This is a course in board game design. Each student will work on their own individual project during the semester, leading to a finished board game by the end. The instructor will give lectures on the process and method of board game development, focusing on practical questions such as, how to publish a game, how to make a prototype, how to test the game's systems. Come make a real game you can play with friends and family, or, for a professional purpose such as a teacher using a game in a classroom. All are welcome, no prior experience necessary - just a willingness to create something new!

Students can make any kind of tabletop game - board game, card game, role-playing game, etc. 

Instructor
Edward Castronova, Professor and Board Game Designer, The Media School
Office Hours Tue/Thur 12:15-1:15 and 2:30-3:00. Room 030A Franklin Hall
Contact: castro@indiana.edu
All announcements will be in the channel #g372-spr24 in Slack. Join Slack at iu-games.slack.com.

Grading
Students will be working on their own project throughout the semester. All grading is based on their progress, measured by milestones. Each milestone will require a submission of documentation and will be worth the same weight. The final project will be presented to the class for playtesting. 

Coming to class is required. Students lose 10 points for each missed class. 

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. 

Absence
It is the student's responsibility to notify the professor in advance, in writing, about any absence and its cause.

Extended Absence
A student who has missed many weeks of a class simply cannot acquired enough information about the class subject to be given credit for it. Therefore, any student who misses more than one-third of total class sessions, for any reason, including excused absences, will be given an F. 

• In a typical 15-week semester, this limit is 10 classes. Any student who is absent 11 or more classes for any reason will receive an F.

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 instructor 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 class or exams.

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. 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.