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Game Production
This document provides an overview of game design concepts and principles. It discusses the different stages of creating a game, including concept, structure, and design. Game elements like style, plot, character, setting, and theme are explained. Various genres are identified and tips are provided for developing ideas, criticizing concepts, and determining feasibility. The creative process of inspiration, synthesis, resonance and convergence is outlined. Finally, components of an effective game design document are reviewed.
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Game Production
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- 2. Reference Ê Game Architecture and Design “A New Edition” Ê Andrew Rollings and Dave Morris 2
- 3. Treatment Ê No more than 6 pages Ê A.k.a. The Pitch Ê Overview of the Game Ê Basic Rules 3
- 4. Game Designer Role Ê Create something new Ê No such thing as something new Ê Old ideas presented in a new way Ê Synthesize previous ideas Ê Ideas are not like resources, instead, they’re like living things Ê Whacky ideas may work 4
- 5. Stages in Creating a Game
- 6. 3 Stages in Creating a Game 1. Concept Ê Setting Ê Characters 2. Structure Ê Progression 3. Design Ê Game Mechanics Ê User Interface Ê Objectives 6
- 7. Identify Ê Identify the Concept, Structure and Design of the ff games Ê Super Mario Ê Plants vs Zombies Ê Starcraft Ê Quake Ê Final Fantasy VII 7
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- 9. 4 Phases of the Creative Process Ê Inspiration – where to get ideas Ê Synthesis – combining ideas Ê Resonance – creating synergy from ideas Ê Convergence – finishing the concept 9
- 10. Inspiration Ê Get ideas from anywhere and everywhere Ê Stay away from stale thinking Ê Do something new Ê Look at the same thing, differently Ê Ask “What If?” 10
- 11. Inspiration Ê Stephen King said that the spark of originality comes when you put familiar things together in an unexpected way Ê Ideas should have public resonance 11
- 12. Synthesis Ê Different ideas need to “click” together Ê Consider Plants Vs Zombies 12
- 13. Resonance Ê A way of making the whole greater than the sum of the parts Ê Consider Warcraft 13
- 14. Convergence Ê Validate if the ideas are going to work or not Ê Good critical judgment requires experience 14
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- 16. 5 Elements of Drama Ê Style Ê Plot Ê Character Ê Setting Ê Theme 16
- 17. Style Ê Genre – goal of the designer Ê Action – lots of frantic button pushing Ê Adventure – story J Ê Strategy – Non-‐trivial choices Ê Simulation – Optimization exercises Ê Puzzle – Hard analytic thinking Ê Toys – just have fun with Ê Educational – Learning by doing 17
- 18. Style Ê A game can belong to multiple genre Ê Games of the same genre may have different ways to execute Ê Style is the way the game is executed Ê Consider RTS Ê Red Alert, Warcraft, Battle Realms Ê Consider RPGs Ê Final Fantasy 18
- 19. Plot Ê “Choose-‐Your-‐Own-‐Adventure” books are early forms of Adventure Games Ê Linear vs Non-‐Linear Ê Player, not Game Designer, is the author of the game’s events Ê Consider Diablo 19
- 20. Character Ê In terms of Marketing, a commodity Ê For the Game Designer, enhances the story Ê The character may not be visible like in RTS or Puzzle Games Ê Consider Final Fantasy Ê Consider Portal 20
- 21. Setting Ê Where? Ê When? 21
- 22. Theme Ê The theme is the philosophical idea that the author is trying to express Ê Can peace exist? Ê Does love conquer all? Ê What is more valuable? Ê Even if the theme may be created by the designer, the player should still have freedom of choice 22
- 23. Tips Ê NO technical Ê Have fun Ê Write many ideas separately, don’t force them to link early 23
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- 25. 3 Steps to Criticizing an Idea Ê Analysis Ê Evaluation Ê Justification 25
- 26. Analysis Ê Dissect your idea Ê What is the game genre(s)? Ê What existing/popular game resembles the concept? Ê In what ways is your game like to those games? Ê In what ways is it different? 26
- 27. Evaluation Ê How ‘unique’ is your game? Ê Identify Unique Selling Points (USP) a.k.a. features Ê For each feature, ask Ê Will the feature be fun? (#1 rule!) Ê Will the feature lead to good gameplay? Ê Why isn’t the feature common or why hasn’t it been used yet? Ê Is it realistic to be implemented with your team? Ê Will the feature be workable despite the limitations of the platform? 27
- 28. Justification Ê Present to the team (publishers and developers) Ê Team will critique and you justify the idea/feature Ê When presenting… 1. In 2 mins, give them a reason to continue listening to you 2. Present theme 3. Elaborate theme and how the player will experience 4. How to deliver that experience 28
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- 30. Feasibility Ê Creating treatment knows no bounds! Ê However, there are limitations on development Ê Tip: keep a file with ready-‐made ideas and concepts Ê Factors Ê Commercial Ê Technological Ê Developmental 30
- 31. Sample Treatment Êhttp://www.scribd.com/nicol%C3%A1s_barr%C3%ADa_1/d/ 51628648/21-‐Case-‐Study-‐1-‐2-‐Initial-‐Treatment-‐for-‐ Conquerors 31
- 32. Exercise Ê Create a concept for a Battle City game Ê Create a concept for a puzzle game Ê Limit concept to 1 page each 32
- 33. What is a Game?
