Art & Design

Games & Digital Media

Science & Technology

Writing

Boost Your Creative Storytelling Skills

Explore Advanced Gaming Tactics

Learn Worldbuilding & Genre Writing

Paint, Design, or Create Art

Use Behavioral Science to Read Others

Teaches Game Design and Theory

Will Wright

Meet your new instructor: Will Wright, visionary game designer behind The Sims. In your first lesson, you’ll learn the core tenets of Will’s multidisciplinary game design process. 

1. The Fundamentals of Game Design

The Fundamentals of Game Design

For Will, the natural and social worlds are a rich source of material. Learn what inspired the creation of The Sims and Spore, and how to find and hone your own ideas through wide-ranging research.

2. Generating Game Concepts

Generating Game Concepts

Rapid prototyping is a central component of Will’s game design process. Explore various types of prototyping and learn how to “find the fun” in the early stages of the design process. 

3. Early Prototyping

Early Prototyping

Games are capable of producing emotions that other media cannot, since they allow players to create their own stories. Will teaches you how to create a sense of agency and responsibility in your players and offer them expressive tools.

4. The Relationship Between Story and Games

The Relationship Between Story and Games

Will believes game development is as much about programming a player’s brain as it is about programming the game itself. Learn Will’s strategies for creating compelling games that take player psychology into account.

5. Exploring Player Psychology

Exploring Player Psychology

Will believes that failure is critical to helping players learn, and making failure fun is a key part of game design. Learn how Will keeps players entertained throughout their experience.

6. Design Player-Centered Experiences

Design Player-Centered Experiences

Games use a system of signs and symbols to communicate meaning to the player. Will teaches how to create and use your own “game language” to educate players about the rules of your game world.

7. Develop a Game Language

Develop a Game Language

Your visual aesthetic helps define your game language and impacts your overall design. Will shares tips for discovering your own aesthetic and collaborating with art directors and illustrators to achieve your vision.

8. Designing a Visual Aesthetic

Designing a Visual Aesthetic

Game mechanics govern the interactions within your game system. Will teaches you how to identify mechanics in other games, and how to choose the game mechanics that will enhance your player experiences.

9. Game Mechanics

Game Mechanics

Watch while Will shares his insights and perspectives with an aspiring game designer as they review her latest prototype and he gives her suggestions for areas of focus and iteration.

10. Game Demo: Morey

Game Demo: Morey

An iterative process can continually improve your design. Learn Will’s strategies for scoping and iterating, including his helpful “feature triage” method.

11. Iteration and Scoping

Iteration and Scoping

Will and his programmer reveal and iterate on prototypes they are developing for their new game, Proxi. Witness how collaboration and prototyping can influence design decisions.

12. Prototyping Case Study: Proxi

Prototyping Case Study: Proxi

Player feedback is your most valuable resource as a designer, and the playtest is your first chance to get inside your player’s mind. Will teaches you to use playtesting to identify your audience, interpret feedback, and more.

13. Playtesting

Playtesting

Great sound can improve the experience of your game exponentially. Learn how to utilize music and sound design to expand your player’s imagination and heighten their emotional experience. 

14. Designing a Sound Aesthetic

Designing a Sound Aesthetic

When it comes to pitching ideas, one size does not fit all. Will shares tips for structuring your initial pitch and modifying your message to connect with diverse audiences.

15. Pitching Ideas

Pitching Ideas

Will provides feedback and advice to a game designer who is in the late stages of the game design process.

16. Game Demo: Flooded Market

Game Demo: Flooded Market

When deciding what platform your game will use, you’re also deciding which audiences it will reach. Will teaches you what to consider—such as independence, monetization, and hardware—when making this choice. 

17. Choosing and Understanding Your Platform

Choosing and Understanding Your Platform

Understanding the fundamentals of system design will help you build more robust interactions in your game. Will shares his tips for what to take into account when designing an interactive system for your players. 

18. System Design

System Design

The lead designer sets the tone for the rest of the team and helps ensure a smooth production process. Learn Will’s leadership techniques and why he believes that creating a collaborative environment is so important.

19. Leadership and Collaboration

Leadership and Collaboration

What’s next? Will speculates on the future and advises game designers to stay open-minded in the wake of technological advancements.

