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Free Game Design Courses

Explore our catalog of 34 Game Design open education resources. Randomize your content or view a certain media type by using the filter menu. Favorite any resource to return to later or find a school where you can study.

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A Conceptual Framework for The Analysis of First-Person Shooter Audio and Its Potential Use for Game Engines

A Game Design Method Empowering Children and Adults

A Guide to Effective Game Programming

A Narrative-Driven Design Approach for Casual Games With Children

Anthropomorphic Character Design in Animation and Sequential Art: The Symbolic Use of The Animal to Portray Personality

Asymmetric information: auctions and the winner's curse

Asymmetric information: silence, signaling and suffering education

Atari Graphics Arcade Game Design

Atrevida Game Programming Tutorials

Backward induction: commitment, spies, and first-mover advantages

Backward induction: ultimatums and bargaining

Changing The Culture of Aging: A Social Capital Framework for Gerontology

Designing A Narrative-Based Audio Only 3D Game Engine

Game Design

Game Design for Cultural Studies: An Experiential Approach to Critical Thinking

Games over Bluetooth: Recommendations to Game Developers

Imperfect information: information sets and sub-game perfection

Improving Game Design By Understanding The Gender Differences: The Cognitive Approach

Learning Computer Programming Using A Board Game – Case Study On C-Jump

Pictionary!

Playing Around With Crime and Criminology in Videogames: Exploring Common Themes in Games Studies and Criminology

Real-Time Character Animation for Computer Games

Repeated games: cheating, punishment, and outsourcing

Repeated games: cooperation vs. the end game

Sequential games: moral hazard, incentives, and hungry lions

So You Want to be a Computer Game Developer

Subgame perfect equilibrium: matchmaking and strategic investments

Subgame perfect equilibrium: wars of attrition

Teens, Video Games and Civics

The Case for Research in Game Engine Architecture

The Java Game Development Tutorial

Using Literary Theory to Read Games: Power, Ideology, and Repression in Atlus Growlanser: Heritage of War

Video Game Design As A Model for Professional Learning

What Does It Mean to Understand Gameplay

General Information →

A game is a competitive activity in which participants can aim for something to achieve while a set of predefined rules. It is a form of entertainment and recreation with the intention of amusement and enjoyment.

Games may be designed for a single player or for a group of any number of people and may develop into a social activity. While games are ultimately fun, there is a strong competitive aspect to most games and not playing according to the rules is considered cheating and may lead to disqualification.

Various games have been created by numerous cultures throughout history. In addition to being a form of recreation, games may also teach skills and prepare people for other aspects of life. Some games may even be played professionally or as training in certain occupations, such as virtual reality computer games that may be used to teach pilots to fly.

Definition →

Game: Noun

  • An activity engaged in for amusement.
  • The equipment used in playing a board game, card game, video game, etc.
  • A period of play, ending in a result.
  • A single portion of play, forming a scoring unit within a game.
  • A secret plan or trick. I was on to his little game.
  • An activity or business regarded as a game.
  • Wild birds or mammals hunted for sport or food.
  • Willing and eager to do something challenging or new. I'm game.
  • (Games) A meeting for sports contests.
  • (Games) British. Athletics or sports as a period of activity in schools.
  • (Gaming) Playing at games of chance for money.
  • (Gaming) Playing video or computer games.

Derivatives: Gamester, Gamely, Gameness