Creativity Techniques and Game Idea Generation Thoughts provided by GameSpace-AaKoo

Collected thoughts Creativity is a complex phenomenon involving the operation of multiple influences as we move from initial generation of an idea to delivery of an innovative product (Mumford and Gustafson 1988) Lateral thinking and creativity, lateral thinking as a process that can be learned (deBono 1970) There is need for organisations to have cultures which encourage, reward and respect the free flow of ideas and enquires, where the social environment can influence both the level and frequency of creative behaviour (Amabile 1998, Blum 2000) Creativity occurs when new relationships between existing elements occur and/or when new elements are brought in (Bostrom 1993, Gryskiewicz 1980&1987) Idea generation as a critical means for achieving competitive advantage (Gordan et al. 1997)

Creativity is a complex phenomenon involving the operation of multiple influences as we move from initial generation of an idea to delivery of an innovative product (Mumford and Gustafson 1988)

Lateral thinking and creativity, lateral thinking as a process that can be learned (deBono 1970)

There is need for organisations to have cultures which encourage, reward and respect the free flow of ideas and enquires, where the social environment can influence both the level and frequency of creative behaviour (Amabile 1998, Blum 2000)

Creativity occurs when new relationships between existing elements occur and/or when new elements are brought in (Bostrom 1993, Gryskiewicz 1980&1987)

Idea generation as a critical means for achieving competitive advantage (Gordan et al. 1997)

Collected thoughts Brainstorming don’t necessary produce novel and innovative solutions (McFadzean 2000) Quantity of ideas will ultimately yield to quality (Osborn 1957) Strong relationship between the number of idea generation techniques and the number of successful products (Sowrey 1989, Parnes 1961) Idea generation should be regarded as a separate activity from idea evaluation (Osborn 1963) Procedures and methods for idea generation are often based on intuitive belief systems rather than empirically validated theory (Perttula 2006) Idea generation is not a random process governed solely by an individual’s personal trait, but a relatively structured process that can be explained (Perttula 2006)

Brainstorming don’t necessary produce novel and innovative solutions (McFadzean 2000)

Quantity of ideas will ultimately yield to quality (Osborn 1957)

Strong relationship between the number of idea generation techniques and the number of successful products (Sowrey 1989, Parnes 1961)

Idea generation should be regarded as a separate activity from idea evaluation (Osborn 1963)

Procedures and methods for idea generation are often based on intuitive belief systems rather than empirically validated theory (Perttula 2006)

Idea generation is not a random process governed solely by an individual’s personal trait, but a relatively structured process that can be explained (Perttula 2006)

Creativity at the Workplaces Atmosphere, environment Creativity is supported Environment is enhanced with diverse and inspiring stimuli Diverse personnel When putting different people together, creativity will arise from the collision of different opinions and experiences Creativity techniques Creativity on demand Methodological approach Learning lateral thinking Inspiration and atmosphere

Atmosphere, environment

Creativity is supported

Environment is enhanced with diverse and inspiring stimuli

Diverse personnel

When putting different people together, creativity will arise from the collision of different opinions and experiences

Creativity techniques

Creativity on demand

Methodological approach

Learning lateral thinking

Inspiration and atmosphere

Creativity Techniques Brainstorming Treated as a synonym to any group ideating Others: Alternative Scenarios, BrainSketching, Brainstorming, Brainwriting, Bunches of Bananas, Causal Mapping, Collective Notebook, DO IT, Delphi, Do Nothing, Exaggeration, Keeping a Dream Diary, Mind Mapping, Morphological Analysis, Random Stimuli, Relaxation, Six Thinking Hats, TRIZ, Think Tank, Why Why Why… and so on… Different techniques for different purposes Problem Def., Idea Select., Idea Implement., Holistic techniques Idea Generation Relatively little empirical valid research

Brainstorming

Treated as a synonym to any group ideating

Others:

