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Game Design and Development (minor)
Basic information
Code:
ARTS3049
Extent:
18–42
ECTS
Curriculum:
2026–2028
2024–2026
2022–2024
Previous curricula
Level:
Advanced studies
Language of learning:
English
Target group:
All Aalto students
Teacher in charge:
Miikka Junnila
Administrative contact:
Jaakko Kölhi
studentservices@aalto.fi
Organising department:
Department of Art and Media
Organiser:
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Prerequisites:
Please see application procedure and quotas and restrictions.
Quotas and restrictions:
Intake of max. five students. The minor is offered for both bachelor and master students.
Application process:
Application in Spring, as the minor starts in autumn.
Application instructions for Aalto University students.
Needed attachments:
Needed attachments are a transcript of records and a motivation letter. In the letter the applicant describes one's background and experience relating to the minor subject applied for as well as indicates one's learning objectives. We strongly recommend that the applicants provide links to videos and/or other documentation about their past games, software, art, design etc.
Selection criteria: 1) educational background relating to the minor subject, 2) working experience or other experience relating to the minor subject, 3) feasible learning goals relating to the minor subject and 4) a background skillset that fits the needs of the project
Content and structure of the minor
About the minor
The Game Design and Development minor offers a condensed package of core game courses from our game major, allowing the students to learn about game design and also apply their background skills (programming, visuals, etc.) in a game project.
The learning outcomes of the minor are quite similar to the game design and development major, but the extend and depth is just not as deep as in the major. After finsihing the minor, the students should be able to:
- Design, create, and analyse games from a player‐centric perspective, building on latest research findings. Minor students know many scientific approaches to games and can utilize this knowledge in creating compelling experiences for their target audiences. Examples include a research‐based understanding of psychological factors such as player needs, motivations, and emotion; mathematical and simulation tools for analyzing and designing game economies and emergent interactions; understanding how aspects of human perception and motor control affect things like action game reaction time or the ease of use of game interfaces.
- Utilize both a broad understanding across disciplines and in‐depth skills in their specialisation areas. Throughout the minor, students can both develop their existing skills and acquire new broad understanding of other areas, which helps in developing as a team player.
- Apply their skills in creative collaboration, concept development, design, and realisation. Minor students have strong interpersonal skills developed through making a game in collaboration with others. They are able to carry out creative work as part of culturally diverse and transdisciplinary teams.
When planning which courses to include in your game minor, please note that everyone should do the following courses: Game Design Fundamentals, Game Design, Game Project 1 and Game Analysis. The rest are optional if you want to make your minor bigger. Note that Advanced Topics in Game Design and Game Project 2 are running in the spring, and also Game Seminar partly.
The minor is built so that there is an opening workshop week at the end of summer (Game Design Fundamentals ‐ also there's a second run of this course in December), and from there on, weekly lectures to do with game design both from a practice based and scientific perspective, and a game project running through the whole autumn alongside the lectures where students get to experience game making in practice and applying some of the concepts taught in the lectures. Game Project I is a laborious course, and thus the minor applicant should have space in their calendar in addition to the weekly teaching times to actually work on the project.
Content
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory courses, 18 ECTS in total | ||
| AXM-E5009 | Game Design | 3 |
| AXM-E5003 | Game Project I | 6 |
| AXM-E5012 | Science of Game Design | 3 |
| AXM-E5010 | Game Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| AXM-E5008 | Games Now! | 3 |
| Optional courses | ||
| AXM-E5013 | Game Project II | 9 |
| AXM-E5007 | Advanced Topics in Game Design | 3 |
| AXM-E0201 | Independent Study Project | 1-6 |
| AXM-E5006 | Game seminar | 3 |
| AXM-E0101 | Workshop period 1: Game Art Workshop | 3 |
(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)
Previous curricula
Code: ARTS3049
Extent: 18–36 ECTS
Curriculum: 2024–2026 2022–2024 2020–2022 Previous curricula
Level: Advanced studies
Language of learning: English
Theme: Art and design knowledge building ICT and digitalisation
Target group: All Aalto students
Teacher in charge: Miikka Junnila
Administrative contact: Jaakko Kölhi studentservices@aalto.fi
Organising department: Department of Art and Media
School: School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Prerequisites: Please see application procedure and quotas and restrictions.
Quotas and restrictions: Intake of max. five students. The minor is offered for both bachelor and master students.
Application process: Application in Spring, as the minor starts in autumn. Application instructions for Aalto University students. Students from other Finnish universities apply for the minor during the JOO application period. Instructions: Instructions for JOO applicants from other Finnish universities. Needed attachments: Needed attachments are a transcript of records and a motivation letter. In the letter the applicant describes one's background and experience relating to the minor subject applied for as well as indicates one's learning objectives. We strongly recommend that the applicants provide links to videos and/or other documentation about their past games, software, art, design etc. Selection criteria: 1) educational background relating to the minor subject, 2) working experience or other experience relating to the minor subject and 3) feasible learning goals relating to the minor subject.
