flexible times need flexible game design

by Mohini Dutta + Ben Norskov

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

FLEXIBLE TIMES NEED FLEXIBLE GAME DESIGN

HOW DO WE GAME?

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

PLAY is older than culture, for culture, however inadequately defined, always presupposes human society, and animals have not waited for man to teach them their playing

Image: Johan Huizinga

Everyone plays, and we play the games we are familiar with, grew up with, or heard stories

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image: “Pallankuzhi Board”, South Indian Mankala style game

ANCIENTGAMES

MODERN GAMES

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

THIS IS THE FUTURE, KEN!

Games are imitating life, and life is imitating games

HOW DO WE MAKE GAMES?

*GAME POLICE assures us that All Gamers Look Like This

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

WAYS WE MAKE GAMES

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image: The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell

Techniques differ, but priorities don’t

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image: Dan Cook, Skill Atoms, Game Loops & Arcs

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image: Dan Cook, Skill Atoms, Game Loops & Arcs

WHAT IS MISSING?

CULTURE

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Our design methodologies account for system, interaction, narrative, & aesthetic,

but are homogenous about both play culture & player culture

DO GAMES AND CULTURE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER?

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

IT’S LIKE I DON’T EVEN KNOW

WHO YOU ARE...

WHY DO WE NEED OTHER WAYS OF DESIGN?

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

DIFFERENT BRANCHES FOR DIFFERENT GOATS!

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

IMPERIALISM

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Forcing people to play games the way you play games is cultural imperialism.

WHO ARE Y’ALL AGAIN?

MEOW…?

CAN WE MAKE GAMES FOR PEOPLE WE DON’T KNOW?

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

CULTURE MEDIATESPLAYERS AND THEIR PLAY

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

MY PLAY IS MY UMWELT!

CAN GAMES BE DESIGNED WITHOUT SPECIFICTRAINING & CRAFT?

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

TWISTY LITTLE BRANCHES!

COMBINATORICS!

DESIGNING FOR UNIQUE & VARIED EXPECTATIONS IS HARD!

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

RAWR?

MOO!

HISS..

CHIRRP!

A Framework for Combating Cultural Bias in Game Design Methodologies

MINDFULPLAY

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image: humanitariansoftinder.com

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

FORGET YOUR PLAY CULTURE

1

Image: Monopoly Image: Call Of Duty Black Ops 2

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Co-Design Workshop, Philippines 1ADAPT

USE LOCAL OR FAMILIAR

GAME ASSETS

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image:“Stick & Bottle Game”, Co-Design workshop, Indonesia

2

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Humans Vs. Mosquitoes (Kenya Version) 2IMPROVISE

DESIGN FOR THE CONVERSATION

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Image: Lampat Banjir, Co-Design Session, Indonesia

3The goal is to create a

meaningful dialogue

TWIST IN THE TALE

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Driving Force! 3

AVOID ON THE NOSE

DESIGN

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

4

The obvious is rarely engaging

TRYING TOO HARD, GOAT...

MISDIRECTION

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Broken Cities 4

WE ARE PART OF A CHANGING LUDIC LANDSCAPE

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

Mohini Dutta + Ben Norskov

www.playistheantidote.com @helloAntidote

GAMES! GAMES! GAMES!I SWEAR

I WILL JUMP.