Creativity teChniques
in game design AnnAkAisA kultimA
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

Finland, tampere
research, university of tampere
Laboratory of hypermedia, game research Lab
gamespace project
study of design and evaluation methods
for casual multiplayer mobile games
Frans mäyrä, Janne Paavilainen,
annakaisa Kultima, Johannes niemelä,
Jussi Kuittinen & hannamari saarenpää
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

Finnish innovation and technology Funding agency
industry partners:
nokia
veikkaus (Finnish national Lottery)
teliasonera
sumea/digital Chocolate
sulake
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

W e a L L K n o W W h at beyond your reguLar
C r e at i v i t y i s ? b r a i n s to r m i n g
What We Learned From
WorKshoPs? g n e r at i o ni dtea
ge
am e s u d y

W e a L L K n o W W h at
C r e at i v i t y i s ?
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

C r
Can e a t
it Ju
not
b e ei v i t
xPLa
in y
st
ed
haP
Pen
s
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

C r e at i v i t y
Cannot be exPLained
it P P e n s
ha
Just
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)
Idea generation is not a random process, but a relatively
structured process that can be explained (Perttula 2006)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

r
e
i t
h e
v
t
e
i
t
o
i s
a
n
e
n e
o r
C
o r
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

o n e i s e i t h e r
C r e a t i v e
or not
Creativity is born from insight and lateral thinking skills,
lateral thinking is a process that can be learned (deBono 1970)
In the past, creativity tended to be viewed as a fixed
inborn trait. Currently, experts generally conceptualize
creativity as a multifaceted construct that is affected by
both nature and nurturing processes. (Clapham 2003)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

s
i
r
e
h o dy
t
h
e
m e tt i v i t
n or C r ea
Fo
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

t h e r e i s
no method
F o r C r e at i v i t y
Creativity training had the greatest impact on originality
(Rose & Lin 1984, Kabanoff & Bottger 1991)
There is strong relationship between the number of idea
generation techniques and the number of successful products
(Sowrey 1989, Parnes 1961)
Procedures and methods for idea generation are often based
on intuitive belief systems rather than empirically validated
theory (Perttula 2006)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

W
e
to
aL
r ea
o
id
dy
m
ha
an
ea
ve
y
s
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

We aLready have
too many
ideas
Quantity of ideas will ultimately yield to quality
(Osborn 1957)
Idea generation as a critical means for achieving
competitive advantage (Gordan et al. 1997, Clapham 2003)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

h o W d o e s
the mind WorK?
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

Join the dots with only four
straight lines without lifting the
pen.
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

hoW does
the mind
WorK?
thoughts of edward debono
- Mind is efficient in creating patterns
- Extremely difficult to restructure
- Lateral thinking vs. vertical thinking
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

LateraL vs.
vertiCaL
thinKing
vertical thinking Lateral thinking
selective generative
rightness matters richness matters
seeks pathway, seeks to open up other pathways
excluding other pathways
best way alternate ways
stops when finds promising one goes on even after promising one
moving usefully playing around
experiment to show some effect experiment in order to provide an
opportunity to change ones ideas
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

hoW does
the mind
WorK?
thoughts of edward debono
- Mind is efficient in creating patterns
- Extremely difficult to restructure
- Lateral thinking vs. vertical thinking
- Vertical thinking develops the ideas
generated by lateral thinking.
Idea generation should be regarded
as a separate activity from idea evaluation (Osborn 1963)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

Join the dots with only four
straight lines without lifting the
pen.
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

Join the dots with only four
straight lines without lifting the
pen.
A simple puzzle that we
usually make more difficult than
necessary by assuming the lines
cannot go outside the “box”.
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

t h at is Why We CaLL it
“thinKing
outside
the box”
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