Description of the minor
The Game Design and Development minor offers a condensed package of core game courses from our game major, allowing the students to learn about game design and also apply their background skills (programming, visuals, etc.) in a game project.
The learning outcomes of the minor
are quite similar to the game design and development major, but the extend and depth is just not as deep as in the major. After finsihing the minor, the students should be able to:
- Design, create, and analyse games from a player‐centric perspective, building on latest research findings. Minor students know many scientific approaches to games and can utilize this knowledge in creating compelling experiences for their target audiences. Examples include a research‐based understanding of psychological factors such as player needs, motivations, and emotion; mathematical and simulation tools for analyzing and designing game economies and emergent interactions; understanding how aspects of human perception and motor control affect things like action game reaction time or the ease of use of game interfaces.
- Utilize both a broad understanding across disciplines and in‐depth skills in their specialisation areas. Throughout the minor, students can both develop their existing skills and acquire new broad understanding of other areas, which helps in developing as a team player.
- Apply their skills in creative collaboration, concept development, design, and realisation. Minor students have strong interpersonal skills developed through multiple games created in collaboration with others. They are able to carry out creative work as part of culturally diverse and transdisciplinary teams.
Content description
When planning which courses to include in your game minor, please note that everyone should do the following courses: Game Design Fundamentals, Game Design, Game Project 1 and Game Analysis. The rest are optional if you want to make your minor bigger. Note that Game Project 2 is running in the spring, and also Game Seminar partly.
The minor is built so that there is an opening workshop week at the end of summer (Game Design Fundamentals ‐ also there's a second run of this course in December), and from there on, weekly lectures to do with game design and analysis, and a game project running through the whole autumn alongside the lectures where students get to experience game making in practice and applying some of the concepts taught in the lectures.
Content
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory courses, 18 ECTS in total | ||
| AXM-E5009 | Game Design | 3 |
| AXM-E5003 | Game Project I | 6 |
| AXM-E5002 | Game Analysis | 6 |
| AXM-E5010 | Game Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| Optional courses | ||
| AXM-E5004 | Game Project II | 6 |
| AXM-E5007 | Advanced Topics in Game Design | 3 |
| Independent Study Project | 1-6 | |
| AXM-E5006 | Game seminar | 3 |
(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)
Basic information
Name: Game Design and Development (minor)
Code: ARTS3049
Extent: 18–27 ECTS
Curriculum: 2022–2024
Level: Masters
Language of learning: English
Theme: Art and design knowledge building ICT and digitalisation
Teacher in charge: Miikka Junnila
Administrative contact: Jaakko Kölhi
Organising department: Department of Art and Media
Target group: All Aalto students
Prerequisites: Please see application procedure and quotas and restrictions.
Quotas and restrictions: 3-12 students.
Application process: Application in Spring. Application instructions for Aalto University students Students from other Finnish universities apply for the minor during the JOO application period. Instructions: Instructions for JOO applicants from other Finnish universities Needed attachments: Needed attachments are a transcript of records and a motivation letter. In the letter the applicant describes one's background and experience relating to the minor subject applied for as well as indicates one's learning objectives. We strongly recommend that the applicants provide links to videos and/or other documentation about their past games, software, art, design etc. Selection criteria: 1) educational background relating to the minor subject, 2) working experience or other experience relating to the minor subject and 3) feasible learning goals relating to the minor subject.
Content and structure of the minor
Learning outcomes
Development major, but the extend and depth is just not as deep as in the major. After finsihing the minor, the students should be able to:
Design, create, and analyse games from a player-centric perspective, building on latest research findings. Minor students know many scientific approaches to games and can utilize this knowledge in creating compelling experiences for their target audiences. Examples include a research-based understanding of psychological factors such as player needs, motivations, and emotion; mathematical and simulation tools for analyzing and designing game economies and emergent interactions; understanding how aspects of human perception and motor control affect things like action game reaction time or the ease of use of game.
Content
The Game Design and Development minor offers a condensed package of core game courses from our game major, allowing the students to learn about game design and also apply their background skills (programming, visuals, etc.) in small game projects.
Structure of the minor
The minor is built so that there is a opening workshop week at the end of summer, and from there on, weekly lectures to do with game design and analysis, and two smaller game projects running through the whole autumn alongside the lectures where students get to experience game making in practice and applying some of the concepts taught in the lectures.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits |
|---|---|---|
| AXM-E5001 | Game Design | 6 |
| AXM-E5003 | Game Project I | 6 |
| AXM-E5004 | Game Project II | 6 |
| AXM-E5002 | Game Analysis | 6 |
| AXM-E5007 | Advanced Topics in Game Design | 3 |
| Independent Study Project | 1-6 |
(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)
Basic information of the minor
Code: ARTS3049
Extent:15 or 25 ECTS
Language: English
Department in charge: Media
Teachers in charge: Miikka Junnila
Administrative contact: Meri Karjalainen
Target group: Only masters level students.
Application procedure: Application in Spring.
