Group+Project+3

[|Download a Portable Document Format (.pdf) File of the Game Design Principles Slideshow from Class]
[|Download a Portable Document Format (.pdf) File About Game-Design Principles (Created by Dr. Rich Staats)]

__**Group Project Assignment 3 – Due Date: 12/07/2010 – READ CAREFULLY**__
If students have any questions or problems, they should ask me either in person or via email before the assignment is due.
 * __ASSIGNMENT__ – Students are to create a brand new, original Table-Based Game.** As in the previous game, a table based-game is any game that can be played while sitting around a table; such games include, but are not limited to, board games, card games, and dice games. For this project, however, the table-based game will be an original creation of the students in this class - each group will make their own game, not based on anything that came before.

For this assignment, human-based games are not allowed - **//__games must be table-based__//**. Further, unlike the last assignment, //__**games CAN NOT be based on existing electronic games, video-games, or other games**__//. While the previous project allowed students to explore the concepts of rules and game-play within a framework already established by an existing game - only tweaking those rules into a new format - this game should be an entirely new creation, allowing students to build their own rules and game-play formulas.

The purpose of this project is to have students take all that they have learned about the balancing of rules, play-testing to refine an idea, rewards vs. penalties, along with everything else, and create a fully playable game from scratch. __//**As always, skill is valued more highly than luck in these games, and games based entirely or mostly around luck will be graded down significantly.**//__

Needless to say, some similarities to existing games will be inevitable (for example, Magic, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh and many others are all card games featuring battling characters with various abilities based on point-structures that determine the outcome of a battle, but they all have unique properties that make them distinctly different games - Pokémon, for example, is not simply "Magic with cartoon animals").

__**GUIDELINES**__ **–** **A table-based game, as noted above,, is any game that can be played while sitting around a table, without the need for any special computer programming or video screen** //(NOTE: some table-games DO rely on a video screen or other device, such as the "Scene-It" board games; the assignment requirements here, however, would prohibit such a game, unless specifically approved by me well in advance of the due date).// Examples of table games include board games (like Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, etc.), card games (like poker, Uno, Pokémon, etc.), and dice games (like Yahtzee, Dungeons and Dragons and other role-playing games, etc. - some other dice games, like Craps, revolve entirely around luck, and would thus not earn a high grade on this assignment).


 * Students must submit a typed description of their game on the same date that the game is due - EVERY STUDENT IN THE GROUP MUST SUBMIT THEIR OWN DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME .** Descriptions should include all group members’ names, detailed descriptions of individual member responsibilities on the game, a detailed description of the game concept, comprehensive explanations of game-play mechanics and rules of play, and descriptions of any materials that are needed to play the game. **//__If everyone's individual description of the game is 100% identical, I will know that everyone wrote the description together - the idea of separate descriptions is to let me know that everyone truly understands their own game and how it works.__//** Obviously, if everyone understands their own games properly, the descriptions will be similar, but individuality should lead to separate wording, layout and arrangement of content, etc.


 * Students must also submit //__individual__// typed papers that describe, in detail, each group member’s contributions. EVERY student must turn on a separate paper describing the contribution of EVERY member of the group (this includes writing about and assessing your own contributions, in addition to writing about and evaluating other group members' contributions). ** These individual descriptions will not be read by anyone but me, and should thus be open and honest.

The final grades for the first group assignment will be a combination of the quality of the game itself, the typed descriptions, and each student's individual contribution. Thus, the grade will be a result of shared grades (the game itself and, to an extent, each person's description) and individual grades (the student's own contribution to the game and each person's individual game descriptions).