W E a l l k n o W W h at beyond your reguLar
C R E at I V I t Y I s ? b r a i n s to r m i n g
what we learned from
workshops? g n e r at i o ni dtea
ge
am e s u d y

beyond your reguLar
b r a i n s to r m i n g
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

tiL ize
t o u
vit y?
h oW
r ea ti
C
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

e n h a n C i n g
Creative
WorK
atmosphere, environment
- Creativity is supported and welcomed
- environment with diverse and inspiring stimuli
diverse personnel
- Collision of different opinions and experiences
Creativity training and creativity workshops
- Learning lateral thinking skills
- motivation, inspiration and atmosphere
Creativity techniques
- Creativity on demand
- helping people to break patterns
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

the Fa m o u s
brain
storming
has become a general term for any kind of group idea generation
Popularized by an advertising executive alex F. osborn (late 1930s)
basic assumptions:
1. Criticism is ruled out (separation of idea generation and evaluation)
2. Free-wheeling is welcomed (easier to tame down than think-up)
3. quantity is wanted
4. reacting to ideas of others (combining, adding)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

r e s e a r C h e d
brain
storming
Brainstorming don’t necessary produce novel and innovative solutions
(McFadzean 2000)
instructions are critical
- Go for quantity, not quality (Rossiter & Lilien 1994)
acknowledged problems of brainstorming
- Social loafing
- Production blocking
- Fear of evaluation
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

min g is
to r
br ains
L on e!
no ta
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

brainstorming
alternative scenarios, brainsketching,
is not brainstorming, brainwriting, bunches
of bananas, Causal mapping,
a L o n e Collective notebook, do
different techniques for different purposes it,exaggeration,nothing,
delphi, do
Keeping
- Problem Definition, Idea generation, a dream diary, mind
idea selection, idea implementing, mapping, heuristics,
holistic techniques morphological
analysis, random
varying level of complexity stimuli, relaxation,
- bunches of bananas vs. triz six thinking hats,
triz, think tank,
Strong relationship between the number Why Why Why...
of idea generation techniques and the
number of successful products
(Sowrey 1989, Parnes 1961)
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

at ion
ag i o
n en er
ide s
t he
e s
s
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

the idea generation
s e s s i o n
specifciexpe
i
ri
en
ce
s)
s
a
r(
e
exper
the us
kn
t
user brings ow
le d ge
the insight
pla
yf
ul
se
t t in
gb
ue
s sion he t echniq
x the se t
technique suggest
to think laterally
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

user doesn’t know
what to do
the idea generation
s e s s i o n
spwcifciexp
i
er
i
en
ce
s)
s
a
r(
e
exper
the us W
e
ne
user has ed
..
.
certain kn
t
ow
le d ge
needs
Be
c ra
zy
!
b
ue
s sion he t echniq
x the se t
utility of the
technique is difficult
to understand
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

the idea generation
s e s s i o n
specifciexpe
i
ri
en
ce
s)
s
a
r(
e
the us
exper technique provides
something to start with
kn
stim
t
ow
le d ge
uli
user follows the
technique pla
yf
ul
se
t t in
gb
ue
s sion he t echniq
the se t
struc
x
uret
technique
systematically forces
to think differently
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

C r e at i v i t y i s
domain
sPeCiFiC
Creativity is domain specific. (Clapham 2003, baer 1994,
harkins & macrosson 1990)
Creativity performance in any domain requires
domain-relevant skills creativity-relevant skills and
task motivation. (amabile 1990)
Domain specific techniques?
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

the idea generation
teChnique going
d o m a i n
sPeCiFiC
specifciexpe
i
ri
en
ce
s)
s
a
r(
e
the us technique quides
e x pe pla
yfu
lm towards specific
user can concentrate kn
spe
rt
ow in d
le areas
on being playful
cial stimuli
dge
b
ue
s sion he t echniq
the se t
speci
x
al
uc
str
tur
e
technique systematically forces
to think certain things differently
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

onLy a bout
it is not
ses sion
the
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

it is not onLy about
the session
3 g
learnin
tion
inspira
2
1 on
th e sessi
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

it is not onLy about
the session
ideas
3 g
learnin
tion
inspira
2
1 on
th e sessi
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

W E a l l k n o W W h at beyond your regular
C R E at I V I t Y I s ? b r a i n s to r m i n g
What We Learned From
WorKshoPs? g n e r at i o ni dtea
ge
am e s u d y

What We Learned From
WorKshoPs?
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

g a m e s P a C e
WorK
s h o P s
discussion on casual, multiplayer mobile games
methods for early phase of game production
three 1-2 day workshops in 2006-2007
30 participants from 5 different companies
15+ experimental techniques, tools and methods
200+ new game ideas
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

