Systems, Iteration, and Production Readiness

This unit develops students’ ability to design, document, test, and refine game systems while considering scope, budget, discoverability, and ethical/cultural implications. Students will practice iterative workflows: prototyping, playtesting, balancing, and preparing marketing and production materials to transition from design toward final production.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze core game systems and in-game economies by creating system maps and using playtest data to identify balance issues and learning-curve impact
• Apply iterative design and balancing techniques to refine mechanics, user interfaces, and art-style choices while maintaining scope and budget constraints
• Demonstrate production readiness by producing organized game design documentation, a prioritized asset list, playable prototypes, and a basic marketing/discoverability plan
• Evaluate ethical, cultural, and user-experience considerations and incorporate structured playtester feedback to justify design revisions