Independent Studies | University of Waterloo

Pre-Thesis Phase

Orin Bishop is a student in the IS program studying Game Design, specifically Boardgames. He is interested in the logical workings and mechanisms of games, and what makes them fun, independent of graphics, sound, storyline, etc. He is, however, also an aspiring composer, and likes to 'doodle around' on the piano, and although he is not a great pianist, he can take any song he hears and figure out the accompaniments.

Orin has designed several boardgames, one of which is scheduled to be released by Steve Jackson Games in the fall of 2009. He is a fervent believer in the potential educational power of games and the utility of games to society in general, and thinks they deserve to become a more respected art form. He hopes to one day teach game design in an academic setting.

Thesis Project Phase

When I tell people that I'm studying game design, they generally ask whether it's board or computer games, or why I'm not in CS, or something along these lines. Game design is a relatively new discipline, and I think it's high time we start defining what exactly it is.

My IS thesis is intended primarily as a guide on how to design games, but I also tackle the issue of what should and shouldn't fall under the rubric of actual design as opposed to programming, graphics, story, etc..

I discuss games in terms of their underlying formal structure and paint a picture of how changes to the structure's logic and mathematics affects changes to the game play at an experiential level. Additionally, I examine how the same basic design principles tend to apply across gaming media as well as across various game types and genres.

Read Orin's thesis, Game Design Concepts.

Orin co-founded NeverBored Studios, a small group of indy game developers currently working with the iPhone/iPod Touch. Their first game, ThreadBound, is a unique puzzle platformer in which the player controls a stick bug to form walls, ramps and bridges in order to protect a "thread bug" named Spindle.

ThreadBound has received positive reviews, and has been highlighted in TechVibes. The 99 cent game currently has 54 levels, but players can use the included level editor to send NeverBored Studios their own levels for inclusion in future updates. This first update will add online chat, leaderboards and achievements.

View the trailer !!

And, check their website or follow them on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NeverBored-Studios/72744871836
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NeverBored-Studios/72744871836#/group.php?gid=75544804342&ref=ts

Orin is always looking for new testers for his game prototypes. If you are interested, contact Orin by email.

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Orin Bishop This page was last reviewed on March 10, 2010

Pre-Thesis Phase

Thesis Project Phase