ESP Biography

We've all played various kinds of games, and after spending some time on one of them, we usually get a clear idea of how fun it is. Trying to explain what makes a good game is however not easy to explain at all, and even the most brilliant minds have trouble answering it. This class will introduce you to the basics of game design, and we will try to explain why players enjoy jumping on Goombas in Mario or collecting rupees in Zelda. We will look at many successful games (some board games but mostly video games, old or new), and try to define the common characteristics that make them really appealing to most players. We will deal with concepts like feedback, risk and reward, gameplay loops, etc, and explain why game design can make or break a game. Whether you're planning to start a career in game industry or just playing games regularly (any kind, really !), this class will give you interesting insight in gameplay mechanics and hopefully help you analyze your own experiences. Picking up a gamepad will never be the same thing again !

Many of you are familiar with the adventures of the Man of Steel and his other superhero friends. You know how Superman can lift cars and Spiderman can climb up walls. But this is only the visible side of the story. In this class, we will lead an investigation to know how these superheroes can have such powers and what it tells us about them. And how could we do this better than by using the superpowers we all have access to? Welcome to the world of physics!