Students

COMP2150 – Game Design

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Cameron Edmond
cameron.edmond@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Mitchell McEwan
mitchell.mcewan@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
COMP1151
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit covers the theory and practice of designing games, using an iterative, player-centric approach. Students will be introduced to different aspects of game design and will develop their game design skills through hands-on creation and evaluation of their own games.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply the process of iterative, player-centric game design to produce a range of low-to-high fidelity game prototypes.
  • ULO2: Analyse and critique existing games according to the principles of game design.
  • ULO3: Employ level and system design theories to prototype games using relevant digital tools.
  • ULO4: Collaborate with fellow designers to conceptualise game experiences and craft game mechanics to facilitate them.
  • ULO5: Communicate design goals and reasoning through appropriate documentation.
  • ULO6: Evaluate game prototypes using formal playtesting methods and apply findings to iterate on their design.

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit, you must achieve a total mark of 50% or more.

Attendance in class is recorded. Although no marks are associated with attendance or indeed performance in class, assessments are designed with the assumption that students have completed all learning activities (lecture attendance/viewing, and in-class participation across both SGTAs and practicals). Completion of these tasks will require time both in and out of class. Additionally, beyond grades, you will make the most of your time here at Macquarie by attending class. If elements of our classroom activities make it difficult for you to attend or engage in class, we are open to this feedback.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

  • 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.
    • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
    • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.
  • After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.
  • Extensions:
    • Short Extension: Some assessments are eligible for a short extension. You can only apply for a short extension before the due date.
    • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect  their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Info

The three assessments for this unit will be submitted via Github Classroom and iLearn itself. Assignments are marked against rubrics by the marking team in coordination with the relevant UC/lecturer. Assessment details will be released on iLearn when appropriate.

Assessment Latest Release Dates

  • Level Design - Sunday 15th March
  • Tabletop Game Design - Sunday 10th May
  • Design & UX Journal - Sunday 1st March

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Level Design 30% No 07/04/2026 Individual Yes Open
Tabletop Game Design 30% No 24/05/2026 Group Yes Open
Design and UX Journal 40% No 07/06/2026 Individual Yes Open

Level Design

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: 07/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will design, prototype and implement a game level using a commercial game engine based on a design brief, demonstrating an understanding of game design principles. As well as producing the level, you must evidence your design processes and justify design decisions with reference to theory.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the process of iterative, player-centric game design to produce a range of low-to-high fidelity game prototypes.
  • Employ level and system design theories to prototype games using relevant digital tools.
  • Communicate design goals and reasoning through appropriate documentation.

Tabletop Game Design

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 34 hours
Due: 24/05/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Group
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

As a team, you will design and implement a tabletop game based on a design brief, demonstrating an understanding of advanced game design principles. You will submit design documentation, justifying design decisions. You must evaluate the game through a program of playtesting to determine whether it meets your goals, and iterate accordingly.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the process of iterative, player-centric game design to produce a range of low-to-high fidelity game prototypes.
  • Employ level and system design theories to prototype games using relevant digital tools.
  • Collaborate with fellow designers to conceptualise game experiences and craft game mechanics to facilitate them.
  • Communicate design goals and reasoning through appropriate documentation.
  • Evaluate game prototypes using formal playtesting methods and apply findings to iterate on their design.

Design and UX Journal

Assessment Type 1: Experiential task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: 07/06/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will compose a multimedia journal documenting and reflecting on your engagement with game design practice in key areas across the unit, adhering to set criteria. Your final submission will include entries relating to game analysis, prototyping, games user research, and playtesting of your tabletop game.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the process of iterative, player-centric game design to produce a range of low-to-high fidelity game prototypes.
  • Analyse and critique existing games according to the principles of game design.
  • Communicate design goals and reasoning through appropriate documentation.
  • Evaluate game prototypes using formal playtesting methods and apply findings to iterate on their design.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Week 1 classes

Lecutres, SGTAs and Practicals will be running in Week 1. Lectures are in person, and streamed on Echo360 for those unable to attend in person (lectures are however designed as in-person events and online participation will not capture all elements). SGTAs and Practicals are run on campus and attendance is recorded.

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your University email for individual matters, and via the iLearn forums for broader, unit-relevant topics. To reach us, we encourage that broader questions about content, etc. are posted to the relevant discussion forums so that all staff see it (and are therefore able to answer), and all students benefit from the question - guaranteed that if you have a question, so does at least one other student! However, if the matter is related to your individual learning, you may reach out to the UC and lecturers via email.

Unit Schedule

 
Week Topic Assessments
1

Unit Introduction

Principles of Game design

  
2

Agile Game Design and Development

  
3 Games Ludology  
4 Level Design 1  
5 Level Design 2  
6

Playtesting

 Level Design Task due 7th April.
  Break  
7 UI, Aesthetics & Game Feel  
8  

Systems, economics & choices

  
9 Multiplayer design  
10

Worldbuilding and Narrative Design

  
11

Games User Research

  
12

Game Production Roles, Tools & Methods

 Tabletop Game Design due 31st May.
13 Revision/Ask Us Anything! Design & UX Journal due 7th June.

This schedule is subject to change.

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

Assessment tasks have been reconfigured to match the 3 Assessment Model, resulting in two tasks remaining (Level Design Task, Tabletop Game Task), and a new third task (Design & UX Journal). Information on these tasks is avaliable in the appropriate Unit Guide and iLearn sections.

The Level Design Task has switched to using Unreal Engine, with a bespoke template project. Practical tasks have been updated to match this.

General updates of practical, SGTA and lecture content has been made both in response to student feedback and to align with COMP1151 content.

These changes are made possible by the continued and honest feedback from students. We encourage you to continue to voice your feelings on what is and isn't working in this unit via student surveys, to UCs/lecturers directly, and other appropriate channels. All feedback is taken seriously and is welcomed.

Unit information based on version 2026.05 of the Handbook