Course Info

GAM 224: Game Design for Non-Majors

This course approaches the study of computer games from three angles: first, as examples of media that can be analyzed and critiqued for their thematic elements, formal structure, plot and interactive appreciation; second, as complex software artifacts subject to technological constraints and the product of a labor-intensive design and implementation process; and three as a cultural artifact with behaviors and associations comparable in import to other popular art forms. Students will study the principles of game design and use them both to analyze existing games and to develop their own original game ideas. Students will also learn about the process of game development, starting from the game's narrative concept and moving to consideration of a game's components: the representation of the player, of artifacts, the virtual world that contains them and the interaction between them and the player.

Fall 2025-2026

  • Section: 401
  • Class number: 12764
  • Meeting time: MW 1:30PM - 3:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: Jonathan Hey | View syllabus

Spring 2024-2025

  • Section: 301
  • Class number: 35105
  • Meeting time: TuTh 1:00PM - 2:30PM
  • Location: LEVAN 00304 at Lincoln Park Campus
  • Instructor: Jonathan Hey | View syllabus
  • Section: 901
  • Class number: 32911
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus

Winter 2024-2025

  • Section: 501
  • Class number: 23045
  • Meeting time: TuTh 1:30PM - 3:00PM
  • Location: DPAUL C112F at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: Lien Tran | View syllabus
  • Section: 801
  • Class number: 22724
  • Meeting time: W 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus

Fall 2024-2025

  • Section: 401
  • Class number: 14447
  • Meeting time: MW 1:30PM - 3:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: Michael DeAnda | View syllabus

Spring 2023-2024

  • Section: 901
  • Class number: 32871
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus

Winter 2023-2024

  • Section: 201
  • Class number: 23070
  • Meeting time: TuTh 1:00PM - 2:30PM
  • Location: LEVAN 00305 at Lincoln Park Campus
  • Instructor: Jonathan Hey | View syllabus
    • CLOSED
  • Section: 801
  • Class number: 22715
  • Meeting time: W 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus
    • CLOSED

Fall 2023-2024

  • Section: 701
  • Class number: 12729
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus

Spring 2022-2023

  • Section: 901
  • Class number: 39993
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus
  • Section: 902
  • Class number: 40155
  • Meeting time: W 6:00PM - 9:15PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: Jes Klass | View syllabus

Winter 2022-2023

  • Section: 201
  • Class number: 29049
  • Meeting time: TuTh 1:00PM - 2:30PM
  • Location: LEVAN 00305 at Lincoln Park Campus
  • Instructor: Jonathan Hey | View syllabus
    • CLOSED
  • Section: 801
  • Class number: 28639
  • Meeting time: W 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: Jes Klass | View syllabus

Fall 2022-2023

  • Section: 701
  • Class number: 18345
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus
    • CLOSED

Spring 2021-2022

  • Section: 901
  • Class number: 37412
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: Online: Sync
  • Instructor: Susan Gold
  • Section: 902
  • Class number: 37602
  • Meeting time: W 6:00PM - 9:15PM
  • Location: Online: Sync
  • Instructor: Susan Gold

Winter 2021-2022

  • Section: 201
  • Class number: 28757
  • Meeting time: TuTh 1:00PM - 2:30PM
  • Location: LEVAN 00305 at Lincoln Park Campus
  • Instructor: Jonathan Hey | View syllabus
  • Section: 801
  • Class number: 28270
  • Meeting time: W 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: Online: Sync
  • Instructor: Susan Gold

Fall 2021-2022

  • Section: 701
  • Class number: 3892
  • Meeting time: M 5:45PM - 9:00PM
  • Location: LEWIS 01507 at Loop Campus
  • Instructor: JJ Bakken | View syllabus