Students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock can learn how to design a game during a two-week summer course. 

“This crash course in game design is structured to give students the maximum exposure to key concepts in a short period of time,” said Joe Williams, associate professor in the UA Little Rock Department of Rhetoric and Writing.

The course, RHET 4346/5346, will run from 10-11:50 a.m. for class and 12:30-3 p.m. for lab Monday through Friday May 29 to June 8.

During the two-week course, students will learn how game design impacts the brain and behavior and the seven basic game mechanics. Students will draft a game design brief using the MAST (Mechanics, Aesthetics, Story, and Technology) model, as well as complete a prototype through paper prototyping and using Unity game design software.

The course is perfect for artists, programmers, writers, and web developers interested in creating well-designed games or game-like experiences, Williams said. No experience in game design or programming is required.

Williams has been teaching at UA Little Rock since 2004. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and theater from Lehigh University, a master’s degree in English from West Chester University, and a doctorate in composition and cultural rhetoric from Syracuse University.

Along with Brad Sims, an instructional technology specialist for the UA Little Rock Department of Counseling, Adult and Rehabilitation Education, Williams is a co-founder of the Little Rock Game Designers group. The organization meets twice a month to discuss game design for tabletop and digital games.

For more information about the course and requirements, email Dr. Williams at jjwilliams@ualr.edu.