Beyond the Joystick

Catalog description

This course explores alternative game controllers and playful hardware hacking as a means of expanding the possibilities of game design, and introducing students to new ways of thinking about their work and expanding their practical skill set. Therefore, this course provides students with an introduction to designing and building games which use alternative interfaces— building upon tool sets such as the Arduino. By blending elements of game design, physical computing, and critical making, students will gain hands-on experience in designing and prototyping novel input devices. This interdisciplinary approach encourages technical skills (electronics, coding, and fabrication) while fostering creative exploration and critical perspectives on interaction design. Furthermore, the "alt control scene" in game development has continued to expand over the years, even being reflected and platformed through award shows – the Independent Game Festival Awards (in which the NYU Game Center was well represented in March 2025), now has a category which looks at these alternative controllers, through the "alt.ctrl.gdc award". Therefore, continuing to integrate this practice into our curriculum is important.