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 (first time ever!) Lessons learned And occasionally dinosaurs

The path to our first game

Show off some interim builds (first time ever!)

Lessons learned

And occasionally dinosaurs

Who Are We? Ethan Guitar Hero 2, Rock Band Sand Castles Eitan AudiOdyssey, Immune Attack Ice Hockey

Ethan

Guitar Hero 2, Rock Band

Sand Castles

Eitan

AudiOdyssey, Immune Attack

Ice Hockey

Starting out

Starting out PLAYER INVENTORY 2 Programmers/Designers 1 Designer/Business Small Office $40,000 +2 Wireless Router of Internet, 50% bonus against Orcs

Starting out Focus on our strengths, temporarily ignore our weaknesses

Focus on our strengths, temporarily ignore our weaknesses

Our First Game

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?

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 Paper prototyping is ok! Working full time >> part time 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

Paper prototyping is ok!

Working full time >> part time

Don't forget to play test!

What Next? STILL NO

Analyze Testing Results > Take feedback w/grain of salt

Is it viable?

Start fixing deficiencies Hire artist Begin looking for more $$$

Small Team Management

Find Creative Solutions Make friends and ask for help + advice!

Deadlines are your friend Test every week, no matter what! Be ready for Dave Edery Mon Work on Game Tues Work on Game Wed Read Comics Thurs Work on Game Friday TEST! TEST! TEST!

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 One team member (NOT whole team) needs to cover long term problems like hiring, finding money) but NOT the whole team Simple project management, good communication Make friends, ask for help, get advice Make deadlines + stick to them!

Test constantly and interpret feedback

One team member (NOT whole team) needs to cover long term problems like hiring, finding money) but NOT the whole team

Simple project management, good communication

Make friends, ask for help, get advice

Make deadlines + stick to them!

What Next? STILL NO C'mon People, we've been through this.

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

Identify + kill bad ideas

Use Tools Used: Didn't ever use:

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

What Changed? Python -> Flash 4 player co-op Simplified building, greater puzzle aspect No stolen art, all original stuff Stand alone game w/tutorial, basic story Better building physics Got rid of level editor Polished the hell out of everything

Python -> Flash

4 player co-op

Simplified building, greater puzzle aspect

No stolen art, all original stuff

Stand alone game w/tutorial, basic story

Better building physics

Got rid of level editor

Polished the hell out of everything

January Demo Video

Lessons from 3 rd Prototype Instead of arguing forever, “Screw it, implement it, test it” Have builds that people can play all the time Placeholder first, replace later Stick to schedule + deadlines! Baby steps + incremental progress Kill bad ideas quickly

What Next?

Next Steps Making the game simpler, easier to pick up + play Adding many levels with new mechanics New art aesthetic + characters And a new story line! It's important to remember the lessons learned

Making the game simpler, easier to pick up + play

Adding many levels with new mechanics

New art aesthetic + characters

And a new story line!

It's important to remember the lessons learned

Closing Thoughts Please don't sue us Ryan North!

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