Vertically Integrated Project
Campus of play
Goals
The Campus of Play VIP is intended to highlight the different ways games and play can be used on campus for teaching, learning, and social purposes. While RIT’s Game Design and Development has a well-earned reputation for excellence in videogame production, the Campus of Play VIP will focus more on analog games, such as card games, board games, storytelling games, and tabletop roleplaying games for use in the classroom, in professional environments, and for entertainment. We will also consider the business and marketing aspects of analog game design and development.
The Campus of Play will work with faculty and students at Nazareth University, St. John Fisher University, SUNY-Geneseo, SUNY-Brockport, and the University of Rochester to create gameful, playful opportunities and communities that transcend our individual campuses; the VIP will also be working with the Strong National Museum of Play and the local game stores, Millennium Games and Just Games in addition to professionals working in the industry who are members of the Board Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Students participating in this VIP will be considered for co-ops in the tabletop game industry.
Issues Involved or Addressed
- Effective use of games and playful approaches to teaching and learning in and out of the classroom
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History of games, play, and the tabletop gaming industry
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Understanding and participating in game conferences and conventions to learn about event planning and management
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Coordinating game nights in the RIT Library and other venues
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Creating tabletop roleplaying and storytelling game experiences (narrative design for sessions and campaigns, proper use of safety tools to ensure an equitable experience for all players, incorporating audio, visual, and physical props in games, etc.)
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Identifying and exploring the full lifecycle of game publishing, from concept development to market release
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Co-op opportunities within the tabletop game industry
Methods and Technologies
- Scholarship in games and learning and academic game studies to provide a broad understanding in topics dealing with games and play
- Business and operational methods (startup, insurance, accounting, taxes, data management, office technology)
- Iterative design and playtesting protocols (feedback collection, version tracking, design documentation)
- Layout and graphic design tools (InDesign, Affinity Publisher, Canva)
- Virtual tabletop software (Demiplane, Fantasy Grounds,Foundry, Owlbear Rodeo, Roll20)
- Print-on-demand platforms (The Game Crafter, DriveThruRPG, Make Playing Cards)
- Project management and collaboration tools (shared drives, Notion, Discord servers for community building)