Elements of game play

1. FUNDAMENTALS OF GAME DESIGN AND
GAME PLAY
ELEMENTS OF GAME PLAY
Presented By:
Sayed Ahmed
BSc. Eng. in CSc. And Eng.
MSc. in CSc.
Consultant
Just E.T.C Technologies Inc.,
www.justETC.net
Winnipeg, Manitoba
sayed@justEtc.net

2. STUDY MATERIALS
 Fundamentals of Game Design, 2nd Edition, Ernest Adams, Prentice Hall,
2006, ISBN-10: 0131687476. ISBN-13: 978-0131687479
 http://justetc.net/knowledge/index.php?
table=Articles&categoryID=59&category=Computer%20Games
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3. COURSE TARGET
 You Will
 Learn major elements of game play
 Learn fundamental game design techniques
 Develop a game design
 Critically evaluate games from different genres
 Develop an understanding of the basic elements of
game play
 Balancing
 Risk versus reward
 Engagement
 Document a game design using a game design
document
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4. CLASS SCHEDULE
 Classes will be of 3 to 6 hours each
 Each class
 Conceptual/Theoretical topics discussion
 Show relevant ideas in Unreal
 Discuss the game design document
 You are expected to update your game design
document continuously
 With concepts learned from the class
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5. TODAY’S CLASS
 Discuss the Elements of Game Play
 Character Development
 Storytelling and Narrative
 User Interfaces
 Game Play
 Core Mechanics
 Game Balancing
 Level Design
 Introduction to the Game Design Document
 Analyze a serious game in light of Game Design
Document
 Brainstorm Game Design Ideas
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6. DESIGN DOCUMENT
 Design Document
 The design document defines the game concept as well as functional
and technical specifics of the game. A design document consists of 3
parts:
 Game Concept Document
 Game Design Document
 Technical Design Document
 Game Design Document:
 Game Foundations (Game Features, The Essence of the Game play,
Characters, Game play Elements, AI)
 User Interface (Navigational Chart, Functional Requirements, Objects
of the User Interface)
 Graphics and Video (Graphics and Animations, Animated Insertions)
 Sounds and Music (General Description, Sound Effects, Music)
 Plot
 Level Description (The graph of the Positional Relationship of the
Levels, Queue of the New Objects Implementation, General Level
Design Description)
 Reference: http://digitalworlds.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/the-process-
of-game-creation-the-game-design-document/ (Program Ace)
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7. ELEMENTS OF GAME PLAY
 Character Development, Storytelling and
Narrative, User Interfaces, Game play, Core
Mechanics,
 Game Balancing, Level Design
 Introduction to the Game Design Document
 Activity: Analyze a serious game in light of a
game design document – “Project Moonwalk”
 Group discussion of Moonwalk
 Activity: Brainstorm Game design ideas, begin
documentation
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