First Principle of Game Design

First Principles of Game Design

Learn How To Design Truly Great Games

From a Game Designer Actually Doing The Work

Want a career in the gaming industry?
Looking to improve your existing skill set?
Or simply curious about the way game designers think?

Join game designer Alex Brazie (Riot, Blizzard, Moon) in First Principles of Game Design and learn the step-by-step processes of how epic games like League of Legends

and World of Warcraft are created.

Apply Now

How It Works

First Principles of Game Design

Learn How To Design Truly Great Games

From a Game Designer Actually Doing The Work

Want a career in the gaming industry?
Looking to improve your existing skill set?
Or simply curious about the way game designers think?

Join designer Alex Brazie (Riot, Blizzard, Moon) in First Principles of Game Design and learn how epic games like League of Legends & World of Warcraft (hint: they weren't always this popular...) are created.

© Image by Riot Games

Apply Now

Games designed & collaborated on:

Introducing First Principles of Game Design

You'll get:

8 comprehensive course modules

Enhance your knowledge and problem-solving skills with a simple & digestible approach to learning.

Job-Ready Skills

Model practical, relevant job skills that studios are seeking to help you be part of the gaming world’s next workforce.

Timeless principles, resources, & examples

“Battle-tested” methodologies, assembled to provide you with a clear sense of direction.

Practical assignments, exercises, & handouts

Reinforce learning and grasp the technical knowledge that can not be understood in theory.

Lifetime access to all course content

The opportunity to learn entirely at your own pace and from anywhere in the world.

Private member-only community

Ask questions, get in-depth feedback, and share your experiences with other like-minded members.

Exclusive bonuses and more...

Bonus career path strategies and skills development to gain a competitive edge in both Indy and AAA game design environments.

Also you'll get...

Access to all future FPGD updates and iterations

Arranged to ensure your skills are kept up-to-date with the latest game design concepts.

Introducing

First Principles of Game Design

You'll get:

8 comprehensive course modules: Enhance your knowledge & problem-solving skills with a simple and digestible approach to learning.

Job-Ready Skills: Model practical, relevant job skills that studios are seeking to help you be part of the gaming world’s next workforce.

Implementation strategies, resources, and examples: “Battle-tested” methodologies, assembled to provide you with proper instructions.

Practical assignments, exercises, and handouts: Reinforce learning and grasp the technical knowledge that can not be understood in theory.

Lifetime access to all course content: The opportunity to Learn entirely at your own pace and from anywhere in the world.

Private member-only community: Ask questions, get in-depth feedback, and share your experiences with other members.

Exclusive bonuses & more. .

Not to mention...

Access to future course updates and iterations: Arranged to ensure your skills are kept up-to-date with the latest game design concepts.

Acquire the skills to design the type of games your players can’t resist:

Get Started

Start honing your game design skill:

Get Started

Who is Alexander Brazie?

Alex (a.k.a. Xelnath) is a gameplay mechanics and systems designer with a history of work in studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Microsoft, and Moon Studios.

"Why should you listen to me on game design?"

"I have over 13+ years of industry experience as a gameplay designer on titles such as World of Warcraft and League of Legends.

In my pursuit of mastering game design. I've crafted dungeons and raid bosses, league champions, mini-games, and battlefields.

Presently, I work as the CEO of my own studio, Atomech, with many game design projects in the works."

"Why does this matter to you?"

"To be frank, by working through the challenges of each studio and design, I was able to gain a small glimpse into the science and psychology that drives game design.

I will provide you with the exact principles that've assisted me throughout my career so you can leverage my knowledge and legwork without having to go through more than a decade of trial and error."

Who is Alexander Brazie?

Alex (a.k.a. Xelnath) is a gameplay mechanics and systems designer with a history of work in studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Microsoft, and Moon Studios.

"Why should you listen to me on game design?"

"I have over 13+ years of industry experience as a gameplay designer on titles such as World of Warcraft and League of Legends.

In my pursuit of mastering game design, I've crafted dungeons and raid bosses, league champions, mini-games, and battlefields.

Presently, I work as the CEO of my own studio, Atomech, with many game design projects in the works."

"Why does this matter to you?"