20. The Future of Game Design

The Future of Game Design

Will ends his class encouraging you to use your new toolset, outlook, and approach to create something innovative and surprising.

21. Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Will Wright Teaches Game Design and Theory

variant_1

Enjoy 7 days free

The promo may be over, but your opportunity isn't. Dive into the full experience, worry-free, with our 7-day money-back guarantee.

The offer has ended

Amount charged now

Your 7-day free trial starts today

Get 50% off an annual membership of MasterClass

Congratulations, you purchased an annual standard membership of MasterClass. A confirmation has been sent to your email. You will now be able to access 200+ classes in addition to your Certificate course.

You're all set!

Build practical AI skills that matter. Learn how to think with AI, make better decisions, and prove you’re ready for what’s next.

AI as Your Copilot (4 min)

Prompting: Speak So AI Listens (8 min)

Step inside The Moonshot Factory to see how teams prototype new concepts in hours, pinpoint the riskiest part of any idea, and turn bold thinking into real-world breakthroughs.

This Is Where Bold Begins (12 min)

"What If" Before "What Is" (8 min)

Learn from five former SEALs, including Medal of Honor winner Command Master Britt Slabinski (Ret), and hear how they tackle issues, recognize stress early, and use quick resets to regain composure.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.

Intro to High-Stakes Leadership (10 min)

Strategic Readiness Starts With You (6 min)

Learning budgets exist for credentials like this one. Request for your employer to cover your learning costs. Our template lays out the cost, the time commitment, and what you'll bring back to the team so you can send the request in minutes.

Employer Reimbursement

Enroll the whole team in Certificates and enable them to go deeper into in-demand professional topics and earn recognized certifications from experts and institutions they already trust.

Upskill Your Team

Become the AI catalyst your organization needs, grounded in Microsoft’s decades of experience turning breakthrough technology into trusted tools that drive measurable results.

Lead With AI: Adapt, Implement & Transform Your Organization

Choosing the Right Work for AI

Learn from negotiators who've trained U.N. diplomats and closed major sports deals to uncover what people really want and reach win-win deals without burning bridges.

Build the Relationship First: Why the Contract Isn't the Deal

Surface the Other Side's Needs

Learn to command a room, read what your audience really needs, and turn hesitation into a confident yes.

Overcoming Objection and Hesitation

Reading People: The Cues That Matter

CPO to CPO: Find the Problem. Grow the Business.

Pre-enroll and save 30% on this course. Available Fall 2026.

di-preenrollment

Pre-enroll and save 30% on this AI Strategy course from NVIDIA. 

nvidia-preenrollment

From TIME ©2022 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Times

Wirecutter

Reviewed - USA Today

Generating concepts

Creating a game language

Game mechanics

Maurice Harris

Design Stunning Floral Arrangements

Devon Rodriguez

Draw and Paint Realistic Portraits

Teaches Spray-Painting & Abstract Art

Futura

Futura Teaches Spray-Painting & Abstract Art

Teaches Graphic Design

David Carson

David Carson Teaches Graphic Design

Teach Developing an Original TV Series

The Duffer Brothers

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

N. K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

John Douglas

John Douglas Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

Teaches Mathematical Thinking

Terence Tao

Terence Tao Teaches Mathematical Thinking

Teaches Poker

Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker

Teaches Art and Creativity

Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons Teaches Art and Creativity

With Noted Pros

Joe Fortenbaugh

Nick Kostos

Captain Jack Andrews

Gina Fiore

Rob Pizzola

Rufus Peabody

Bet Smart: Top Sports Betting Strategies

Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life

James Clear

James Clear: Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life

Teaches Chess

Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess

Icons and Their Influences

Gloria Steinem

Kevin Smith

Cornel West

Talking Shop

Rewire Relationships to Last With Attachment Theory

Dr. Amir Levine

The Science of Connection

Teaches Creative Writing

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Teaches Poker Strategy

Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey Teaches Poker Strategy

Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

A Documentary by Artist JR

Tehachapi

A Documentary Film From Artist JR

The Greatest of All Time

Angie Mar

Charles Gabriel

Quie Slobert

Stefano Secchi

Dale Harris

Tony Gemignani

Nancy Silverton

Jeni Britton

Melineige Beauregard

Chris Guinto

Wallace Wong

Anna Leigh Waters

Joy Mangano

GOAT

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Menu

Skills You'll Learn

Download