Games Educator

Empowering college students to realize they can create any game they can imagine by providing the game design frameworks that
turn bold ideas into meaningful player experiences.

Game Design Theory

My students already have incredible ideas. My role is to provide the game design theory, structure, and guidance that help transform those ideas into engaging, memorable games.

I walk students through the process of:

Prototyping to validate their ideas

Documenting their game design concepts

Iterating over gameplay based on player feedback

Adding juice to improve its feel and polish

My favorite game design books to support class:

Providing the Right Tools

How we use Miro for brainstorming

In class we use Miro to brainstorm our ideas and create design deliverables that help us plan and convey gameplay functionality.

In class I demonstrate how to brainstorm ideas and create design deliverables such as player flows and storyboards.

Students then visualize their ideas creating these deliverables and present their work to the class for pier and lecturer feedback.

FREE GDD NOTION TEMPLATE

How we use Notion for documentation

We use Notion to document game design decisions ready for implementation in our GDDs.

In class we discuss the importance of documentation for cross-departmental clarity on their game’s vision.

You can view and download my Notion GDD Template I provide to students

Having Fun Making Fun

Making great games is all about finding the fun and expanding on that enjoyable experience. I teach my students the joy of this iterative process discovering what players find intriguing about their gameplay.

In this video I’m playing one of my student’s paper prototypes for his rhythm game.

Educational Social Media Content

I make educational content to help make game design theory more accessible to aspiring game designers.

Short Form Content

Explaining insights from Game Feel by Steve Swink on setting meaningful goals and constraints for players.

Long Form Content

Applying the Bjork and Holopaienen Game Component Framework to my research focused game experience.