NEWS: MEET OUR FACULTY: MARE SHEPPARD (ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021)

WE’RE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT A SHORT VIDEO CHAT WITH PROFESSOR MARE SHEPPARD, A TALENTED GAME DESIGNER WHO TEACHES GAME CONTEXTS IN OUR PROGRAM.

Mare Sheppard is one half of Metanet Software Inc., a boutique game developer based in Montreal, Canada that produced the acclaimed N, N+ and N++. Metanet is focused on revisiting the great designs of the past and re-evaluating them from a fresh perspective, making games which are engaging, innovative, intriguing and most importantly: fun. Mare finds a lot of inspiration in print, industrial design, architecture and fashion, and her goal is to incorporate more of those ideas into games, and to continue to explore and expand the medium.

GAME CONTEXTS examines the cultural and artistic relevance of play and discusses key traits of games, surveying the emergent and interdisciplinary approaches to the understanding of video games. Particular attention is paid to integrating knowledge and design approaches from other creative and critical fields, such as game studies, cultural studies, media studies, and contemporary art. Pivotal to the module is the process of helping students develop strategies to explore these approaches for the development and production of their own work. Special attention will be devoted to applying various principles of game design to the games discussed in class, and on how game design as a discipline interacts with changes in design and culture altogether. Each week during, the instructor will introduce and discuss several games. Students will be required to familiarize themselves with the games and contribute to the discussion. The themes explored in class will subsequently be used for development goals.

Nella stessa serie: PIETRO POLSINELLI (GAME WRITING), AURIEA HARVEY & MICHAËL SAMYN (GAME ART)

PHOTOS: MAKING PAPER PROTOTYPES (DEC 11 2019)

MEDIA COVERAGE: PROF. SHEPPARD ON GAME DESIGN

Professor Mare Sheppard, who currently teaches GAME CONTEXTS in the M.A. Program, discusses the design process behind the award winning N++ Ultimate Edition on the Official US and EU PlayStation Blog. As she explains:

The heart of N++’s design is a delicate balance of challenge with reward, and tension with joy, so that players can really appreciate how their skills are developing as they play, and feel proud of themselves when they complete an exceptional task. It’s all about that thrill and satisfaction. That’s what makes N++ the game of “just one more try!” :)

Click the image below to read the full article.