IMGD 1001 Fun and Games by Mark Claypool

IMGD 1001: Fun and Games by Mark Claypool (claypool@cs. wpi. edu) Robert W. Lindeman (gogo@wpi. edu) Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD

Outline o What is a Game? o Genres o What Makes a Good Game? Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 2

What is a Game? (1 of 3) o Movie? n No interaction, outcome fixed o Toy? n No goal, but still fun! n Players can develop own goals o Puzzle? n strategy and outcome is the same each time "A computer game is a software program in which one or more players make decisions through the control of game objects and resources, in pursuit of a goal. " Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 3 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

What is a Game (2 of 3) o A Computer Game is a Software Program n Not a board game or sports n Consider: chess vs. soccer vs. Warcraft o Ask: What do you lose? What do you gain? n Lose: 1) physical pieces, 2) social interaction n Gain: 1) real-time, 2) more immersive, 3) more complexity o A Computer Game involves Players n Think about your audience; the game is not for you but for them. n Don’t just think about your story or the graphics or the interface, but consider the players. Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 4 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

What is a Game (3 of 3) o Playing a Game is About Making Decisions n Ex: what weapon to use, what resource to build n Can be frustrating if decision does not matter n Want good gameplay (major topic later) o Playing a Game is About Control n Player wants to impact outcome n Uncontrolled sequences can still happen, but should be sparing and make logical o A Game Needs a Goal n Ex: Defeat Ganandorf in Zelda n Long games may have sub-goals n Ex: recover Triforce first, then Sword of Power n Without game goals, a player develops his/her own (a toy) Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 5 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

What a Game is Not (1 of 2) o A bunch of cool features n Necessary, but not sufficient n May even detract, if not careful, by concentrating on features, not game o A lot of fancy graphics n Games need graphics just as hit movie needs special effects, but neither will save weak idea n Game must work without fancy graphics n Suggestion: Should be fun with simple objects "When a designer is asked how his game is going to make a difference, I hope he … talks about gameplay, fun and creativity – as opposed to an answer that simply focuses on how good it looks. " – Sid Meier (Civilizations, Railroad Tycoon, Pirates) Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 6 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

What a Game is Not (2 of 2) o A series of puzzles n Most games have them, but they are not the game o An intriguing story n Good story encourages immersion, but will mean little without good gameplay n Example: Baldur's Gate is a linear story. n Going wrong way gets you killed. n Not interactive: interaction in world all leads to same end. Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 7 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Games are Not Everything o Most important n Is it fun, compelling, engaging? o Computers are good at interactivity n Allow for interactive fun o Examples: n Sim. City o Very compelling, but mostly no goals. o More of toy than a game, but still fun. n Grim Fandango o Good visuals, story, etc. , but need to do puzzles to proceed o Could have skipped to just watch story o Would still have been fun without the gameplay. Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 8 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Outline o What is a Game? o Genres (next) o What Makes a Good Game? Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 9

Group Game: Game Types o Break into groups based on month of birth (combine so at least 2 in each group) o Spread out so can talk without others hearing o Brainstorm all game genres you can think of n Provide an example of each! o Round-robin by group, say one genre on list n What other group has this? Show hands n If no-one else has it, you get a point! n Everyone, decide distinguishing features o Team with most genres not on anyone else’s list, wins! Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 10

Game Types o What are some types of games? o What separates them from others? Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 11

Arcade Games o Reaction and speed are the most important aspects of the game n Examples: scrolling shooters, maze games like Pacman, paddle games like Breakout, Pong o Relatively easy to make o Normally 2 D graphics o Good starting point for first game Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 12 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Puzzle Games o Clever thinking is the most important aspect n Many maze games are based on puzzle solving, rather than on reaction time o Other examples include board games and sliding puzzles o Normally 2 -dimensional o Relatively easy to create n Except when played against a computer opponent n Artificial Intelligence can be harder o Ex: How to program the computer to play chess? Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 13 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Role Playing Games o Steer a character through a difficult world n Examples are Diablo and Baldur's Gate o Development of character to learn new skills, becoming more powerful, and finding additional and better weapons o Opponents become more powerful as well o Can create 2 D or 3 D o Generally harder to make because must create the mechanism of character development o Also normally need large world o Good level design is crucial Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 14 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Strategy Games o Real-time (RTS) or turn-based o Player only indirectly controls the character n Tactics less important than Strategy o Examples include Age of Empires, Warcraft III… n Also, usually "God Games", such as Black & White o Generally take a lot of time to create n Require many different game objects, each with animated images and specific behavior Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 15 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Adventure Games o Game is about adventure and exploration n Story line is often crucial o Can be 2 D or 3 D o Actions easy (just move) o Difficulty is in making exploration/adventure interesting n Interesting, funny, and surprising story line n Corresponding artwork o Artists’ role is crucial Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 16 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

