NTERACTIVE GAME DESIGN: COURSE SYLLABUS & RUBRIC

Term: Fall 2026 | Duration: 15 Weeks (Live Interactive) | Level: Beginner to Advanced Portfolio Level

COURSE OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

Design core gameplay mechanics, level architecture, 2D/3D visual asset integration, and user interaction logic in a modern game engine. Students learn how to turn ideas into playable digital experiences.

By the end of this course, students will:

• Understand game design frameworks (MDA), player psychology, level design, and game balance.

• Construct interactive game logic, player controls, environmental triggers, and UI overlays.

• Publish a playable 2D/3D web game and Game Design Document (GDD) for college applications (e.g., USC Games, NYU Game Center).

🛠️ REQUIRED SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

• Software: Unity or Unreal Engine (Software onboarding and setup provided in Week 1).

• Hardware: PC / Mac with a dedicated graphics card (Mouse with a middle-scroll wheel required).

📅 15-WEEK DETAILED CURRICULUM

• MODULE 1: GAME MECHANICS & PAPER PROTOTYPING (WEEKS 1–3)

  • Week 1: MDA Framework (Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics), core game loops, and pitch deck creation.

  • Week 2: Paper prototyping, game rules design, win/loss conditions, and player feedback systems.

  • Week 3: Game Engine introduction—scene setup, camera controllers, and physics primitives.

• MODULE 2: CORE LOGIC & ASSET ARCHITECTURE (WEEKS 4–7)

  • Week 4: Player character locomotion, jump mechanics, collisions, and camera follow scripts.

  • Week 5: Event triggers, collectible items, health systems, and enemy AI pathfinding.

  • Week 6: 2D/3D asset importing, tilemaps, material setup, and lighting implementation.

  • Week 7: User interface (UI) design—health bars, pause menus, score counters, and HUD elements.

• MODULE 3: LEVEL DESIGN & ATMOSPHERE (WEEKS 8–11)

  • Week 8: Spatial greyboxing, level pacing, sightlines, and player navigation guidance.

  • Week 9: Environmental lighting, post-processing stack (bloom, depth of field), and particle FX.

  • Week 10: Audio implementation—background music, sound effects (SFX), and spatial audio triggers.

  • Week 11: Playtesting session & 1-on-1 gameplay balance review.

• MODULE 4: PLAYTESTING, BUG FIXES & PUBLISHING (WEEKS 12–15)

  • Week 12: Game balancing, difficulty scaling, bug hunting, and performance optimization.

  • Week 13: Building WebGL executable builds and hosting playable demos online (Itch.io).

  • Week 14: Formatting the Game Design Document (GDD) and editing a 60-second gameplay trailer.

  • Week 15: Final Showcase: Live Playable Game Showcase & GDD presentation.

📊 DETAILED ASSESSMENT RUBRIC (100 POINTS)

Evaluation Criteria

Point Value

Performance Expectations

1. Gameplay Mechanics & Game Loop

30 Points

Responsiveness of player controls, clear core loop, balanced difficulty, and satisfying feedback.

2. Level Architecture & Spatial Design

25 Points

Effective level flow, visual staging, environmental storytelling, and lighting setup.

3. Technical Execution & Engine Logic

20 Points

Stable script logic, clean asset hierarchy, optimized performance, and bug-free web build.

4. Process & Game Design Document (GDD)

15 Points

Complete documentation of rules, mechanics diagrams, level greyboxes, and playtest logs.

5. Final Demo & Trailer Presentation

10 Points

Playable web link, polished gameplay teaser video, and clear oral/written game presentation.

🏆 GRADING SYSTEM

• A (90–100 pts): Exceptional Mastery — Playable game and GDD ready for top university game programs.

• B (80–89 pts): Proficient — Playable mechanics; minor bug fixes or level polish suggested.

• C (70–79 pts): Developing — Demonstrates core game loops; needs continued work on engine logic.