My presentation focuses on explaining the correlations between military science and game design. I will showcase the reasons I believe modern game / level designers should study military science principals by presenting how I use them in my own work including at AAA studios especially in designing open world missions.

1. Military Science
for Game Developers

2. Mii
David Baron

3. I’ve worked as a ...
Programmer Artist Designer

4. Studios

5. Discussion Overview
The key points of military science and principals.
My personal journey in researching this topic.
How it can help you as a designer and player.

6. Warning
I’m not a soldier and I have never served.
A lot may disagree with my opinions on the matter.
I’m simplifying and deconstructing a very complex subject.

7. How did I get started?

9. Flanking?
Patrol Path?
Cover?
Ambushing?

10. My initial reading material ...

11. I became a better
player ...

12. … and a better
designer.

13. So what is war?

15. Violence & Death?

16. No, that’s incidental!

17. It’s all about power?

18. But how do you gain true power?

19. By conquering!

20. But what are you trying to conquer,
gain and control?

21. Oil …

22. … and people!

23. No these are just pawns!

24. My answer?

25. Territory!

26. At its most basic?

27. It’s about marking
your territory.

28. Borders

29. Chess

30. How do you win in
chess?

31. By defeating all your
opponent’s pieces?

32. Or by taking control
of the board?

33. You defeat your opponent by
immobility not destruction.

34. We fight and play
to dominate
territory.

36. Beat the level!

37. Nature

40. Do you we play to
learn the skills to
resolve conflict?

41. War is the highest
expression of human
conflict.

42. History

43. The birth of a hobby ...
Kriegsspeil Little Wars by H.G. Wells
Simulation Gamification

44. The line of influence ...
Gary Gyax
Wargamer
Romero & Carmack

45. Fundamentals

46. Strategy & Tactics
Strategist Tactician Soldier
Long Term Short Term Instant
TIME
RESOURCES

47. Player Types
Planner Stealther Rambo
Likes to execute according to a
plan.
Likes to take decisions while in
the being on the battlefield.
Likes to provoke situations
and then react accordingly.
PATIENCE?
TIME TO ACTION

48. Playtest Observation

49. Rainbow Six - Raven Shield

50. The Principals

52. Principals, strategies, concepts ...
Concentration of effort
Economy of force
Maintenance of reserves
Unity of command
Defense in depth

53. Defense in depth

54. Tactical Value

56. Interesting or tactically valuable?

57. The Kill Zone

58. GTA5 - The Third Way

59. Triangulation

60. Observations
Would the player choose the same tactical points?
Curving difficulty by breaking the player’s tactical advantage.

61. Suggestions

62. A.I. Tactical Depth
Smart (enemies)Stupid (enemies)
Cheating (enemies)Scripted (enemies)

63. Multiplayer Tutorials
Teach tactics not just mechanics.
Players are becoming more sophisticated.
Trust your players with tactically smart enemies.
Teach formations, how to maintain squad structure.

64. e-Sport
Communication, squad consistency …
Enhance team performances by training them in military tactics.
Players are re-discovering military science to enhance their performances.

65. Training

66. Dslyecxi - Arma 3

67. References

68. The End