UNI7: Evolution of Table Games
Course Overview
The Evolution of Tabletop Game Design is a 1 unit course under the UCI’s UTeach program, and is taught by Freddy Reiber. We will be meeting once a week in DBH 1420, Thursdays at 2. In this course students will learn the history of analog games, and how they have evolved over time. Students will also understand the ”inner-workings” of game design and how the relate to create a enjoyable experience. Finally, students will explore the cultural impact of tabletop games and how game design intersects goals, meanings and narratives. To complete these learning objectives students will be asked to interact with specific games in a number of ways. Significant portions of class time will also be dedicated to discussion to help facilitate learning. The only assignments required will be the playing/interacting with the games we will be studying.
Syllabus
The full syllabus for the course is available here.
Discord Link
We will have a course discord to help schedule times to play the games. The link is available here.
Course Schedule, Assignments and Optional Readings
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- Week 1: Intro & MDA
- MDA Design Model paper
- Slides
- Week 2: Wargames & Diplomacy
- The Fall of Avalon Hill
- The Invention of Diplomacy
- Who Mourns for Avalon Hill?
- Playing the Nazis
- Assignment: Play Diplomacy: here. Rules explanation: video text
- Week 3: Role Playing Games & Dungeons and Dragons
- History of D&D
- Cyberpunk
- Immersion and Role Playing in the 1970s
- Satanic Panic
- Assignment: Watch some Critical Role: Youtube Channel
- Week 4: Early Thematic Games & Cosmic Encounter
- The Making of Cosmic Encounter
- TI4 Documentary
- The Genius of Blood Rage
- Assignment: Play Cosmic Encounter in person/TTS. Rules Explanation: Video Tutorial Written Rules
- Week 5: Collectable Card Games & Magic: The Gathering
- The Impact of Living Card Games
- Creating Keyforge
- The Creation of MtG
- L5R Story
- Mediatization of a card game: Magic: The Gathering, esports, and streaming
- Assignment: Play Magic The Gathering on MtGA
- Week 6: Euro Games Part 1 & Catan
- Special K - Klaus Teuber
- Catan and Capitalism
- Assignment: Play Catan here. Rules explanation: Video
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- Week 7: Euro Games Part 2 & Brass Birmingham
- Early Euro Games: Aquire
- Assignment: Read and understand Brass Birmingham rules here
- Week 8: Cooperative Games & Pandemic
- The Quarterbacking Problem
- The Making of Pandemic
- Assignment: Play Pandemic in person/TTS. Rules Explanation: Video
- Week 9: Legacy Games & Gloomhaven/Pandemic Legacy
- Designing Legacy Games
- Legacy Game Talk
- Assignment: Watch a Legacy Game Review Youtube Channel
- Week 10: Wrap Up
- Breaking Up Monopoly
- How Board Games Go Viral