Learning to Make Computer Games: An Academic Approach

Abstract Anything that combines aspects of play, challenge and conflict can be seen as a game. Therefore, games provide a versatile but demarcated setting for education. From the students’ perspective the concept of ‘game’ is familiar, approachable and diverse, which makes it motivating for them. From the teachers’ point of view, a game can serve as a mixing pot for various study subjects. For example, making a game can concretise study topics as well as work practices and on-the-fly collaboration across many dierent,disciplines. Therefore, games as an educational form seem to suit to situations where the study material cannot,be partitioned into strict independent,fragments. Because our areas of teaching are digital arts and software development, it is natural to instruct students using computer,games,projects. However, the selection of a game as an educational form does not solve problems,in learning such as misconceptions,due to simplification. To deepen