Game Design Commons^™

Utilitarian And Self-Representational: Player-To-Player Character Relationships In Final Fantasy Xiv, Zu Er Guan

Theses

This thesis studies the relationships between video game players and their player characters, the characters that they control, through the lens of player purpose and intent by conducting research using an online survey developed and analyzed using an interdisciplinary methodology based on existing studies in the field regarding avatar identification, player psychology, and queer and feminist theory. This thesis posits that are two types of player relationships with their player characters based on player intent—player characters as the personal avatar and representation of the self, and player characters as a tool for the execution of player control and gameplay experience. …

Gad314.1 Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

A submisson for GAD314.1 - Portfolio for the period of 24T3 of high quality to serve as an exemplar for future trimesters

Gad314.1 Portfolio Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

An example of GAD314.1 - Portfolio of high quality and work to serve as an exemplar for future trimesters.

Dungeon Plater, Nala Scott

Game Design

No abstract provided.

Owl Game, Finn Brown

Game Design

This is a basic game about flying through some trees in a valley, and flying through hoops.

Grapple Game - Game Development, Alexander Blume

Game Design

A first-person time trial based around a grappling mechanic!

Movement system: https://github.com/DaveGameDevelopment

Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/TqERFundlwk

Slime King, Branden Green

Game Design

This is a short video game about a smile king who was removed from his thrown, The game entails you, playing the fallen king, completing levels to reach your thrown. The game is in it's early stages and as such many features aren't yet present. Completion of the game occurs when you reach the throne at the top of the second level.

Ani219 Project 3 24t3 Student Exemplar Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

This is a distinction-level submission for ANI219, Project 3 in 24T3.

Amazed: Teaching Architectural Design Styles With A Board Game, Monisha Sooklall

Publications and Research

Future architects can better solve problems or develop their design styles when they study the designs of prominent and influential architects. My board game Amazed educates players about four architects' architectural design styles. These four chosen architects are part of an extensive list of architectural pioneers. These architects were selected based on their designs that push the boundaries with curves, designs with curves in different ways, designs that capture the relationship between light and material, and designs that use glass and steel in modernist architecture. The architects whose designs were examined for this board game are Ludwig Mies van der …

Classroom To Console, Ashton Headley

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

In an era where technology is continuously growing and intertwined into daily life, the field of education has seen drastic changes and innovation. Including changes we see today, with the ability to connect to class online, procter tests, submit assignments etc. And amongst these innovations, educational games have surfaced as a resource for helping learners across various age groups. By merging entertainment/gamification with educational content, these games offer an interactive and entertaining approach to acquiring knowledge and learning essential or non-essential skills. Whether it is implemented in classrooms, workplaces, or home settings, educational games are transforming the educational environment effectively …

Ethics And Environmental Impact Of Video Games, Anushka Chokshi

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

As video games grow in popularity, concerns regarding their ethical and environmental implications are brought up. While once, topics like their impact on child development or harm to Earth might have been considered minor or irrelevant, these concerns are now voiced in numerous articles across the internet, amplifying the urgency to develop games in an ethical context before matters are blown out of proportion. For the purposes of exploring both past and present views, this work draws from older and newer sources surrounding many topics on the idea of game development in the video game industry. Essentially, video game development …

Shifting Perspectives With Procedural Modeling Techniques And Vertex Animated Textures For Real-Time Interactive Morphing, Stephanie Schulze

All Theses

As humans experience reality, they intake external stimuli using sensory receptors to process information, forming a perception. Perceptions are subjective and shape each individual’s reality. Naturally then, by changing one’s perceptions, their experience of reality is altered, for better or worse. To emphasize the idea that perception is malleable and encourage a mindset of questioning alternative ways to look at a situation, an interactive experience in Unreal Engine is developed where a dull cityscape morphs and transforms into a surreal oversized nature scene. Procedural modeling techniques are used to create a variety of morphing assets, while Vertex Animated Textures are …

