Spring 2026 - IAT 881 G100

Special Topics I (3)

Advanced Game Design

Class Number: 6441

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

Course Times + Location:

Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Surrey

Instructor:
Yingchen Yang
yyang1@sfu.ca
1 778 782-7533

This course is heavily project driven. Students will form into teams and collaborate with one another to develop games of their choice. Each team will come up with a game concept and submit a game proposal, and then go through the design and development cycle to build the game.

Students will showcase their final masterpieces, with optional links, on web pages. Students will learn how to apply basic principles of game design as outlined in IAT 312. In the process, they will be exposed to the production cycle, including idea inception, design, prototyping, testing, critiquing, refining, and finally, presentation. Students will be introduced to several tools within the lab classes that will aid in realizing their own projects and ideas. These tools include both 2D and 3D game engines.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Understand and communicate the basic principles of game design
Evaluate and critique electronic games
Complete the steps necessary for the effective planning of electronic games
Demonstrate competence in both 2D and 3D game production software
Demonstrate the ability to present electronic games in a web environment
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in game production teams

Grading

Project Development 20%
Final Deliverables 25%
Game Critiques 20%
Weekly Design Journals 8%
Class Participations 7%
Research paper 20%

NOTES:

Each team will set up an online blog for the course, which is used to record team weekly assessment including agenda and progress of the team, and also as a tool for team communications and collaborations. Each individual will have an online blog as well, this is where you will post your game critiques, and individual weekly assessment. Team Leaders, please create a blog for your team and link all your members’ blog URLs within it, and send the team blog URL to your instructor at yyang1@sfu.ca. Please note the blogs must be publicly visible so that teaching staff can access and grade the assessments.

* The Research Paper is required to be 4 pages in length and follow the ISEA 2022 Template to write it up. Content-wise, it should include:

· A description of your research-creation / design/ artifact and clear articulation of the goal of the work (what question does it help you ask? What does it do in the world?).

o In the gaming context, the research should involve with one or more of the following topics: game design innovation, game AI study, playtesting

approach exploration, gaming impact toward youth and/or society, or any other gaming related topic by seeking approval from the teaching staff

· Literature review of related work, projects, research to contextualize your research-creation / design / artifact and connect to themes raised in the course

· Discussion of your methodology and process, contextualized by literature

· Preliminary sketches and final renderings (photos, drawings, video, renderings, documentation as appropriate)

· Discussion of themes and issues raised by your artifact

· Proper APA / appropriate style references and image credits

· Clear awareness of copyright/permissions and academic integrity

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

On-line articles on game design and development.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:

SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.

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