Rapid, Iterative Prototyping or, How to Rip off Dinosaur Comics

What we’re gonna cover The path to our first game Show off some interim builds Lessons learned 4 ways to Prototype! And occasionally dinosaurs

The path to our first game

Show off some interim builds

Lessons learned

4 ways to Prototype!

And occasionally dinosaurs

Who Are We? Eitan Sharat 2007 Eitan 2008 2009

Starting out

Starting out Focus on our strengths, know (and work on) our weaknesses

Focus on our strengths, know (and work on) our weaknesses

Our First Game

Scope

Scope it right! NO Too Big Perfect Size (Awesome Game, btw)

Start Prototyping Four Days, Three Prototypes Test on the fifth day, and listen to testers Mon Brainstorm Ideas Tues Prototype ideas 1 and 2 Wed Prototype ideas 2 and 3 Thurs Prototype idea 3, polish all Friday Test all Day

Just get it done Art assets? Code base?

Ask Questions/Get Help

1 st Week Demos

Lessons from 1 st week Do anything to get the early games done fast Use programmer art or steal assets Use open source code if doing tech prototype Paper prototyping is ok! Don't forget to play test!

Do anything to get the early games done fast

Use programmer art or steal assets

Use open source code if doing tech prototype

Paper prototyping is ok!

Don't forget to play test!

Find Creative Solutions

Small Team Management

Deadlines are your friend Test every week, no matter what! Mon Brain Storm Tues Prototype 1st idea Wed Prototype 2nd idea Thurs Prototype 3rd idea Friday Test! Analyze Mon Revise Design Tues Prototype Revision Wed Prototype Revision Thurs Prototype Revision Friday TEST!

Analyze Testing Results > Take feedback w/grain of salt

Is it viable?

What Changed? Keyboard or Xbox controllers 1 player or 2 player Build with beams, wires, pipes Better graphics and animations (some stolen) Basic enemy AI and building physics Music (stolen) + lots of sound effects Multiple levels + level editor (idea from prototype 3) Achievements (to impress Dave)

Keyboard or Xbox controllers

1 player or 2 player

Build with beams, wires, pipes

Better graphics and animations (some stolen)

Basic enemy AI and building physics

Music (stolen) + lots of sound effects

Multiple levels + level editor (idea from prototype 3)

Achievements (to impress Dave)

1 st Month Demo

Lessons from 2 nd Prototype Test constantly and interpret feedback Simple project management, good communication Make friends, ask for help, get advice Make deadlines + stick to them!

Test constantly and interpret feedback

Simple project management, good communication

Make friends, ask for help, get advice

Make deadlines + stick to them!

Ways to Prototype #1 – The Paper Prototype #2 – The Web Prototype #3 – The (Stolen) Tech Prototype #4 – The Wizard of Oz Prototype We'll cover Pros + Cons, Weapons, and Tricks

#1 – The Paper Prototype

#2 – The Web Prototype

#3 – The (Stolen) Tech Prototype

#4 – The Wizard of Oz Prototype

We'll cover Pros + Cons, Weapons, and Tricks

#1 – The Paper Prototype Pros/Cons + Requires no programming experience + Quick to make and iterate on + Can be modified on the fly during testing - Hard to test with multiple users at once (need one prototype per testing session) - Easy to unintentionally bias testers - Tends to get unrealistically high praise

Pros/Cons

+ Requires no programming experience

+ Quick to make and iterate on

+ Can be modified on the fly during testing

- Hard to test with multiple users at once (need one prototype per testing session)

- Easy to unintentionally bias testers

- Tends to get unrealistically high praise

#1 – The Paper Prototype Weapons

Weapons

#1 – The Paper Prototype Tricks Shut up during testing! Don't influence! Use big font + images, roughly 2-3x what they would be on the screen The “computer” should be mechanical. Have a second group member conduct testing. Make sure the paper version can be implemented on a computer

Tricks

Shut up during testing! Don't influence!

