ATEC 2320 What is a Game But first
ATEC 2320 What is a Game?
But first!!! • Put away/silence cell phones and laptops.
But first!!! • Any Questions about Blog?
What is a Game?
What are some games?
What is a Game? • Many…many opinions.
What is a Game? • 1. Game is entered willfully.
What is a Game? • 2. Games have Goals.
What is a Game? • 3. Games have conflict.
What is a Game? • 4. Games have rules.
What is a Game? • 5. Games can be won or lost.
What is a Game? • 6. Games are interactive.
What is a Game? • 7. Games have challenge. *
What is a Game? • 8. Games can create their own internal value system.
What is a Game? • 9. Games engage players. *
What is a Game? • 10. Games are closed formal systems.
What is a Game? • 10. Games are closed formal systems. System: A series of elements that work together. Formal: Has rules Closed: Boundaries: Tennis, checkers, Eye spy. Think of “being in the game. ”
What is a Game? • • • 1. Game is entered willfully. 2. Games have Goals. 3. Games have conflict. 4. Games have rules. 5. Games can be won or lost. 6. Games are interactive. 7. Games have challenge. * 8. Games can create their own internal value system. 9. Games engage players. * 10. Games are closed formal systems.
Or? • A game is a problem solving activity approached with playful attitude. • Games are essentially problems that need to be solved: • Beat the next level • Defeat your opponent • Get your friends to play Candy Crush
The 4 Basic elements that make a game
4 Basic Elements of a Game • 1. Mechanics • 2. Story • 3. Aesthetics • 4. Technology
Mechanics The procedures and rules of your game • How a player moves and interacts with the world • How a player deals with challenges that are presented to them • The procedures a player must use to “beat” the game.
Story • The sequence of events that unfold in your game. • Can be linear or more “open” • Must work well with your mechanics, aesthetics and technology to truly be successful • The part of your game that will immerse the player.
Aesthetics The way your game looks and sounds • Aesthetics encompasses anything that adds to the visual or audio flare of your game • From character art, to environment art, to animations and even down to sound • Very important aspect of your game, it’s what most people will notice first.
Technology � • The technology used to run your game • Doesn’t have to be a game console or PC, can be plain old pen and paper • Your choice of technology is important, pick one that best suits your story, mechanics and aesthetics.
Why do we play games?
Why do we play games? • • • Entertainment To Experience Achievement. Build skills To socialize To Learn
How do we play games? • • Explorers. Achievers. Socializers. Killers. • http: //www. gamerdna. com/quizzes/bartletest-of-gamer-psychology
What is Game Design?
What is Game Design? • “Game Design is about creating opportunities for players to make meaningful decisions that affect the out come of the game. ” • Challenges for Game Designers
What is Game Design? • What are some decisions you have made?
What is Game Design? • What are some decisions you have made? • • RTS: Real Time Strategy RPG: Role Playing Games FPS: First Person Shooters Table Top Games
What is Game Design? • Game Design is about creating opportunities for players to make meaningful decisions that affect the out come of the game.
What is Game Design? • Game Design is about creating opportunities for players to make meaningful decisions that affect the out come of the game. • These decisions create MEANING. • What happens if there are no meaningful choices?
Meaningful choices • Meaningful choices lead the player to ask themselves: • Where should I go? • The quick way or the silent way? • How should I spent my resources?
Meaningful choices • Meaningful choices lead the player to ask themselves: • Where should I go? • The quick way or the silent way? • How should I spent my resources? • A good game gives the player meaningful choices. NOT JUST ANY CHOICE.
Meaningless Choices
Meaningless Choices
Dominate Strategy
Meaningful choices • If choices > desire:
Meaningful choices • If choices > desire: Overwhelmed
Meaningful choices • If choices < desire:
Meaningful choices • If choices < desire: Frustration
Meaningful choices • If choices = desire:
Meaningful choices • If choices = desire: Fulfillment
Types of Game Design
Types of Game Design • World Design
Types of Game Design • World Design • System Design
Types of Game Design • World Design • System Design • Content Design
Types of Game Design • • World Design System Design Content Design Level Design
Types of Game Design • • • World Design System Design Content Design Level Design User Interface (UI)
World Design • Creation of the overall backstory, setting, and theme of the game. Usually created by the lead or sole designer. Will determine the scope of the rest of tasks.
System Design • Creation of the rules and underlying mathematical patterns in a game. Common in to all types of games. All games need rules.
Content Design • The creation of the characters, items, puzzles. Goes for both digital and board/table top games.
Level Design • Crafts the level, including layouts of maps and placement of objects, challenges. • Table top gaming this would be the…. . ?
User Interface • How the player interacts with the game, and how the player receives the information.
Game Designers. • Who in here is a game designer?
What does it take?
What does it take?
What else does it take?
What else does it take? • Being a good listener. • It will make you a better designer. • Listen to your audience, game, client, staff, and yourself.
The Essential Experience.
What is the goal of a game designer?
What is the goal of a game designer? • Is to have people play their game.
What is the goal of a game designer? • Is to have people play their game. • When people play a game they have an experience.
• When people play a game they have an experience!
Experiences • Experiences are everything we see, do, think and feel • No two experiences are the same. • While thinking about them can be hard, a designer’s main goal should be creating them.
Experience
How to create Essential Experience • Think of a scenario.
Essential Experience • There was snow • It was cold • People threw snowballs at each other.
Essential Experience • There was snow: Art, sound effects • It was cold: particle effects (breath), animation (shivering) • People threw snowballs at each other: rules of the game.
Essential Experience • What experience do I want the player to have? • What is essential to that experience? • How can I capture that experience.
Due Monday • • Monday: Your 1 st game analysis. Super Mario Bros: Online or console Version Mike Tyson Punchout: Online Monkey Island Special Addition: Steam: During gameplay hit F 10 for Classic Version
How to analyze a game • Dissect your feelings • If you don’t like it, think about why – Mechanics, aesthetics, etc. • Analyze your memories of the game • This can be very helpful, but incomplete �We don’t always remember everything
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