Introduction COMP 585185 SERIOUS GAMES TODAYS AGENDA Whos

Introduction COMP 585/185: SERIOUS GAMES

TODAY’S AGENDA Who’s in the class? Class structure Introduction to content Team and concept brainstorming

CLASS STRUCTURE

ASSIGNMENTS Game Development Teams Any Game platform: RYI, engine, Flash, Mod Critique Paper Critique Designs

CRITIQUES

CRITIQUES VS. REVIEWS Critiques Definition: A critical review or commentary, especially one dealing with works of art or literature. Should include Context Elements Effectiveness

COVERAGE Background Type of game Synopsis When Platform Purpose Evaluations Design Issues Cohesiveness Game mechanics Effectiveness Feedback Narrative Social World Characters Audio Graphics

STANCI ON CRITIQUES (MORE THAN I EXPECT) Katamari Damacy Biographical and New Critical Analysis Part 1 Marxist, Part Structural, and Jungian Analysis 2 Feminist, Analysis Part 3 Psychoanalytical and Post-Colonial

THE BUSINESS OF GAMES

GAMES ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS § 2009 US revenue $19. 7 B ($21. 4 B ‘ 08) § § Software $10. 5 B Hardware $9. 2 B Movies: $10 B Subscribers § § World of Warcraft: 12. 5 M subscriptions Second Life: 1 B hrs Sept 2009

MMOGS

WHO IS A GAMER? Online § § gamers middle income ($35, 000 -$75, 000) age 25 -44 Casual 76% gamers female 71% 40 or older (47% 50 or older) 46% college graduates (14% adv degree) 53% income $50, 000 or more 67% married (53% at least one child )

MOST POPULAR GENRES 44%: card, puzzle, arcade, word games 25%: family-oriented games 19%: RPGs, MMOGs CAVEAT: lots of contradictory stats

WHAT IS A GAME?

TYPES OF GAMES Computer games Board games Card games Parlor games Sports games Miniatures games Role-playing games Alternative reality games

GAMES… are an activity provide no material gain have rules are voluntary have conflict have uncertain outcome have goals are a representation involve decision making are make believe artificial are inefficient are safe have closed systems are outside ordinary life are a form of art

WHAT IS A GAME? Play “work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and … play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do. ” Adventures of Tom Sawyer Pretend The Magic Circle (Huizinga) Goal Challenges Win, Loss, Termination Rules Meanings, gameplay, sequence of play, goals, metarules

TOY PUZZLE GAME PLAY GOAL RULES

GAMES VS. TOYS § What’s the difference? § § § Children § § Games: restrictive rules, limit-testing strategies Toys: fantasy and free play. captivated by versatility of toys Adults § § lose interest in toys Create games around toys § tactics, strategies, results (Schiesel 2008)

SERIOUS GAMES ARE § games with a serious purpose beyond entertainment built for serious purpose § used for serious purpose §

WHAT IS A SERIOUS PURPOSE? § § § § Education Training Social change Health education Pain control Rehabilitation Business Art Learning!

GAME ELEMENTS

KEY ELEMENTS Gameplay: Challenges Risk/rewards Creative expressive play Storytelling Novelty Learning Immersion Socializing

GAMEPLAY Challenges Actions Fairness Symmetry Competition/cooperation

AESTHETICS Style and skill, not beauty Harmony coherence and consistency Harmony isn’t something that you can fake. … It’s a sensual, intuitive experience. It’s something you feel. … it doesn’t come from design committees , , , And it never happens by accident or by luck. … Games with harmony emerge from a fundamental note of clear intention. Brian Moriarty

WHY STORIES IN COMPUTER GAMES? Reach emotion, not just adrenaline Key in all well-crafted entertainment More specifically Add to entertainment value Wider audience Keep interest Marketing

STORIES IN COMPUTER GAMES Are these the first interactive stories? NO. What Audience participation! does the player want? New experience New place New person New activity Recommendation: rules learn good storytelling

GENRE CONSIDERATIONS Arcade games Length Strategy games Characters First person shooter Realism RPG, adventure Emotional richness HOW MUCH STORY DO YOU NEED?