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…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 rulesClosed: 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/bartle-test-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 1st game analysis. • Super Mario Bros: Online or console Version• Mike Tyson Punchout: Online• Monkey Island Special Addition: Steam:

During gameplay hit F10 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