Pokémon Go: Fostering Community In Location-Based Augmented Reality, Miranda Ward

Communication Studies

While most modern video games are played from the comfort of one's own home, Pokémon GO (2016) is a game that requires people to leave their homes and interact with other people in the real world. Pokémon GO contains community-building mechanics that reward players for interacting with each other and catching Pokémon. Due to this, players use third-party applications to organize meetups, particularly through Campfire, which is an app owned by the same company who created the game, Niantic. Uses and Gratifications Theory can be applied to understand why players choose to play Pokémon GO and what needs the game …

Environmental Storytelling In Video Games Through The Lens Of Film Noir, Samuel Hagen

All Theses

My project is an interactable video game experience showcased through the lens of film noir, that focuses on the capabilities and benefits of environmental storytelling in video games. With a heavy focus on immersion, my project forces the player to explore a murder scene and encourages them to formulate their own narrative about what has transpired. My project fuels the player’s ability for self-reflection and self-acceptance through the player’s personalized and unique interpretations experienced while exploring the scene I have created. In my paper, I discuss the aspects of environmental storytelling and immersion in video games and how they have …

Gamified Learning: Applying Game Design Thinking In Education, Qiaoxin Deng

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Gamification is an Education Strategy It has gained popularity in recent years. Gamification is a means to foster student engagement and improve their learning journeys. It's about applying game design elements in non-game contexts. This is primarily used in educational settings. Gamification of learning makes it more engaging and fun by introducing rewards, challenges, and competition. By adding rewards, challenges, and competition, gamification makes learning more interesting and interactive (2020).In this essay, I will be discussing the concept of gamification. Its advantages and disadvantages will be explored. It will also give examples, including Duolingo and Quizlet, to illustrate how it …

The Evolution And Preservation Of Video Games: An Artistic And Cultural Journey, Dhru Fuletra

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

From the first time I held a game controller, video games have been a fundamental part of my life. They started as simple, pixel-filled adventures on early consoles and have grown into the vast, immersive worlds we explore on today’s advanced systems. For me, they’ve always been more than just a way to pass the time; they’ve been gateways to alternate realities where creativity, interaction, and storytelling seamlessly come together. Over the years, video games have transformed from casual hobbies into intricate cultural phenomena and, importantly, into a recognized art form. In this essay, I contend that video games are …

Valorant's Interlinked To Theory Of Representation (Race And Culture) And Feminist Coflict Theory, Gerald Susanteo

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

A brief introduction to Valorant to new ears and eyes is that Valorant is a video game and what I will be calling a media that was released by Riot Games in 2020, Valorant is a tactical FPS (first person shooter) game that blends strategic gameplay with an immersive sci-fi narrative. The setting of the game takes place in a world destabilized by the mysterious "First Light" event which gives these agents called Radiants their powers and abilities. The game first introduces the organization called Kingdom Corporation as a central antagonist exploiting the Radiants who, like I explained earlier, are …

The Evolution Of Artificial Intelligence In Gaming, Aditi Jorapur

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

No abstract provided.

The Intersection Of Interactive Narrative And Flow State Immersion: An Exploration Of Trauma, Resilience, And Post-Traumatic Growth, Tiffani Barner

Theses

This work investigates the benefits of interactive narratives in conjunction with flow state immersion for individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A specific focus is placed on narratives that contain dark or horror-based themes. In addition, the importance of selfauthorship, representation, and empowerment are explored. Accompanying the examination of flow state, concepts such as challenge, failure, and the motivation to succeed at challenging tasks are analyzed. This work also includes a survey pertaining to user preferences regarding media and genre preferences. The goal of this project is to design an interactive user experience that activates flow state while also providing an …

Pixels Of Passion: The Revolutionary Impact Of Indie Games, Sharanya Udupa

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

In the dynamic world of video game development, a powerful revolution has been quietly transforming how interactive experiences are created. Independent game developers, or "indie" game creators, have emerged as innovative storytellers and design pioneers, challenging traditional gaming paradigms and offering players unique, personal experiences that transcend mainstream entertainment.