To be frank, by working through the challenges of each studio and design, I was able to gain a small glimpse into the science and psychology that drives game design.

I provide you with the exact principles that have assisted me throughout my career so you can leverage my knowledge and legwork without having to go through more than a decade of trial and error.

Studios worked & collaborated with:

Here's what you can expect to learn in this course

The fundamental principles for creative game design...

Module 1: Clarity

See what the player sees and design your game in a way that provides players with a clear understanding of your game.

Module 2: Motivation

Encourage players to engage with your game by understanding and capitalizing on what they really care about.

Module 3: Response

Learn strategies and systems that give your players the chance to make interesting decisions (this rests at the core of how designers understand their craft).

Module 4: Satisfaction

Give your players the proper consequence (reward or punishment) based on their choices (whether they believe so or not).

Module 5: Viscerality

Stimulate the primal parts of the brain and create more satisfying and compelling moments for your players.

Module 6: Strategy

Plot situation that arouse the intellectual part of your player's mind. This will help them feel clever as they carve a personal path through your game.

Module 7: Fantasy

This is the emotional wrapper that ties all of the elements into a believable whole for your players to get lost in.

Module 8: Leveling up

Discover and internalize the traits essential to any game design lifestyle so you can continue to level up on your skills.

Bonus Module

In-depth behind the scenes look at how you can avoid pitfalls and advance in the industry as a game enthusiast, indie game designer or AAA designer.

"Alex's lessons helped me find my voice as a designer, emphasizing clear, consistent mechanics and connecting with my players. He expertly balances teaching the psychology of design and the skills a young designer should seek to execute on their ideas."

" Alex's lessons helped me find my voice as a designer, emphasizing clear, consistent mechanics and connecting with my players. He expertly balances teaching the psychology of design and the skills a young designer should seek to execute on their ideas."

Michael Swedo,

Senior Game Designer

What You'll Learn In This Course

The fundamentals of mastering game design.

What You'll Learn In This Course

The fundamentals of mastering game design.

Studios worked with:

Here's what you can expect to learn in this course

The fundamental principles for effective game design...

Module 1 - Clarity: See what the player sees and design your game in a way that provides players with a clear understanding of your game.

Module 2 - Motivation: Encourage players to engage with your game by understanding and capitalizing on what they really care about

Module 3 - Response: Learn strategies and systems that give your players the chance to make interesting decisions (this rests at the core of how designers understand their craft).

Module 4 - Satisfaction: Give your players the proper consequence (reward or punishment) based on their choices (whether they believe so or not).

Module 5 - Viscerality: Stimulate the primal parts of the brain and create more satisfying and compelling moments for your players.

Module 6 - Strategy: Plot situation that arouse the intellectual part of your player's mind. This will help them feel clever as they carve a personal path through your game.

Module 7 - Fantasy - This is the emotional wrapper that ties all of the elements into a believable whole for your players to get lost in

Module 8 - Leveling up - Discover and internalize the traits essential to any game design lifestyle so you can continue to level up on your skills.

Bonus Module: In-depth behind the scenes look at how you can avoid pitfalls and advance in the industry as a game enthusiast, indie game designer or AAA designer.

Learn entirely at your own pace & begin executing on your ideas

This course is designed to help you...

Implement:

Don’t just know the theory of game design, learn step-by-step how to actually get stuff done!

Advance:

Leverage my knowledge to your benefit and apply the strategies to your own career & personal projects.

Achieve:

Develop your practical and methodical thinking skills and build that bridge from where you are, to where you want to be.

Converse:

Join the members-only community, share your thoughts and get direct feedback from myself and other enthusiasts on any given day of the week.

A peek inside your First Principles of Game Design

training platform

A modular approach to learning

A module is a unit of coursework. Like a chapter in a book, it's a unique piece of a whole all about accumulating specific skills & knowledge.

Modules organize content to allow for better evaluation and more focused revision & improvement.

We’ll also be working from the beginning to the end of the program together, as one.

This will maximize your learning potential, reduce uncertainties, and eliminate any potential hazards along the way.

Characterized course components

The lessons are curated and refined into an easy-to-follow framework, encompassing many real-life examples of how I’ve used them in my own career and in games like League of Legends & World of Warcraft.