Alternative Scenarios, BrainSketching, Brainstorming, Brainwriting, Bunches of Bananas, Causal Mapping, Collective Notebook, DO IT, Delphi, Do Nothing, Exaggeration, Keeping a Dream Diary, Mind Mapping, Morphological Analysis, Random Stimuli, Relaxation, Six Thinking Hats, TRIZ, Think Tank, Why Why Why… and so on…

Different techniques for different purposes

Problem Def., Idea Select., Idea Implement., Holistic techniques

Idea Generation

Relatively little empirical valid research

Idea Generation Techniques Ideas should be: Novel Idea is new or distinctive when comparing to old ideas or existent products Applicable Idea is suitable for given purposes Techniques targeting to: Quantity When producing vast amount of ideas, you will more probable end up with good idea Diversity The techniques will produce ideas that are different from each other and not only copying the same thing over and over again. Predictability/stability You don’t have to “wait for the good day”, but the techniques really helps you also on some “bad” days as well Creating right atmosphere

Ideas should be:

Novel

Idea is new or distinctive when comparing to old ideas or existent products

Applicable

Idea is suitable for given purposes

Techniques targeting to:

Quantity

When producing vast amount of ideas, you will more probable end up with good idea

Diversity

The techniques will produce ideas that are different from each other and not only copying the same thing over and over again.

Predictability/stability

You don’t have to “wait for the good day”, but the techniques really helps you also on some “bad” days as well

Creating right atmosphere

Ideating process User Expertise, experience, knowledge Techniques Structure, stimuli, inspiration, change from the common procedures, forcing “out of the box” “ Be crazy, but don’t touch the walls!” Cognitive conflict (novelty and applicability) Importance of techniques and technique development: Entrusting the technique providing “mental rubber between the user and the wall”?

User

Expertise, experience, knowledge

Techniques

Structure, stimuli, inspiration, change from the common procedures, forcing “out of the box”

“ Be crazy, but don’t touch the walls!”

Cognitive conflict (novelty and applicability)

Importance of techniques and technique development:

Entrusting the technique providing “mental rubber between the user and the wall”?

Game Ideating Techniques General or specific approach? Use of general ideating techniques Creating game generic ideating techniques Base on other general techniques New approaches to ideating techniques Creating casual, mobile and multiplayer specific techniques??

General or specific approach?

Use of general ideating techniques

Creating game generic ideating techniques

Base on other general techniques

New approaches to ideating techniques

Creating casual, mobile and multiplayer specific techniques??

For what purpose game ideas are for? Fundamental Good idea can be used as a fundamental basis for the game product Completeness, applicability, novelty Inspirational One idea may inspire another Iteration rounds Producing lots of ideas

Fundamental

Good idea can be used as a fundamental basis for the game product

Completeness, applicability, novelty

Inspirational

One idea may inspire another

Iteration rounds

Producing lots of ideas

GameSpace Techniques GameSpace studies methodological approach to game design Ideation process, concepting, prototyping, evaluation Workshop I (casual) VNA, Emo, MorF, PlayFirst! Workshop II (multiplayer) Brainstorming, GameBrain, It’s a Game!, GameSeeker Workshop III (mobile) NoteBooks, Gameboard, PieceBox, It’s a GameSeeker, MorF 2.0, Out-of-the-Office, Mechano, Call Your Mama!

GameSpace studies methodological approach to game design

Ideation process, concepting, prototyping, evaluation

Workshop I (casual)

VNA, Emo, MorF, PlayFirst!

Workshop II (multiplayer)

Brainstorming, GameBrain, It’s a Game!, GameSeeker

Workshop III (mobile)

NoteBooks, Gameboard, PieceBox, It’s a GameSeeker, MorF 2.0, Out-of-the-Office, Mechano, Call Your Mama!

