In case you missed it the first time, Roger Pedersen's Game Design Foundations class is starting up again tomorrow.
Having taken the class, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it and I felt that I got my money's worth out of it. When I start writing up my game design, it will be all for the better. Mr. Pedersen takes a holistic approach and exposes the student to the big picture. It's not a static lecture series, there are questions to answer and internet research assignments to do. You get to exercise a little creativity as well. The goal of the course it make you think more like a game designer and understand their part in the game development process. It's not a fill out the forms design document builder class.
The general flow of the class is that you download the weekly presentation and read that. You can then start working on the exercises with several chat sessions on the weekends at staggered times and turn in the results on Tuesday for review and comment.
Course description:
http://www.gameversity.com/Descriptions/GameDesign.html
Why am I acting as a pitchman for this course? I think it's a good foundation if you're going to be serious about making indie games either as in individual or as part of team. You can read a book, but it doesn't sink in like a class. Most people just skip the exercises, if there are any. With this course you get your feet wet and get a feel for the kind of research and writing skills required to be a game designer.
Additionally, Mr. Pedersen and the Gameversity staff asked to to hang around as a teacher's aid and web guy for the class. It's a non-paying gig, but I like helping people that help themselves. So, you may see me on the forums or in the chat sessions even after the first class ends.
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TAZ
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask.
History did not begin with PONG. -- Greg Costikyan
Game Beavers