Digital worlds: designing games, creating alternative realities
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| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
From the earliest days of computing, computer games have led the way in exploring how we interact with digital media. In this ten-week online course you will discover how computer games and interactive digital experiences are designed and made, marketed and played. Through designing, creating, sharing and reviewing your own games, you will learn how complex games are often constructed from simple building blocks. You will also see how the evolution of communities around computer games helps drive an international industry that extends from casual single player games to interactive online entertainment and ‘serious’ educational games.
Course content
Digital worlds: designing games, creating alternative realities is a ten-week short course with approximately ten hours of study each week. The course offers a general introduction to the design of computer games and their relationship to the development of interactive media and immersive virtual worlds. Each week’s study offers a creative mix of learning, practice, networking and reflection. Over the duration of the course, you’ll learn about different aspects of the design of computer games and interactive media, from key technological concepts, through visual and narrative design methods, to why games are engaging and fun to play.
Each week you’ll develop your understanding and appreciation of interactive media through a series of practical activities that range from reviewing games and interactive visual environments to designing and customising your own playable computer games.
You’ll have the opportunity to share your work with other members of the course community as you work towards the end-of-course assessment, where you may, for example, be required to submit an informed review of a game of your own design.
Through sharing reviews of commercial offerings, as well as reflecting on your own work and the work of other students on the course, you will steadily develop your understanding of the practice of game development and game design.
You will also have the opportunity to explore a variety of interactive social media, as well as looking at the wider social, economic and ethical context of this burgeoning area of creative technology.
The course will:
- enable you to identify different game genres and modes of interaction and appreciate the factors affecting the quality of user engagement and experience
- teach you about the methods of production, distribution and consumption of interactive information and entertainment products
- teach you the introductory principles and key methods of computer game design, using GameMaker Pro (version 7 for PC)
- teach you how to critically reflect upon and evaluate your own and others’ work in the spirit of continuous technical and artistic improvement
- help you to engage with online interactive media and explore the range of interactions afforded by contemporary human-computer interfaces
- show you how to experiment with the principles of interactive media as part of a supportive online community.
Software
The game making software used in the course is GameMaker Pro (version 7 for PC), which is provided on the course website. GameMaker is quite accessible using keyboard navigation - it is possible to navigate between focusable elements within the GameMaker interface - and JAWS can similarly read out loud the focusable elements.
You will learn
The course will introduce a full range of interactive media design considerations, including:
- the key elements of game design
- basic production practices for interactive environments
- managing digital workflow and production lifecycles
- using a 2D game development environment
- navigating 3D virtual environments
- the role of communities and the evolution of online, social environments
- the nature of identity in online interaction
- how to employ peer review as part of an iterative design cycle.
Entry
Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
Although you don’t need to have had much experience with a computer, you’ll need to install software and get an account – ideally broadband – with an internet service provider (ISP) before the course begins. You also need to be able to manage your computer files competently and use basic software such as a word processor and web browser. If you don’t feel comfortable about doing that on your own, you might want to take a basic introductory course at a local college before you start the course.
Qualifications
This course can count towards most of our degrees at bachelors level, where it can help to weight your degree towards a BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course is delivered entirely online (with no printed materials) through a web-browser and will require extensive use of the internet. The practical game design element of the course uses a commercially available software package (GameMaker) that employs a visual (drag and drop) programming editor. If you use special hardware or software you should find out from the course manager whether it will work with the course software well before the course begins. Written transcripts of any audio components required for the course will be available on the course website. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Game Maker Pro (version 7 for PC); course website and online forums.
You will need
You are likely to be spending most of your time studying online. This may mean extra charges to your telephone bill, unless you have a package that provides unlimited access to the internet.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running windows Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
The course is taught entirely online and you will not have an individual tutor. You will have access to online student self-help forums that you are strongly encouraged to participate in, as they are an excellent source of support and information.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your end-of-course assessment (ECA).
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and October 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
Study explained
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- Study explained
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