Workshop I VNA, Emo, MorF and PlayFirst! Research questions: “ Are ideating techniques useful?” “ What is the basis for the game ideating technique: thematic, or mechanical approach?” Even though methods were either with thematic or mechanical approach, the idea descriptions did not differ in the level of completeness “ How to help to produce casual game ideas?” MorF? Other findings: PlayFirst! produced clone-a-like ideas

VNA, Emo, MorF and PlayFirst!

Research questions:

“ Are ideating techniques useful?”

“ What is the basis for the game ideating technique: thematic, or mechanical approach?”

Even though methods were either with thematic or mechanical approach, the idea descriptions did not differ in the level of completeness

“ How to help to produce casual game ideas?”

MorF?

Other findings:

PlayFirst! produced clone-a-like ideas

Workshop II Brainstorming, GameBrain, It’s a Game!, GameSeeker Similar group procedures, different stimuli Research questions: “ What is the function of stimuli and group procedure?” All the methods produced similar amount of ideas in time If there is no specific stimuli, it will be taken from the environment (coffee-mug effect) or existing product is recalled Some stimuli may “leave you inside the box” Stimuli is not always easy to treat as inspirational/associational or it can have too strong effect The balance between associative and structural elements? Again the game based method (GameBrain) produced mainly variants and mixtures of existent products The analysis of the workshop II is not ready

Brainstorming, GameBrain, It’s a Game!, GameSeeker

Similar group procedures, different stimuli

Research questions:

“ What is the function of stimuli and group procedure?”

All the methods produced similar amount of ideas in time

If there is no specific stimuli, it will be taken from the environment (coffee-mug effect) or existing product is recalled

Some stimuli may “leave you inside the box”

Stimuli is not always easy to treat as inspirational/associational or it can have too strong effect

The balance between associative and structural elements?

Again the game based method (GameBrain) produced mainly variants and mixtures of existent products

The analysis of the workshop II is not ready

Workshop III Further developed techniques and some new approaches Different documenting techniques Lesson learned from previous workshops: outside factors such as group procedure and documenting techniques are greatly relevant factors No specific research questions interest in different kind of user experiences

Further developed techniques and some new approaches

Different documenting techniques

Lesson learned from previous workshops: outside factors such as group procedure and documenting techniques are greatly relevant factors

No specific research questions

interest in different kind of user experiences

Techniques: NoteBooks (SwopBook and MyBook) Idea can come whenever GameBoard (co-op and solo) How about competition? Mechano Mechanical approach Out-of-the-Office Different environment Call Your Mama! Target group PieceBox General game stimuli, close to prototyping It’s a GameSeeker! associative & structural MorF 2.0 Computer aided, base on game analysis 4P documenting technique Parallel ideating in the group Workshop III

Techniques:

NoteBooks (SwopBook and MyBook)

Idea can come whenever

GameBoard (co-op and solo)

How about competition?

Mechano

Mechanical approach

Out-of-the-Office

Different environment

Call Your Mama!

Target group

PieceBox

General game stimuli, close to prototyping

It’s a GameSeeker!

associative & structural

MorF 2.0

Computer aided, base on game analysis

4P documenting technique

Parallel ideating in the group

GameSpace IdeaPackage Workshops provides limited possibilities to study ideating processes Summer 2007 Development of existing techniques, possible new ones Send your hopes, wishes and developing ideas to: [email_address] Autumn 2007 Packages sent to the partners Physical objects, card games, former ideas, computer programs, documenting techniques and instructional material (possibly instructions f2f) Real use, if any use at all Interviews, feedback (autumn/winter 2007-08?)

Workshops provides limited possibilities to study ideating processes

Summer 2007

Development of existing techniques, possible new ones

Send your hopes, wishes and developing ideas to: [email_address]

Autumn 2007

Packages sent to the partners

Physical objects, card games, former ideas, computer programs, documenting techniques and instructional material (possibly instructions f2f)

Real use, if any use at all

Interviews, feedback (autumn/winter 2007-08?)

Let’s make game ideas! Gimme mail! [email_address]

Let’s make game ideas! Gimme mail! [email_address] MOBILE