Teaching

Awards:

Teacher of the year. 2012. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Supervised Doctoral Dissertations:

Park, Solip (2024). Understanding Game Work Migration: Game Expats in Finland. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/df3b0f13-9384-43c8-add5-7bd1e44efeae

Piispanen, Laura (2025). Quantum games – Definition and development practices. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/36919875-80d1-40d7-aea1-26e95f999f73

Morrell, Edward (expected 2025). Videogames Potentiality:
Exploring the Speculative Properties of Digital Assets. Aalto University.

Valja, Heikka (expected 2024). Games & Art Education. Aalto University.

Juho Kuorikoski (expected 2032). Aalto University.

Supervised Master’s Thesis (including evaluation):

Abdolvahabi, Hedieh (2025). Integrating Unreal Engine’s PCG Framework in a Hybrid World-Building Workflow: A Case Study of Lumios. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/d925e307-85ee-491d-9c92-2b1cf209c773

Hudson, Michael (2023). Modular real-time high resolution 3D character development for Unreal Engine. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/2684450a-f35e-4ead-a30d-58b42215bfb1

Heiskanen, Noora (2022). Visual design of quantum physics – Lessons learned from nine gamified and artistic quantum physics projects. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/e05af20f-6aed-481c-b336-48e0b4bafd30

Lassheikki, Christina (2022). Game Writers and Narrative Designers – The Evolving Role of Storytelling Professionals in Game Development. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/01b3312b-f89e-4637-a0b9-a291e4691d66

Varila, Jenni (2022). Flipped Male Gaze. Aalto University. Available at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/items/a6b10efd-353f-48b1-be90-e2a38610e541

Morell, Edward (2020). Player Decentered Design. Tampere University. Available at: https://trepo.tuni.fi/handle/10024/121002

Paananen, Siiri (2019). Building fictional worlds : case Overwatch. University of Tampere. Available at: https://trepo.tuni.fi/handle/10024/115738

Kangas, Pasi. (2017). The pleasures of puzzle-solving in adventure games : close reading Day of the Tentacle. Available at TamPub: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201710262642

Peltokangas, Jouni. 2015. Suunnittelijan ja pelaajan käsityksiä pelikokemuksesta – Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards -pelin tarkastelu kokemuskäyrien avulla. Available at TamPub: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201506121695

Kankainen, Ville. 2015. Kahden maailman vuorovaikutuksessa : tapaustutkimus Blood Bowl -lautapelin ja sen digitaalisten versioiden tarjoamista pelikokemuksista. Available at Tampub:
http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201506261855

Pulkkinen, Juha-Matti. 2014. Design values of digital role-playing games. Available at TamPub: http://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/95643

Saarinen, Tuuli. 2012. Emotional matters. Delineating the industry professional’s view on emotion in video games. Available at TamPub: http://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/83091

Examinator for Master’s Thesis:

Lukka, Lauri. 2017. Conquering the mobile. A study on the contemporary practices in mobile game development through nine cases and the introduction of the DPS model.

Auranen, Marjaana. 2015. Tarinallisen lisätyn todellisuuden elämyspelin suunnittelu- ja käsikirjoittaminen: Tapaus Lintukoto. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015121721276

Courses I have taught & my teaching experience:

Lecturer/coordinator, “Games Now! lecture series”, 2017-2025. Open lecture series, 3-5 credits. School of Design and Architecture, Aalto University.

Lecturer, “Game Project”, 2016-2017. Bachelor level course with 5 credits. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Lecturer, “Special Issues in Design Research”, 2016. Master level course with 5 credits. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Lecturer, “Game Journalism Project”, 2016-2017. Bachelor level course with 5-15 credits. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Assistant Professor/Lecturer, “Game Design Workshop” 2010-2015. Bachelor level course with 5 credits. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Assistant Professor/Lecturer, “Interactive Media and Design Research ” 2010-2015. Master level course with 5 credits. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Assistant Professor/Lecturer, “Game Research Theories and Approaches ” 2010-2015. Master level course with 5 credits. School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere.

Lecturer & teacher, “Introduction to Game Design (online course)”, 2009-2025, Luleå University of Technology

Teacher, “Game Design Specialisations Projects”, Spring 2009, Luleå University of Technology

Lecturer, “Game Design II”, Spring 2008, Luleå University of Technology

Lecturer, “Game Design I”, Autumn 2007, Luleå University of Technology

Teacher, “Pelit, leikit ja oppiminen (Games, play and learning)”, Distance learning course with podcasts and blogging in Connet network, Spring 2006, University of Lapland

Lecturer, various courses on network/distance learning pedagogy during 2004-2006, University of Lapland

Visiting Lectures:

“University of Tampere Game Research Lab”. 2016. University of Oregon, Eugene, USA.

“Passion on Interactive Art and Technology. A Story of the Finnish Game Industry” 2015. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

“Game Idea Workshop”. 2015. Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Hong Kong, China.

“MurMur Workshop”. 2014. Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

“A Treasure Map for Game Design Research”. 2014. IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

“My Game Design Research” 2013. University of California, Berkeley, USA.

“Casual Games Discussion”. 2007. Microsoft Research, Seattle, USA.