CS390 Game Preproduction, Spring 2026

Schedule Overview

DeadlineAssignment
Wednesday, Jan 7 Analysis Preparation
Friday, Jan 9 Ideation Research
Monday, Jan 12 Project Contemplation
Friday, Jan 16 Greyboxing Results
Friday, Jan 23 Paper Prototype Results
Monday, Jan 26 Open Prototyping Initialization
Friday, Jan 30 Open Prototyping Presentation and Report

Policies and Definitions

Unless otherwise specified, deadlines are at the start of the relevant meeting. This means that if you have a presentation, it must be prepared and you must be ready at the start of our meeting.

A poster should be prepared on letter or legal paper. Write large enough that the text is clearly legible from twenty feet away. Include your name on all posters. Experimenting with colors and illustrations is encouraged. Expect posters to be presented on the front whiteboard for discussion.

Assignments

Analysis Preparation: Due Wednesday, Jan 7

Ideation Research: Due Friday, Jan 9

Watch Joe Baxter-Webb’s Indie Game Clinic video on ideation methods. Choose any one of the techniques he mentions and try it. Document your results in a poster; be sure to name the technique you used and the result.

Project Contemplation: Due Monday, Jan 12

Reflect on the ideation exercises of the first week of class and our discussion of course goals. Decide upon a game idea that you would like to pursue as a short greyboxing exercise, ideally something that you would consider as a semester project.

Greyboxing Results: Due Friday, Jan 16

Be ready to demonstrate and discuss your greyboxed project in today’s meeting.

Before the end of our meeting, you will complete and submit a prototype report. It will include the following:

Paper Prototype Results: Due Friday, Jan 23

Be ready to demonstrate and discuss your paper prototypes.

Before the end of our meeting, you will complete and submit a prototype report. It will include the following:

Open Prototyping Initialization: Due Monday, Jan 26

Start work on a one-week prototype for a game you think may be worth pursuing as a senior project. By the end of the day, submit a brief report via Canvas that provides:

Open Prototyping Presentation and Report: Due Friday, Jan 30

Be ready to show your prototype to the whole studio. Each person will have five minutes to show their prototype and collect feedback.

Before the end of our meeting, you will complete and submit a prototype report. It will include the following:


CS390 Course Plans (Spring 2026) © 2026 by Paul Gestwicki is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0