer reviews.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarStar

    By Shelley

    •

    Jun 24, 2021

    It's a really well-designed course that is succint but imparts some useful knowledge. I am not a fan of the peer-reviewed assignments. The course seems slow - a few times I have logged in and there were no peer reviews to do. Also, your own game doesn't get reviewed very quickly either. You cannot complete the course unless someone reviews your work or you have reviewed a sufficient number of assignments so this is problematic and also a waste of time - constantly checking for someone to review.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarStar

    By Agnieszka O

    •

    Dec 6, 2016

    I'd give it a 5 if I was only rating the material- it was very informative and easily digestible. Just what you need for a starting course.

    The assignment and scoring part of the course is what brings the rating down a notch. Relying solely on feedback from people who are probably beginners in the field and who go by one sentence instruction on what to feedback on was not always constructive. More guidance needs to be added to what to look out for when scoring somebody's work.

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