Introduction to Game Design and Development Playing: Galaxy Trucker Watching: The Big Bang Theory Reading: Master Thesis! Listening: Slayer
Game Design: What is it?
Game Design is Design Design is concerned with the conception and planning of all the instances of the artificial or human-made world: signs and images, physical objects, activities, and services and systems or environments Richard Buchanan
Game Design is Design Every design is in some sense a social communication, and what matters is... The emotional intensity with which the essentials have been explored and expressed George Nelson
Game Design: Working Definition Game Design is the processof coordinating the evolutionof the design of a game Bateman e Boon
Game Development: What is it?
Game Development: Working Def. Game Developmentis the process by which a game is produced Wikipedia Design and Development are integrated processes!
Game Design and Development
Game Design and Development The goal of game development is to create the user experience (fun) Not the designer/developer experience (fun) Game Design must be egoless, balancing the desires and needs of all participants Bateman e Boon
Designing Interactive Experiences Designers User Experience Interaction Mechanics Donald Norman Users
Designing Interactive Experiences Five design principles Visibility Making the relevant parts visible Mappings Establish relationships between controls and actions Establish relationships between controls and actions Affordances Establish perceived use of items Constraints Prevent players from doing what they shouldn t Feedback Report what players have done and accomplish
Game Design and Development Is teamwork Gameplay Designers Lightning Designers 3D Programers AI Programers Sound Programers Game Logic Programers Character Designers Strory Writers Texture Designers Actors 3D Modelers Level Designers Character Animators Producers Sounds Designers Music Designers User Interface Designers Marketing Team User Interface Programers Financial Advisors Media Publishers License Holders Playtesters Players
Teamwork: Main Roles Game Designer Promote the discussion of concepts Create low-fi prototypes Write the design documents Communicate the vision to the entire team Create levels Act as advocate of the player
Teamwork: Main Roles Producer Main communication link with the publisher Manage the schedule and the budget Manage contracts Get the resources Track and allocate resources Act as team leader Motivate the team
Teamwork: Main Roles Programer Draft technical specifications Implement all technical aspects Software prototypes Software tools Game modules and engines Data structures Communication aspects Documenting code
Teamwork: Main Roles Artist Create concept art Create art assets Characters and animations World Objects Cut scenes Interfaces Sound and music
Teamwork: Main Roles Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer Create test plan Execute tests Includes play-testing Record and analyse players data Report bugs Report design problems
The Process of Game Development
The Process of Game Development Keywords Creativity Communication Iteration Planning Players...
Game Development Phases 1. Concept 2. Preproduction 3. Production 4. Postproduction
Concept Phase
Concept Phase Goal Get the idea through Where concepts came from?
Zen Game Design (Bateman e Boon) 2 Base Principles There is not a single method for game design Game design should reflect the needs of all stakeholders Implicit Principle There are methods for Game Design and Development
Game Design Methods M1 First Principles Goals World Abstraction Design Game
Black and White First Principles
Game Design Methods M2 Clone and Tweak Existing Design Modified Design Game
Clone and Tweak Warcraft Civilization 2
Game Design Methods M3 Use of Meta-rules Rules Design Game
Use of Meta-Rules Project 400 Dogma 2001
Game Design Methods M4 Expressing Technology Technology Design Game
Expressing Technology Far Cry Wii Sports
Game Design Methods M5 The Frankenstein Aproach Materials Design Game
Frankenstein Approach Conkers Twelve Tales Conkers Bad Fur Day
Game Design Methods M6 Story Driven Design Narrative Design Game
Broken Sword Story Driven Design
Game Design Methods M7 The Branding Approach Brand World Abstraction Narrative Design Game
Franchise Approach Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth
Game Design Methods M8 Iterative Design Discussion Design Game
Game Design Methods Goals Existing Design Materials World Abstraction Technology Design Rules Game Brand Narrative Others
Concept Phase Producing the Conceptual Design First Design Document Proof of Concept Mock-up Get the Green Light Publishers, Producers Executives from Distribution, Licensing, Marketing, Financial
Preproduction Phase
Preproduction Phase Goals Plan the work Prove that you can do it Refine the Design Document Build the Team Define Schedule and Budget
Build the Team What makes a good team? Senior members are important Add experience to the team Include young/new members Often bring new perspectives Give them the opportunity to grow Heterogeneity Someone that knows the Audience
Build the Team The producer s view Create job descriptions Fill these descriptions Search company employers Allow for bidding Choose to subcontract Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreements Call For Proposals» The bid package The Development Agreement» Milestones
Scheduling (1) Programming milestones Creation of all visual assets Creation of all audio assets Creation of a demo version (for E3, etc...) Play-testing License approvals (platform holders, etc...) Vacations and Holidays
Scheduling (2) Delivery of assets for marketing Creation of package Creation of manuals Creation of strategy guides ESRB rating Green light meetings
Scheduling: Good Practices Have a detailed game design document Have a team selected Schedule backwards Shipping to Beta Then, schedule forward Probably will move the shipping date Identify bottlenecks Prioritize features
Budget Profit and Loss Analysis Costs Production costs Salaries, meals, equipment, travel Marketing Royalties Revenues Sales Merchandise
Pre-production Phase The Green Light Kickoff Team Schedule Budgets Design Documents
Production Phase
Production Phase The work begins! Critical Issues Art assets Team dynamics Design problems Technology problems Money problems => Red Flags
Production Phase Art assets List everything Track everything Establish approval cycles Establish delivery formats
Production Phase Team dynamics Keep the team cohesion Manage expectations Avoid the prima donna attitude Everybody is important Everybody is important Promote communication The programer vs artist issue Make everybody play the game Keep the momentum Don t let the team relax after a major success
Production Phase Design problems Create playable releases often Give the deserved importance to play-testing Reduce game features Iterate the development process Design by committee Listen to everyone's suggestions
Production Phase Technology problems Reuse technology Use agile development Identify problems as early as possible Build tools Create playable releases often On the target platform
Production Phase Money problems Produce a promotional demo Expect the unexpected Reduce game features Delay the shipping date
Postproduction Phase
Postproduction Localizations ESRB Rating Boxing and Packaging Merchandise Documents Manual and guides
Postproduction Quality Assurance Testing Write a Post Mortem report Support the community Patches and modding tools
Bibliography 21th Century Game Design, Chris Bateman and Richard Boon. Charles River Media. 2006 Introduction to Game Development, Steve Rabin. Charles River Media. 2005 Game Design Workshop, Tracy Fullerton. Morgan Kaufmann. 2008 Rules of Play, Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman. MIT Press. 2003