Most importantly, you’ll have access to practical exercises and an array of resources so you can immediately employ these lessons and grasp how the concepts are applied in popular games.

So there is no need to be overwhelmed... I've purposely made sure you have all the information necessary to guide you in transforming your ideas into exciting games!

Learn entirely at your own pace & begin executing on your ideas.

This course is designed to help you:

Implement: Don’t just know the theory of game design, learn step- by-step, how to actually get stuff done!

Enhance: Leverage my knowledge to your benefit and apply the strategies to your own career & personal projects.

Achieve: Develop your practical and methodical thinking skills and build that bridge from where you are, to where you want to be.

Connect: Join the members-only community, share your thoughts and get direct feedback from myself and other enthusiasts on any given day of the week.

A quick peek inside your

training platform

A modular approach to learning:

A module is a unit of coursework. Like a chapter in a book, it's a unique piece of a whole all about accumulating specific skills & knowledge.

Modules organize content to allow for better evaluation and more focused revision & improvement.

We’ll also be working from the beginning to the end of the program together, as one.

This will maximize your learning potential, reduce uncertainties, and eliminate any potential hazards along the way.

Characterized course components:

The lessons are curated and refined into an easy-to-follow framework, encompassing many real-life examples of how I’ve used them in my own career and in games like League of Legends & World of Warcraft.

Most importantly, you’ll have access to practical exercises and an array of resources so you can immediately employ these lessons and grasp how the concepts are applied in popular games.

So there is no need to be overwhelmed... I've purposely made sure you have all the information necessary to guide you in transforming your ideas into exciting games!

"I encountered Alex’s work while working on X-Com 2 at Firaxis, and was immediately impressed with the clarity and craft inherited in his style. I've used his approach to guide brainstorming sessions, train jr. designers, and communicate iterative design processes with engineers & production."

"Alex's course is an excellent foundational game design course. Not only is it a great option for a designer looking to fill in any blind spots they may have, but it's also a great way for someone looking to level up their skills and to get into game design."

"I encountered Alex’s work while working on X-Com 2 at Firaxis, and was IMMEDIATELY impressed with the clarity and craft in his style. I've used his approach to guide brainstorming sessions, train jr designers, and communicate iterative design processes with engineers & production."

" [Alex's] course is an excellent foundational game design course. Not only is it a great option for a designer looking to fill in any blind spots they may have, but it's also a great way for someone looking to level up their skills and to get into game design."

Solving the frequent problems everyone faces

Are you someone who’s passionate to learn new skills but...

is concerned about paying high tuition fees and not receiving much technical and employment skills in return?

wished continued education could fit within your busy family and work life?

tired of wasting time learning outdated theories taught by unqualified “professionals” who lack expertise in the field?

Don't worry – you're not alone.

It's time to end the confusion, cut through the nonsense, and discover the exact principles that allow successful game designers to create fun and impactful games.

Solving the frequent problems everyone faces

Are you someone who’s passionate to learn new skills but...

is concerned about paying high tuition fees and not receiving much technical & employment skills in return?

wish continued education could fit within your busy family and work life?

tired of wasting time learning outdated theories taught by unqualified “professionals” who lack expertise in the field?

Don't worry – you're not alone.

It's time to end the confusion, cut through the nonsense, and discover the exact principles that allow successful game designers to create fun and impactful games.

Who is this course made for?

If you fall in the following category, then this course is designed for you.

Aspiring Game Designer

Support your vision as a future game designer and acquire the right skills and training to kick-start your ideal future.

Already a Game Designer

Level up your game design

skills and nail your next game (or promotion) by translating cutting-edge concepts into fully realized designs.

Team Training

Use this course to train all of your game designers in your company to get them on the same page, and speaking the same "design" language.

"Alex's course was a great way for me to jumpstart my design career. I recommend it to everyone new to game design or wanting a refresher."

"The course was so exciting for me because Alex focused on the most important aspect of video games: the people who play them!”

Who is this course made for?

If you fall in the following category, then this course is "designed" for you

Aspiring Game Designer

Support your vision as a prospective game designer and acquire the right skills and training to kick-start your ideal future.

Already a Game Designer

Level up your skills as a game designer and nail your next game (or promotion) by translating cutting-edge concepts

into fully realized designs.

