Course Syllabus

OVERVIEW

Hi and welcome to C210, the introductory games class at IU! Thank you for choosing this class. The whole Media School team, from the instructors all the way up to the Dean, will do our best to make sure you have a good experience. 

Let's start with the learning outcomes. If you take this class, you can expect to learn:

1. Ideas about smart strategies in games, known as 'game theory'
2. Ideas about how game interactions work, known as the 'systems approach to games'
3. How to deal with complicated rules that seem impossible to understand

We use game theory and systems theory to talk about the foundations of game design and what kind of a mental subject it is. Designers can benefit a lot if they know something about the architecture of interactions, whether it be strategic interactions or system interactions. Our late founder, Professor Mike Sellers, argued that game design is system design, and the program really tries to live up to that. 

Dealing with complicated rules can be a real problem for a new game designer. So the course uses board games to help students become comfortable when dealing with complex rules. Oftentimes when we first encounter something complicated in a game, we have a kind of "shock," which is called "game vertigo." Not good for a game designer! So, the course gradually introduces complexity in board game rules to help students deal with this shock and not worry about it. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Bring any issue to the TA first, before contacting the professor. This allows your issue to receive a timely response. 

Professor
Ted Castronova (you can call me "Castro" or "Ted"
Office Hours: 4:30-6:30pm Tuesdays. 030H Franklin
Contact: Canvas Inbox

TA 

Jimmy Ochieng

Office Hours: 10:00-12:00pm Thursdays. Franklin

FORMAT

Class is three hours long. Each class is half based on lecture/discussion and half on learning board games. 

GRADING

800 points are available. Grades are based on attendance, tests, homeworks, and some short written assignments.  

1. Attendance
Attendance is worth 100 points is checked at the start of class and is graded like this:

0 Absences: 100
1 Absence: 95
2 Absences: 90
3 Absences: 70
4 or more absences: 0

2. Tests
Each midterm is worth 50 points and the final is worth 100 points. The questions are about the rules of the games we learned, and the topics in the lecture and discussion.

3. Homeworks
Each class students will get a short homework sheet. It is not graded! But each one completed and handed in is worth 10 points, up to a total of 100. 

4. Teach a Game
Teach a game to other students and write a 1-page Player Aid. This is worth 100 points.

5. Play a Game At Home
Also worth 100 points, play a game at home and submit a paper with 20-50 words and 3 photos. 

6. Games to Know
For 100 points, ask friends about important games and list them.

7. Your Best Game
Thinking about all of the above, what, in your opinion, is the best game ever made? 1-page paper for 100 points.

COURSE MATERIALS

Theory

To back up the lectures, the following resources are recommended but not required.

• Game Theory: Game Theory 101. Videos as well as a book that can be bought. 
• Systems Theory: Study the slide deck of Professor Liu, available in the Files section of the course. 

Board Game Checkouts

Students can check out board games to play at home, whether it be to study for a test or complete a written assignment. A video on how to check out games will be shown in class. Here is a link to the video, and to the Media School equipment check-out system. 

POLICIES

Grading Default
In any subjective assessment, the default score is 85 percent, which is taken to be the normal performance of an IU student. On rubric-based assignments, the second-highest mark is the default. 

Late Assignments
Late work loses one full grade for each day or partial day past the deadline. 

Makeups
The precise dates and times of all exams and assignments are given in the syllabus. It is the student's responsibility to pay close attention to these times and arrange their own schedules so that they are able to turn in work and take tests at the scheduled time. If there is a legitimate and unavoidable conflict, contact the TA AT LEAST THREE DAYS PRIOR TO the day of the conflict. Except in extraordinary circumstances, late submissions or makeups will NOT be granted after this deadline. 

NO ACCOMODATIONS WILL BE MADE FOR CONFLICTS WITH AIRLINE FLIGHTS. Students are expected to schedule trips so that they do not conflict with exam times. 

Academic Integrity
Students are expected to adhere to the standards detailed in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of the institution. Violations include: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference, violation of course rules, selling notes, and facilitating academic dishonesty. In C210 specifically, students may not work together on tests. They may work together on homework. All suspected violations of the Code will be reported to the Dean of Students and handled according to University policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment and/or a reduction in final course grade, including reduction to F. If you are unsure about the expectations for completing an assignment, be sure to seek clarification from your instructor in advance.

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In the course summary below, a "z" indicates a board game that will be studied that day.