Use big font + images, roughly 2-3x what they would be on the screen

The “computer” should be mechanical. Have a second group member conduct testing.

Make sure the paper version can be implemented on a computer

#2 – The Web Prototype Pros/Cons + Can be quick and have high fidelity look + feel + Can be tested with many users, even remotely + Easy to throw out after testing - Users will focus on layout, not just gameplay - Limits creativity in design (big problem!) - Requires someone to know html or other web programming

Pros/Cons

+ Can be quick and have high fidelity look + feel

+ Can be tested with many users, even remotely

+ Easy to throw out after testing

- Users will focus on layout, not just gameplay

- Limits creativity in design (big problem!)

- Requires someone to know html or other web programming

#2 – The Web Prototype Weapons HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, FBML, Flex, Dreamweaver, Surveymonkey for remote testing

Weapons

HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, FBML, Flex, Dreamweaver, Surveymonkey for remote testing

#2 – The Web Prototype Tricks Be aware of reliance on widgets! They limit design creativity, and will cause your interface to look shitty Test like crazy since it is so easy Use art sketches (.jpgs, .pngs) for interface elements wherever possible. Even a sketched button is better than a widget button

Tricks

Be aware of reliance on widgets! They limit design creativity, and will cause your interface to look shitty

Test like crazy since it is so easy

Use art sketches (.jpgs, .pngs) for interface elements wherever possible. Even a sketched button is better than a widget button

#3 – The (Stolen) Tech Prototype Pros/Cons + Modding, not coding from scratch + Can be VERY high fidelity, highest of all the types of prototypes mentioned here + It's hardcore – if you can do this, making the game will be cake - Easy to get attached to code - Requires VERY strong coders

Pros/Cons

+ Modding, not coding from scratch

+ Can be VERY high fidelity, highest of all the types of prototypes mentioned here

+ It's hardcore – if you can do this, making the game will be cake

- Easy to get attached to code

- Requires VERY strong coders

#3 – The (Stolen) Tech Prototype Weapons Open Source (Pygame, Box2D, etc.), existing games with source you can grab, previous projects (ex GAMBIT games?)

Weapons

Open Source (Pygame, Box2D, etc.), existing games with source you can grab, previous projects (ex GAMBIT games?)

#3 – The (Stolen) Tech Prototype Tricks Only attempt if you are really, really confident in your programming ability. MUST throw away code at the end Don't write what you can copy Do NOT mess with underlying engine (physics, camera, rendering, etc.)

Tricks

Only attempt if you are really, really confident in your programming ability.

MUST throw away code at the end

Don't write what you can copy

Do NOT mess with underlying engine (physics, camera, rendering, etc.)

#4 – The Wizard of Oz Prototype Pros/Cons + Requires little programming knowledge, if any + Can simulate complicated game AI/functionality = Like a high tech paper prototype - Testing is slow and requires at least 2 people (probably 3) per session - May not be possible for every game

Pros/Cons

+ Requires little programming knowledge, if any

+ Can simulate complicated game AI/functionality

= Like a high tech paper prototype

- Testing is slow and requires at least 2 people (probably 3) per session

- May not be possible for every game

#4 – The Wizard of Oz Prototype Weapons Tape recorder/player, instant messenger, remote/shared control programs

Weapons

Tape recorder/player, instant messenger, remote/shared control programs

#4 – The Wizard of Oz Prototype Tricks Can be hybridized with other prototyping methods Hide the “Wizard” from the tester Be ready for tech to break Wizard must be mechanical, and act like a computer.

Tricks

Can be hybridized with other prototyping methods

Hide the “Wizard” from the tester

Be ready for tech to break

Wizard must be mechanical, and act like a computer.

Incremental Improvements = Big Progress Neil Armstrong: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

Identify + kill bad ideas

Do it now, get it right later And have fun in the process!

Questions? [email_address] [email_address] www.firehosegames.com