HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU) is excited to announce an upcoming campuswide playtest, hosted by the students of Tabletop Game Design Studio (IMED 315), on October 17, 2025. Co-taught by Professors Greg Loring-Albright, Ph.D., and Anthony Ortega, Tabletop Game Design Studio challenges students to ideate, develop, and playtest a board game or card game as a semester-long project. The public playtest is an opportunity for HU students, staff, and faculty to experience the creativity of their peers and provide invaluable feedback to help improve the students’ designs. (Non-HU-affiliated members of the public are also encouraged to attend; please contact either Professor Loring-Albright or Professor Ortega in advance of the event.)
Preparing for PAX with Public Playtests
Representatives from this course will take their games to a major tabletop gaming convention – PAX Unplugged – in late November, where they will demonstrate and playtest with industry figures and board gaming enthusiasts. Playtesting feedback gathered at the public playtest helps HU students improve their games in advance of this exciting opportunity.
Harrisburg University students last showcased their creativity at PAX Unplugged in 2024, where they presented their original game prototypes to professional designers and major industry publishers through the convention’s UnPub and Feedback Frenzy events. They received direct, professional feedback from creators at studios like Asmodee and Leder Games while also participating in collaborative workshops alongside seasoned developers. The experience gives students unparalleled exposure to the game design industry and the opportunity to grow as creators and innovators.
“Putting any kind of design work, games or otherwise, in contact with the intended users and players is an integral part of the iterative process,” said Professor Loring-Albright. “Our students have been playing their games with each other and with us in class, and we’re excited to get as many new players as possible to give them feedback. Look for games about ghost hunting, computer hacking, monster making, and superhero teamups, among others!”
Milestones in Game Design
At May’s Commencement Exercises, Harrisburg University celebrated its Twentieth Academic Year as the Class of 2025 passed the torch to the incoming Class of 2029. For the Class of 2025, Interactive Media was the third-most-popular degree conferred. For the Class of 2029, Game Design ranked among the top-three most-popular majors among incoming students.
The global video games market is forecast to generate around US $188.8 billion in revenue in 2025. The tabletop games market is also expanding rapidly, with a potential market valuation of US $32.73 billion in 2025. Altogether, employment in game development remains competitive but promising: studios are hiring for a range of roles, including game designers, programmers, concept artists, UI/UX designers, and AI/machine learning experts.
Harrisburg University will also host its inaugural Game Design Day on November 12, 2025. Visiting high school students will spend the day in HU’s cutting-edge media creation and game design labs, diving into the art and science of both tabletop and video game design. From brainstorming mechanics and narratives to playtesting prototypes and exploring digital tools, participants will experience what it’s like to design and develop games in university and professional settings. For instructor registration, please click here. To register your student or class, please click here.
Special Thanks
Harrisburg University extends special thanks to the professional tabletop community for their support of our Game Design and Interactive Media programs. Legion Supplies, Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG), The Game Crafter, Board Game Design Lab, Rio Grande Games, Leder Games, The Unpublished Games Network (UnPub), and Luke Peterschmidt have all supported and/or contributed resources to bolster HU’s in-class activities or fund student activities.
To learn more about Harrisburg University’s Bachelor’s degrees in Game Design and Interactive Media, start a conversation with the Admissions Team today.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s most innovative colleges for 2025. HU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and other health science fields. For additional information about HU’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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