F i r s t
WorK
s h o P
theme: casual concepts
techniques: vna, emo, morF, PlayFirst!
need for idea generation techniques?
- new approaches found useful and welcomed
thematic or mechanic –approaches?
- no difference in the level of completeness.
thoughts about the techniques
- PlayFirst! endorsed clone-like ideas
- amount of ideas differed
techniques were different in many ways
- Difficult to compare
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

s e C o n d
WorK
s h o P
theme: multiplayer concepts
techniques: brainstorming, gamebrain,
gameseekers & it’s a game!
- similar procedure, different stimuli
same amount of ideas
stimuli matters:
- Coffee-mug effect
- Complete games are too strong
random words, pictures and sentences
- endorses stories
random abstracted game structures
- empty and mechanical additions
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

t h i r d
WorK
s h o P
theme: (casual, multiplayer) mobile concepts
techniques:
- more appraoches:
- mybook, swopbook, gameboard solo,
GameBoard co-op, Mecano, Out-of-the-Office,
Call your mama!,
- Old approaches refined:
- Piecebox, it’s a gameseeker!, morF 2.0
Choosing promising ones for further development
- gameboard, mecano, Piecebox, it’s a
gameseeker! & morF 2.0
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

s o W h at d i d W e
Learn?
stimuli directs ideation
Game specific techniques seem to work
differences between techniques,
ideas and groups were difficult to make
- more data needed
how about the real needs and contexts?
- outside workshop situations
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

W E a l l k n o W W h at beyond your regular
C R E at I V I t Y I s ? b r a i n s to r m i n g
what we learned from
workshops? g n e r at i o ni dtea
ge
am e s u d y

g n e m ei o ni dteda
ge
a r at s u y
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

r e a L n e e d s
reaL Contexts
What happens in authentic settings?
- independent use
- daily practices
execution
- Product-like package
- 3 months use period
- our industry partners contributing to pilot study
data collection
- Pre-interviews, feedback cards,
online survey, interviews after the use period
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

g a m e s P a C e
ideating methods
research prototype
Polished, product-like
Game-specific (casual, mobile, multiplayer)
Physical objects, pictoral instructions
modular, combinable
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

g a m e s Pa C e m e t h o d s
verbs, nouns
&adJeCtives (vna)
simple, easy to use
Collaborative, shared idea
Casual game word-set
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

gamesPaCe methods
gameseeKers
Collaborative game
Forcing combinations
Pictures for associations
social aspects of games
Casual games genres
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

gamesPaCe methods
gameboard
Competetive (not on ideas)
shared idea / parallel ideas
structure for the game idea
game components
mobile games features
random words
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

gamesPaCe methods
P i e C e b o x
game and play pieces
drawing inspiration from the pieces
Communicating through pieces
experimenting with ideas
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

gamesPaCe methods
m e C a n o
everyday objects
analysing, putting to other uses
mechanical aspect for game ideas
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

gamesPaCe methods
m o r F
Computer aided
usb-key, database
analysing existing game
Coming up with variations
Forced combinations
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

some tentative resuLts oF
the study
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

n idea is
ind oF a
W h at K
ga me i dea?
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
 /60
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

o u
y
W i t h
d o
W
u P
h o
C o m e
eW g ame i deas?
n
GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi

93%
13%
.”
ue the use
“i w ould contin 60%
as may
100% “some o f t h e id e
duct.”
le a d t o a new pro
d.”
recommen
“i would
a L L
e r
o
xP
v
erien Ces?
e GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
“Creativity Techniques in Game Design“ by Annakaisa Kultima, University of Tampere, Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi
 /60

od sP eCiFiC
meth
ienCe s?
e xPer GDC Mobile 08: February 18-22, 2008; Moscone Center, San Francisco
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60/60

udy?
of t he st
ns
Limitatio

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Posit ive exp techniques!
idea
specific

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’t forget
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udy?
t he st
tions of
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Posit ive exp techniques!
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specific don
’t forget
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proache
http://gameslices.wordpress.com
s!

udy?
t he st
tions of
imita me
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Posit ive exp techniques!
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specific don
’t forget
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s!
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Posit ive exp techniques!
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proache
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s!
Annakaisa.Kultima@uta.fi
ien ces?
you r exper