Idea to Reality - Planning Strategies for Game Dev

How do you approach game development? How do you turn your ideas into actual games? How do you get an idea in the first place? How do you stay motivated enough to finish your game? This class will provide students with exercises and tools for developing realistic game design goals. This class is appropriate for students who want to make a game but don't know where to start, as well as seasoned game developers who want to learn new tools for developing ideas and planning projects. We will start at the very beginning, with no idea (though pre-existing game ideas are of course welcome), and work towards a realistic road-map and timeline for completing your game. This class will utilize planning tools like the Design Sprint, popularized by Google, and the basics of wireframing. Come to class willing to work together in small teams. No materials required.

Class Structure
Part 1: A conversation about the big picture side of planning, with a focus on identifying the intentions behind making your game. We will talk about scope, constraints, and obstacles, as they apply to game development and creative projects in general. 
Part 2: A group Design Sprint. We will plan a project together and learn tools that improve upon “brainstorming”. 
Part 3: A Q&A and discussion, with a focus on students’ specific game design challenges.