Unlike mainstream games developed by large corporations with multi-million dollar budgets, indie games are typically created by small teams or even individual developers driven by artistic vision rather than pure commercial interests. These creators prioritize innovative gameplay mechanics, compelling narratives, and unique aesthetic experiences over conventional market formulas. Platforms like Steam …

Juegos De Rol En El Desarrollo De Projectpipe: Una Inmersión En El Uso De Metodologías De Diseño, Julieth A. Gómez Hernández, Cristian C. Orozco Ospina, Nicolas Restrepo Henao

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

En el entorno digital actual, la evolución del concepto de juegos de rol ha llevado al desarrollo de aplicaciones web interactivas y educativas. En sintonía con este planteamiento, se presenta la siguiente propuesta, que adopta una metodología integrada para aprovechar la versatilidad del método de Bruno Munari y el Diseño Centrado en el Usuario (DCU). La metodología de Munari descompone la gestión macro del proyecto en pasos manejables; mientras que el DCU se enfoca en la creación de una interfaz intuitiva y funcional mediante prototipos iterativos y pruebas continuas de usabilidad. Como complemento a estas estrategias se integra la metodología …

Video Game Review — Final Fantasy Xiv: Level Up Forever, Brian Cowlishaw

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Review of the video game Final Fantasy XIV: Level Up Forever.

Gad314.3 Proof Of Concept Example 3, Sae University College

Exemplars

GAD314.3 Proof of Concept submission of high quality to be used as an exemplar for future trimesters

Gad314.3 Proof Of Concept Example 2, Sae University College

Exemplars

GAD314.3 submission of high quality to be used as an exemplar for future trimesters.

Peril And Promise: Student Experiences Of Virtual Reality And Implications For Inclusive Social Justice Pedagogy, Michelle Vannatta

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Virtual reality (VR) is a fast-evolving technology rapidly being integrated into education and training in multiple sectors of society. As the use of VR spreads, it is important to critically analyze both its role in effective pedagogies and how students experience it. Virtual reality has extraordinary promise for deeply engaging students, and it also poses particular challenges for equitable and effective teaching of diverse students. This paper discusses students’ responses to a VR exercise and examines some of the complexities VR presents around racial justice, gender equity, and economic fairness. Virtual reality technology may be less effective and less comfortable …

It’S Dangerous To Learn Alone – Play This: Video Games In Higher Education, Particularly In The Composition Classroom, Joy Sterrantino

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

When people think of educational games, they often just think of ones geared towards kids: these might include spelling and vocabulary games like Scribblenauts, creative games such as Minecraft, as well as historical games such as Carmen [Sandiego]’s Ancient Caper, but according to the Entertainment Software Association in 2019, 65% of adults play video games (almost half of which are female), the average gamer is 33 years old, and 63% of all gamers are playing with others at least one hour a week (“Essential Facts” 4, 5, 8). This means that the majority of …

Renegade Or Paragon?: Categorizing Narrative Choice In Video Game Storylines, Graham Oliver

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Choices made during video game gameplay set the stories told in that media apart from other media. Narrative-affecting choices have existed since the earliest games, from character creation in role-playing games to performance-based narrative changes in Metroid to morality-based choices in Ogre Battle. In the contemporary gaming landscape, some games derive a significant portion of their gameplay from character decisions: exploration, dialogue options, quick-time event reactions, etc. In this article, I give a history and breakdown of how choices have existed and evolved in gaming narratives since their inception. I then propose three categories for significant narrative choices: aesthetic, …

Ani219 Project 2 Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

ANI219 Project 2 34T3 student submission.

Gad314.2 Market Report Example 2, Sae University College

Exemplars

GAD314.2 submission of medium quality, to be used as an exemplar for future trimesters.

Gad314.2 Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

GAD314.2 - Market Report of high quality used as an exemplar for future trimesters.