Game Research and Development

2024/2025

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives

The objective of the module is to let students use game research to design, develop, and evaluate an e.g. transformational, purposeful, serious game, or other notable genres. This module teaches both the conceptual and theoretical foundation, practical implementation, and methodological approaches for user evaluation of game design. Students must conduct in-depth research of a topic to be used in the game development process, and write a paper documenting the relevant research, methods, and findings. An essential focus of the course is not only to design the game, but also how to perform and document solid and advanced user evaluations. The course will also provide a theoretical foundation (definitions) and applied (how to measure) overview of concepts of e.g. motivation, flow, engagement, immersion, and gamification within a context of game research and development.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the module will obtain:

  • knowledge of serious/transformational games with a purpose
  • understanding of motivational aspects of games, such as player motivation, flow, engagement, immersion, gamification and other related concepts 
  • knowledge on new advanced platforms and game-technologies in which these elements are embedded

Skills

Students who complete the module will be able to: 

  • apply data driven design to implement and evaluate a transformational/serious game with a purpose
  • apply in-depth research to develop a simple game, part of a game (e.g. an interaction,  a mechanic), or a game-like, playful interaction, or  a gamified experience
  • discuss the relevant research and methods, and synthesize findings in a written report

Competences

Students who complete the module will be able to:

  • evaluate player experiences, games and gamified elements
  • synthesize research based knowledge to create games with a purpose and document the process and findings

Type of instruction

Refer to the overview of instruction types listed in § 17.

Exam

Prerequisite for enrollment for the exam

  • To be eligible to take the exam, the student must timely have handed in any mandatory assignments

Exams

Name of examGame Research and Development
Type of exam
Oral exam based on a project
ECTS5
Permitted aids
With certain aids:
See semester description
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleSpil-forskning og -udvikling
Module codeMSNMEDM2226
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterSpring
ECTS5
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg, Campus Copenhagen
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Study BoardStudy Board of Media Technology
DepartmentDepartment of Architecture, Design and Media Technology
FacultyThe Technical Faculty of IT and Design