Game Design (from the school of hard knocks) Craig Thomler (ex-Game designer/reviewer) BarCamp Canberra 2008 www.slideshare.net/CraigThomler/game-design-bar-camp-canberra-2008/

Submarine Titans Developer: Ellipse Studios Distributor: Strategy First Released: 09/2000 Sold: approx 30,000 Success: Not financially

What is game design? Wikipedia: Game design is the process of designing the content and rules of a game. The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in an actual game as well as documentation that describes such a design. Pure game design doesn’t include: Programming Graphic design Acting Music design But nothing is ever pure….

Wikipedia:

Game design is the process of designing the content and rules of a game.

The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in an actual game as well as documentation that describes such a design.

Pure game design doesn’t include:

Programming

Graphic design

Acting

Music design

But nothing is ever pure….

Design process - Blank sheet Concept Story telling Depth  breadth Intellectual  animal Internal consistency Kewl factor Constraints Skills Systems (PC/Console/mobile Game theory (internal system – rules and balance) Market noise Money

Concept

Story telling

Depth  breadth

Intellectual  animal

Internal consistency

Kewl factor

Constraints

Skills

Systems (PC/Console/mobile

Game theory (internal system – rules and balance)

Market noise

Money

My experiences Game design is an art not a science Must be passionate – it’s about the experience not the money Never a pure design role – there’s shared ownership of design Programmers Artists Composers Distributors Producers Customers Game designer is a leader / path breaker /evangelist role Bard Flag carrier User advocate Can’t make everyone happy – can be some very hard decisions

Game design is an art not a science

Must be passionate – it’s about the experience not the money

Never a pure design role – there’s shared ownership of design

Programmers

Artists

Composers

Distributors

Producers

Customers

Game designer is a leader / path breaker /evangelist role

Bard

Flag carrier

User advocate

Can’t make everyone happy – can be some very hard decisions

Breaking into the industry Get involved in the games industry Writing Mods Tools Testing Attend conferences Build a network Find your passion Apply, apply, apply – look overseas!

Get involved in the games industry

Writing

Mods

Tools

Testing

Attend conferences

Build a network

Find your passion

Apply, apply, apply – look overseas!

Thanks for listening Craig Thomler [email_address] To learn more: Google me…

Craig Thomler

[email_address]

To learn more: Google me…