First-Person Shooters o 3 D version of many arcade-style games (move and shoot) o Emphasis is on fast-paced action and reaction speed, not on cleverness and puzzle solving o Many examples: Doom, Quake, … o Need to be 3 D o Relatively difficult to create because of models Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 17 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Third-Person Action/Platformer o Player directly controls a game character (avatar) through a hostile world n Tomb Raider, Prince of Persia, Onimusha o Often, not much emphasis on character development o Fast action and discovering the game world o Some have story line, other adventure game aspects o Can be 2 D or 3 D o Can sometimes be created easily Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 18 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Sports Games o Real-life sport, made virtual o Ideas, rules in place o Making realistic, challenging, fun like sport can be difficult Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 19 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Racing Games o Really, special type of sports game n But pervasive enough to get own category o Drive a vehicle, as fast as possible, or sometimes for exploration, or combat o Either realistic. . . n Formula 1 or Grand Tourismo o. . . or focused on fun (arcade) n Midtown Madness or Ridge Racer o Both 2 D or 3 D Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 20 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Simulators o Try for realistic representation n Ex: flight simulators, Trainz o Other simulations include world simulation n Ex: Sim. City or Sim. Earth o Relatively difficult to create since getting details right a challenge Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 21 Based on notes from Mark Overmars

Party Games o Variety of types n Ex: Mario Party, DDR, Karaoke, Guitar Hero o Social aspects important with participants in the same space o Allow for rapid change of turns o Allow for disparate abilities (beginners and experts, both have fun) Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 22

Educational Games o Entertainment games are great at teaching…how to play the game! o Educational games are designed to teach player knowledge or skill that is valuable outside the game n Ex: math, reading, problem solving Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 23

What Games are Played? o Console gamers: n Action (30%) n Sports (20%) n Racing (15%) n RPG (10%) n Fighting (5%) n Family Ent. (5%) n Shooters (5%) Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD o PC gamers: n Strategy (30%) n Children's Ent. (15%) n Shooters (15%) n Family Ent. (10%) n RPG (10%) n Sports (5%) n Racing (5%) n Adventure (5%) n Simulation (5%) 24 The Entertainment Software Association (ESA)

What about Online Games? o Grew from 38 million (1999) to 68 million (2003) o Not just for PC gamers anymore o 24% of revenues will come from online by 2010 (Forrester Research) o Video gamers (2004) n 78% have access to the Internet n 44% play games online n Spend 12. 8 hours online per week n Spend 6. 5 hours playing games online Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 25

Outline o What is a Game? o Genres o What Makes a Good Game? Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD (next) 26

What Makes a Good Game? o "A great game is a series of interesting and meaningful choices made by the player in pursuit of a clear and compelling goal. " - Sid Meier o "Natural Funativity" n Survival-skill training n Need to have player develop a set of skills with increasing levels of difficulty n Putting them to the test = mission, quest, level, etc. n Prize at the end (or in the middle) Chapter 2. 1, Introduction to Game Development Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 27

Structure of Games o Movies have linear structure n No choice by viewer o Games must provide "interesting and meaningful choices" n Otherwise, user is not in control o Random death is frustrating! Chapter 2. 1, Introduction to Game Development Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 28

Convexity of Game Play o Need to provide choices Chapter 2. 1, Introduction to Game Development Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 29

Flow o Getting the balance right is the key to success M. Csikszentmihalyi, "Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience" Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD Chapter 2. 1, Introduction to Game Development 30

Convexity + Flow o Utilizing both can lead to a great game Chapter 2. 1, Introduction to Game Development Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 31

Other Thoughts o Theatre: n Show, Don't Tell o Games n Do, Don't Show o Hal Barwood on Cut Scenes n Cut, edit, and cut some more until the writing is just as brief and concise as possible. At that point, the scene is probably about twice as long as it should be. Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 32

So, You Want to be a Game Designer? o Break into groups by favorite genre o Decide on a game idea o How will you: n Define goal(s) n Provide choices n Create and maintain player interest Claypool and Lindeman, WPI, CS and IMGD 33