__Games__ __MUST abide by the following rules:__

 * 1) **All games must be able to be played at a table, without the use of any advanced technology.** All players should be able to participate and complete the game while sitting around the table, without the need of any kind of special controller or other input device. This is one of the most basic forms of gaming. Computers, television screens, and other electronic devices are not to be included in the game, unless there is a VERY good reason to do so (__//and ANY use of a computer, television, or electronic device MUST be approved by me well in advance of the due date//__).
 * 2) **Students must incorporate at least 2 human participants at any given time during the game (preferably more).** Games can have 2 players working together against an artificial enemy, 2 players working against each other, multiple players working on different teams, etc.
 * 3) **There must be a clear objective and method of winning the game, either via obtaining a specific goal or outscoring one’s opponents.** Winning should be objective, not subjective. In other words, the winner should be clear and concrete, not based on individual opinion.
 * 4) **Games can not be directly copied from an existing table-game (such as poker, Monopoly, etc.).** Games can obviously be similar to existing games, or use existing games as a jumping off point, but if existing games are used as a basis, there must be a significant change to rules, presentation, etc. If a group is unsure whether or not their idea qualifies as original, they should ask me immediately, with enough time remaining to alter the game as needed.
 * 5) **There is to be no unapproved physical interactions, and no physical violence whatsoever.** Certain table-games, specifically certain card games, may require physical interaction with another player (for example, there are certain games that require one player to slap another player's hand during play). This type of physical interaction is not allowed, though other, more gentle forms of physical interaction may be allowed (such as tapping another player's shoulder). If a student wishes to use ANY kind of physical interaction in their game, it MUST be approved by me as soon as the group has the idea.
 * 6) **Group members must have game-materials ready prior to the start of the game.** Materials include any item needed for the game play. This can include dice, game pieces, cards, game board, etc. Anything the game needs to be played, students must provide.
 * 7) **Game gieces, game cards, game boards, and any other game materials must be created by students****.** Simply put, students can not just "borrow" materials from existing games and present them as their own. In other words, traditional playing cards (2-10, with face cards and aces) can not be used in games, nor can existing game-boards, like a standard monopoly board. Students must create their own materials, or significantly alter materials from other sources. Certain pieces, like dice can be used from other sources, assuming they aren't identifiable as belonging to another game. Game pieces (such as tokens used to move across a board) may also only be used from other sources if they are unrecognizable as being from the other source and/or fit with the theme of the student games - //__outside of generic dice, any game materials not created by the students in the groups must be shown to me prior to submission to get approval__//, with enough time that alternative materials can be created if the original materials are not approved. __**GAME MATERIALS DO NOT NEED TO BE OF INCREDIBLY HIGH QUALITY TO EARN A GOOD GRADE - NOT EVERYONE IS AN AMAZING DESIGNER OR CRAFTS-****PERS****O****N**__. Even so, __//** GAME MATERIALS NEED TO WORK PROPERLY FOR THE GAME **//__//** ! ** Students should see me immediately (long before the due date) if they have any questions about whether or not their materials or acceptable. //
 * 8) **Group members must all contribute to the project.** Being a group-assignment, it is vital that students work together within their group to create a successful project. Working within groups is a crucial part of most aspects of life (especially modern game-development). As such, students will be graded on a group-by-group basis. Individual members will also have different grades from other group members, dependent on group participation. Group members are responsible for motivating other group members. That being said, if there are ANY problems with group members, students should notify me immediately, so that a solution can be found. ** Complaining that a game was not completed (or not completed well) because of group members not working is not a valid excuse! **


 * Any project that does not follow these rules will be marked down severely, potentially even receiving a 0.** Should students have any other questions regarding the project requirements, they should ask me as soon as possible.

__**GRADING**__ **–** Students will be evaluated on the creativity of the idea and the quality of the game's implementation. //__**The amount of skill vs. luck required in the game will also be taken into consideration (with games based purely on luck being marked down severely)**__//. I f the idea is solid and can clearly be executed as a table-based game, within the confines of the rules and game-play set forth by the group (and the project requirements), students will not be marked down for the inability of other students to play their game well. However, if a game is deemed to be unplayable, or extremely difficult to play without confusion, the project grade will be severely marked down. __**The game itself counts as 1/3 of the total project grade.**__

As noted above, each person in a individual group member must submit a typed description of the game, giving details of the game concept and game play, a thorough explanation of the game's rules, and the game’s required materials. In addition to the experience and execution of the game, students will be graded based upon the clarity of the game description, how well thought-out the game is as described, and how closely the game actually followed the written concept. This document will also describe, in detail, individual member contributions, which will help determine each student's individual portion of the group grade. In addition to these descriptions, the individual participation grades will be determined, in part, by my own observations. __**The description and individual member contributions count as 2/3 of the total project grade.**__

**All questions regarding the game rules or grading must be asked prior to the final submission date.**


 * __DUE DATES__** – Completed games are due on __**December 7, 2010**__. While it is unlikely that every game will be played on this date, **__ALL MEMBERS OF ALL GROUPS MUST TURN IN THEIR GROUP PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS ON DECEMBER 7, AND HAVE THEIR GAME READY TO BE PLAYED__**. The two class periods that week (December 7 and 9) will be dedicated to playing students' games, with the final class period (December 14) being used to play any remaining games.

**Students will receive a 0 if they do not have their games ready on time.**


 * All students must submit a final description of their games within the first five (5) minutes of the first class of the game week (beginning December 7).** Students may also email their final descriptions to me in an electronic format (such as Microsoft Word) //**__prior__**// to the due date. **REMEMBER, EVERY STUDENT MUST SUBMIT THEIR OWN DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME, NOT COPIED FROM OTHER GROUP MEMBERS.**

**Students that do not turn in a final game description will receive a 0 on the group project.**

__** All questions regarding group project guidelines or grading must be asked prior to the final submission date. **__