SIT254 - Game Design
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Guy Wood-Bradley |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | SIT152 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week, 1 x 2 hour practical experience (workshop) per week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning including 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week (recordings provided), 1 x 2 hour online practical experience (workshop) per week. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit aims to provide students an appreciation of what it means to be a games designer. Students will explore the process of games design and apply key concepts including gameplay mechanics, rule design, play mechanics, game balancing and play testing in implementing a game. Students will also learn how to document a game design, apply professional standards and deliver an industry quality pitch for their game. This is a very hands-on unit, where students will create and implement a games design and critique their peers’ creations to determine how best to create a game experience for specific audiences. In the process of creating games students will be required to use a variety of software technologies including industry-standard games engines. While prior programming experience would be beneficial, it is not a prerequisite to study this unit.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Prepare and present an industry quality design pitch to effectively communicate games design. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Produce games design documentation that demonstrates sound knowledge and application of design approaches, rules and professional standards in a group work setting. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Demonstrate evidence of game mechanics and rule structures through a computer game prototype produced within a group work setting. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO4 | Demonstrate sound knowledge of the principles of games design in an applied context. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Game pitch | Written report, approximately 3 pages and feedback | 20% | Weeks 4 and 5 |
| Assessment 2 Group computer game prototype and design documentation | Written report, approximately 2,500 words and development documentation | 60% | Week 11 |
| Assessment 3 Choose your own adventure | Written reflection | 20% | Week 12 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SIT254 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.