Game Design
MIT OpenCourseWare's Game Design traces the history of games and game mechanics across genres, from sports and game shows to board games, roleplaying games, and digital games. The course examines how mechanics evolved across schoolyard games, games of chance, and modern digital platforms, asking what makes a game work. Students write essays analyzing traditional and eclectic games, then form project teams to design, build, and playtest an original game of their own. Materials include the syllabus, assignments, and project guidelines as posted by MIT's Comparative Media Studies/Writing program. The course suits anyone curious about game mechanics as a design discipline rather than just entertainment, blending historical analysis with hands-on prototyping. No enrollment fee; MIT OpenCourseWare provides the materials for free self-study without a certificate.