Game Design
MIT's Game Design course teaches the analysis and creation of non-digital games across genres including sports, game shows, card games, board games, schoolyard games, and role-playing games. Students study texts and historical references on game design theory, then work in teams to design, build, and playtest original games, refining rules through repeated iteration. The course covers how rule systems interact and evolve, and how mechanics produce different player experiences across genres. Materials include readings, design frameworks, and project assignments drawn from MIT's Comparative Media Studies/Writing program. It is offered through MIT OpenCourseWare, so all lecture notes, assignments, and project guidelines are free to access, with no certificate offered. The focus stays practical throughout, with students expected to produce, test, and revise a working original game by the end of the term.