Team Training

Use this course to train all of your game designers in your company to get them on the same page, and speaking the same "design" language.

"Alex's course was a great way for me to jumpstart my design career. I recommend it to everyone new to game design or wanting a refresher."

"Alex's course was so fun for me because it focused on the most important aspect of video games: the people who play them!”

First Principles of Game Design membership plans:

Ready to embark on your game design journey?

Of course you are. But please don’t read that with a jolly tone...

If your goal is to learn the fundamental principles behind every successful game designers' approach to creating games that meet their players’ needs and expectations, then sit tight, because you’re definitely in for a ride!

My goal is to help you become the next generation of game designers who will create a future filled with creative novels and epic games.

But before we get too ahead of ourselves, it's important to acknowledge the fact that as with any other skill, learning how to design games takes time and effort.

So first and foremost, the real question is — how do you get your skills to that level? 🤔

Well, fundamentally speaking, through your commitment to learning and lots of practice.

Your growth and success as a game designer requires focused attention of your time and energy,

But not only that, it also depends on the degree in which you can routinely apply the concepts in this course to projects and exercises on a daily basis.

Because consistency is the real name of the game that we’ll be playing.

And if you can continue to play along and make the proper adjustments along the way, rest surely knowing that you’re taking significant strides on your way to becoming a skilled designer.

However, there’s no need to be anxious…

I’ll be along your side every step of the way, providing you with clear guidance and concepts to help you tie everything together in your unique ideal way. 🙌

So come ready to learn and take action!

That’s what this is all about.

Sincerely,

Alex

Ready to embark on your game design journey?

Of course you are. But please don’t read that with a jolly tone...

My goal is to help you become the next generation of game designers who will create a future filled with creative novels and epic games.

But before we get too ahead of ourselves, it's important to acknowledge the fact that as with any other skill, learning how to design games takes time and effort.

So first and foremost, the real question is — how do you get your skills to that level? 🤔

Fundamentally speaking, through your commitment to learning and lots of practice.

Your growth and success as a game designer requires focused attention of your time and energy,

But not only that, it also depends on the degree in which you can routinely apply the concepts in this course to projects and exercises on a daily basis.

Because consistency is the real name of the game that we’ll be playing.

And if you can continue to play along and make the proper adjustments along the way, rest surely knowing that you’re taking significant strides on your way to becoming a skilled designer.

However, there’s no need to be anxious…

I’ll be along your side every step of the way, providing you with clear guidance and concepts to help you tie everything together in your unique ideal way. 🙌

So come ready to learn and take action!

That’s what this is all about.

Sincerely,

Alex

Frequently asked questions

How much support do I get?

For starters, you can always contact support@gamedesignskill.com or submit a ticket on ZenDesk for any program-related questions (questions, tech support, billing, etc).

Any question, any issue, no matter how big or small - I am here to help you with it.

The drip is too slow - I want to “skip ahead”

Hey, I get it! Most of our members prefer the 8-week modular format I’ve set up, but this is your game design career and I am just here to help you.

So if you want more modules, or a certain module, or ALL the modules - I’ve got you covered! Just send me an email after paying and I’ll unlock the content you want.

Who is this course NOT for?

Primarily, It’s not for people who like the idea of designing a game but don’t want to start or actually do anything. Trust me, game design is not a lazy business. Most designers I know work really hard to stay on top.

No results are promised or guaranteed. You apply the concepts you learn from this course at your own risk.

On average, how much time do I need to commit to this course every week?

Depending on the topic and your experience with the topic, expect to spend 8-10 hours a week listening to the lesson, taking notes, and completing the exercises/worksheets in order to fully grasp and utilize the skills that I'll be sharing with you in the lessons.

At the end of the day, game design is a time-intensive career. The more time and energy you’re able to invest in your efforts, the bigger and better your game project will be.

How does the refund policy work?

When you join the First Principles of Game Design Class, you and your investment are

completely protected by our unconditional, 100% money-back guarantee:

Within 30 days, if you feel that for whatever reason (or no reason at all) the class isn’t right for

you, simply start the return process by contacting support@gamedesignskill.com and let me know how I can help you.