COU - Introduction to Game Design #1
NOTES MADE IN TODAY’S CLASS
Oh! What a wonderful learning session!
GAME STRUCTURES AND MECHANICS
What makes them work?
What makes them fun?
How can they tell stories?
How can they be improved?
CREATIVE DECISIONS
Who is your hero?
What’s their quest?
What challenges will they meet along the way?
THINGS/CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD GAME
Clear Goal (Levels of Goals - Increasing Levels of Difficulty)
Chance and Skill
A Goal has to be Interesting.
Games of Chance - Victory is Random Ex: Lottery, Dice game
Games of Skill - Victory is based on the choices of the players Ex: Chess
Games of Mixed Chance and Skill - Ex: Cards
The Main Purpose of most Game Design is to take our Goal and design it to be difficult to reach.
THE GAME DESIGN DOCUMENT
Is put together by a Game Designer as he creates the game. A Book that clarifies how the game works. A Game Design document helps keep everyone (the team at work) on the same page. The Document is frequently revised and updated during production. In early stages, it can act as a scrapbook. It helps the lone game designer communicate with himself by reminding him of their initial concepts and keep him on a steady path.
WHAT’S IN A GAME DESIGN DOCUMENT?
Description of the Game
Description of the Gameplay involved
Descriptions of the game’s goals, puzzles and characters
Illustrations, Maps and Story Lines
Technical Information
FEEDBACK
Focus on the Why of the Ambiguous Comment.
PROJECT REVIEW STEPS
Examine the Project
How do you feel about the Project?
Why do you feel that way?
Share your thoughts and Reasoning
HOW TO START MAKING A SIMPLE GAME
Relax
Brainstorm Lists
Try a Theme
Looking forward to the next session tomorrow.