Application instructions for Aalto University students
Students of other Finnish universities apply for the minor during the JOO application period in the JOOPAS system.
Needed attachments: Needed attachments are a transcript of records and a motivation letter. In the letter the applicant describes one's background and experience relating to the minor subject applied for as well as indicates one's learning objectives. We strongly recommend that the applicants provide links to videos and/or other documentation about their past games, software, art, design etc.
Selection criteria: 1) educational background relating to the minor subject, 2) working experience or other experience relating to the minor subject and 3) feasible learning goals relating to the minor subject.
Quotas and restrictions: 3-10 students.
Prerequisites: Please see application procedure and quotas and restrictions.
Content and structure of the minor
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of the minor are
- to understand what games and game design are,
- how games are analyzed and
- how they are made in multidisciplinary groups.
Content
The minor subject in game design and production offers the student an opportunity to understand more about games and game production. Alternative versions are worth of 15 ECTS or 25 ECTS.
We encourage students to choose this 25 ECTS version of the minor subject, as that gives the student a full experience of the hands-on aspect of game design and production during the game project. We hope that the applicant has a strong interest in games and experience in some relevant skill like for example game design, art, animation or programming.
Structure of the minor
Game Design and Game Analysis courses are obligatory for all Games minor students. Game Project is either 5 ECTS credits or 15 ECTS depending on the size of the minor studies.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits |
|---|---|---|
| DOM-E5080 | Game design | 5 |
| DOM-E5083 | Game analysis | 5 |
| DOM-E5135 | Game project | 5-15 |
(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)
Basic information of the minor
Code: ARTS3049
Extent:15 or 25 ECTS
Language: English
Department in charge: Media
Teachers in charge: Miikka Junnila
Target group: Only masters level students.
Application procedure: Internal mobility: Application time for Aalto University students for Game Design and Production minor subject studies (15 or 25 credits) is 15.-31.5. Instructions for applying: Instructions for applying Applications only during spring application time.
Students from other Finnish universities apply during the JOO application time 1-30.4. via JOOPAS https://haku.joopas.fi.
Needed attachments are a transcript of records and a motivation letter. In the letter the applicant describes one's background and experience relating to the minor subject applied for as well as indicates one's learning objectives. We strongly recommend that the applicants provide links to videos and/or other documentation about their past games, software, art, design etc.
Selection criteria: 1) educational background relating to the minor subject, 2) working experience or other experience relating to the minor subject and 3) feasible learning goals relating to the minor subject.
Quotas and restrictions: 3-10 students.
Prerequisites: Please see application procedure and quotas and restrictions.
Content and structure of the minor
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of the minor are
- to understand what games and game design are,
- how games are analyzed and
- how they are made in multidisciplinary groups.
Content
The minor subject in game design and production offers the student an opportunity to understand more about games and game production. Alternative versions are worth of 15 ECTS or 25 ECTS.
We encourage students to choose this 25 ECTS version of the minor subject, as that gives the student a full experience of the hands-on aspect of game design and production during the game project. We hope that the applicant has a strong interest in games and experience in some relevant skill like for example game design, art, animation or programming.
Structure of the minor
Game Design and Game Analysis courses are obligatory for all Games minor students. Game Project is either 5 ECTS credits or 15 ECTS depending on the size of the minor studies.
Basic information of the minor
Code: ARTS3049
Extent: 15 or 25 ECTS
Language: English
Department in charge: Media
Teachers in charge: Miikka Junnila
Target group: Only masters level students.
Application procedure: Internal mobility: Application time for Aalto University students for Game Design and Production minor subject studies (15 or 25 credits) is 15-31.5.2017 See Instructions for applying 2017-18
Students from other Finnish universities apply during the JOO application time 1-30.4.2017 via JOOPAS https://haku.joopas.fi.
Needed attachments are a transcript of records and a motivation letter. In the letter the applicant describes one's background and experience relating to the minor subject applied for as well as indicates one's learning objectives. We strongly recommend that the applicants provide links to videos and/or other documentation about their past games, software, art, design etc.
Selection criteria: 1) educational background relating to the minor subject, 2) working experience or other experience relating to the minor subject and 3) feasible learning goals relating to the minor subject.
Quotas and restrictions: 3-10 students.
Prerequisites: Please see application procedure and quotas and restrictions.
Content and structure of the minor
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of the minor are
- to understand what games and game design are,
- how games are analyzed and
- how they are made in multidisciplinary groups.
Content
The minor subject in game design and production offers the student an opportunity to understand more about games and game production. Alternative versions are worth of 15 ECTS or 25 ECTS.
We encourage students to choose this 25 ECTS version of the minor subject, as that gives the student a full experience of the hands-on aspect of game design and production during the game project. We hope that the applicant has a strong interest in games and experience in some relevant skill like for example game design, art, animation or programming.
Structure of the minor
Game Design and Game Analysis courses are obligatory for all Games minor students. Game Project is either 5 ECTS credits or 15 ECTS depending on the size of the minor studies.