wk 2 - 10 commandments of game design

8/8/2019 WK 2 - 10 Commandments of Game Design

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WK 2Brainstorming a Video Game?

or

Ok, I get the WHY (or dont care) but how am I supposed to analyzethese crazy things in the first place much less MAKE them?


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What is a GAME? DEFINED RULES

DEFINED SPACE

GIVEN SET OF COMPONENTS

SET OF VICTORY CONDITIONS


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How to critically analyze &

brainstorm a VIDEO game: A starting point: The 10 Commandments of

Game Design

**10 MIN. BREAK**

Mechanics

Flow Atmosphere

Innovation


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Tom Halls

10 Commandments ofGame Design


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I. Thou shalt provide a fresh

experience for the player Original games!

Avoid the me too! games

Think outside the box.


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II. Thou shalt give the

player choices Interactive must be for a REASON

If not it could be a movie or a book!

Different choices for your actions shouldresult in different outcomes.


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Actual story choices to make

while playing GTA4:Ivan the Not So Terrible Option 1: If you kill Ivan, he is out o f the story for good. Option 2: If you decide not to kill Ivan, later on in the game he will re-appear as a Random Character.

RuffRider Option 1: If you kill Cherise, she is out of the story for good. Option 2: If you decide not to kill Cherise, later on in the game she will re-appear as a Random Character.

Holland Nights

If you kill Clarence, he is out of the story for good. If you decide not to kill Clarence, later on in the game he will re-appear as a Random Character.

The Holland Play Option 1: If you kill Playboy X, you will get his mansion as your new safehouse. Also, Dwayne will now be your friend and you can call him in case you

need his gang members as backup. Option 2: If you kill Dwayne, you will get $25,000. However, Playboy X will not be your friend.

Blood Brothers Option 1: If you kill Francis McReary, you will drive a shorter route to the cemetery in your Undertaker mission. Option 2: If you kill Derrick McReary, you will drive a longer route to the cemetery in your Undertaker mission. Then, Francis will give you an offer so

you can get rid of a wanted level.

That Special Someone

If you should kill Darko, it will not have an impact on the overall gameplay, aside from slight changes in the dialogue.

The Decision Option 1: If you choose the Deal branch ending, you must kill Dimitri. After that, you will get $250,000 but Roman will get killed. Option 2: If you choose the Revenge branch ending, you must kill Dimitri and Pegorino. However, Kate will get killed.


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III. Thou shalt make

thy game easy touse! Good intuitive controls are the goal

Clear understandable interface

Design elements that are familiar & obvious

Just be careful that you dont violate #1


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IV. Thou shalt provide

quality content Consistent graphics

Good music worth listening to for a while

Guard the quality with your reputation!

Know the difference between really cooland really important


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V. Thou shalt choose fun over

idealism and realism Make games that are above all FUN!

The purpose of the player is to have fun (or

be scared, or intrigued or amazed or learnor whatever it is thats FUN to them!)


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VI. Thou shalt design with your

technology in mind Dont force tech to do what it cant do well.

Dont expect your audience to shell out

megabucks for an upgrade every 6 mo. Treat your limitations as opportunities!


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VII. Thou shalt reward the player

properly for accomplishing tasks Reward the player for doing things

Let the player discover secrets

Let the player tell the story his waywhenever appropriate


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VIII. Thou shalt retain thy focus

during the project Keep the overall design in focus

Dont do the one game to rule them all

Dont throw in the latest thing justbecause you can

Listen to (dont tell) testers

Avoid feature creep and mission creep


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IX. Thou shalt SHOW not TELL

whenever possible Doors come before keys

Teach the player as he goes along

Use visual feedback rather than text (ordialogue) when appropriate

Avoid anything that pulls the player out of

the game experience!


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X. Thou shall respond reasonably and

fairly to player actions. The game must respond as the player

expects

The game world must be consistent No unexplained deaths!


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How to critically analyze &

brainstorm a VIDEO game: A starting point: The 10 Commandments of

Game Design

**10 MIN BREAK**

Mechanics

Flow Atmosphere

Innovation


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Game Analysis Mechanics

Flow

Atmosphere

Innovation


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Mechanics How entertaining, meaningful, or immersive

is what you (i.e., the player) are actually

doing? Are you bored? Frustrated? Totallyconfused? Does the game itself work, orare there glitches or technology issues?

PLAY ME: http://fantasticcontraption.com/


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Flow

How immersive is the story or narrative ofthe game? The level design and pacing?

Do you feel like youre getting somewhere?Is the game either too linear or too open inits structure?

PLAY ME:http://www.xgenstudios.com/play/flow


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Atmosphere How do the art style, sound design, music,

and visual effects influence your playing

experience? Are they distracting?Inappropriate? Derivative?

PLAY ME: http://cdx-thegame.com/


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Innovation Perhaps the hardest Is there anything

about this game that strikes you as different

or unique from other games in that series?Does it make a social, political, orhumanistic point? (and should it?)

PLAY ME:http://magic.pen.fizzlebot.com/


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HW Read Ch. 6 (unless you just want to read

more of it!) of "Ender's Game" by Orson

Scott Card linked to on the blog. Read the online article "Murder YourDarlings" linked on the blog.

wk 2 - 10 commandments of game design

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