- 34. What a game is NOT Ê “It’s in the features!” Ê “If it looks good, it must be good” Ê “Players love challenges” Ê “It must have an intriguing plot” 34
- 35. Feature Freak! ÊAdding features is ok but know when to stop Ê Do not entertain unnecessary features Ê A.k.a. Gold Plating 35
- 36. Fancy Graphics ÊGraphics:Games::Special Effects:Movies Ê Does not compensate for lack of creativity and quality Ê Fancy Graphics are always entertained BUT the game should work without them 36
- 37. Puzzles Ê People like puzzles Ê No such thing as a “pure” puzzle game – usually merged with another to increase selling point Ê Puzzles are not gameplays, puzzles are level designs Ê Game Design is creating a set of rules where different problems can sprout from 37
- 38. Setting and Story Ê A good story keeps the player immersed in the game Ê “The willing suspension of disbelief” Ê Avoid using the game to tell a story 38
- 39. Games Need Not Everything Ê The last 4 factors are about enhancing games Ê Games need to be FUN! Ê Consider Text Twist Ê Difference between Movies and Video Games Ê Interaction Ê Choices 39
- 40. Games = Gameplay Ê A good game is one that you can win by doing the unexpected and making it work Ê A.k.a. Surprise and Delight Factor 40
- 41. Game Objectives ÊCollect Something Ê Gain Territory Ê Get Somewhere First Ê Remove a Series of Obstacles Ê Discovery Ê Eliminate Other Players Ê Survival 41
- 42. Game Objectives ÊWhat are the aims of the game? Ê How will players achieve those aims? Ê What will the game be like to play? Ê What are the key features that will create that gameplay? 42
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- 44. Game Specifications ÊFeatures Ê Gameplay Ê Interface Ê Rules Ê Level Design 44
- 45. Features Ê Unique Selling Points Ê Features are emergent from rules Ê 3 Types Ê Integral Features Ê Chrome Ê Substitutes 45
- 46. Gameplay Ê How to play the game Ê 3 Purposes Ê For developers to understand how it works Ê Vision statement throughout the development Ê Determine priority, between integral and chrome features 46
- 47. Interface Ê Primary objective is to aid the player Ê Intuitive controls Ê Minimize icons Ê Clutter free Ê Consider MMORPGS, RTS and FPS 47
- 48. Rules Ê Limitations Ê Guidelines Ê Rules must serve the features 48
- 49. Level Design ÊScenarios of the Rules Ê Affects style, plot, background Ê Tutorial Levels Ê Linear vs Non-‐Linear 49
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- 51. Parts of a GDD Ê Concept Ê Overview Ê Interface Ê Entities Ê Features Ê Rules Ê Level Design Ê Art Document Ê Technical Document 51
- 52. Concept Ê Setting Ê Where and When Ê Character Ê Main Character Ê Side Character Ê Antagonist Ê Theme Ê Philosophical Idea 52
- 53. Overview Ê Style Ê Genre Ê Similar Game Ê Plot Ê Progression of Experience Ê Objectives Ê Different aims of the players 53
- 54. Interface Ê Screen Flow Ê Title Screen Ê Option Screen Ê Game Screen Ê Different game modes/phases Ê Screen Layout Ê Icons Ê Controls Ê Hotkeys Ê Mouse Commands 54
- 55. Entities Ê Player-‐controlled Ê Main and Side Characters Ê Non-‐Player-‐controlled Ê Weapons Ê Enemies Ê Spells Ê Visible Game Objects 55
- 56. Feature List ÊUnique Selling Points Ê Example: Ê Resources Ê AI Ê Procedural Level Generation Ê Games within the game (side quests, puzzles, etc) Ê Identify Integral and Chrome features (prioritization) 56
- 57. Rules Ê Gameplay Mechanics Ê How to achieve objectives Ê Winning and Losing Conditions 57
- 58. Level Design ÊMust support Overview Ê Tutorial Levels Ê Level 1: Introduce player and feature A Ê Level 2: Player, feature A and feature B Ê Level 3: Player, feature B and enemy C Ê Level 4: Player, enemy C, objective D 58
- 59. Art Document ÊList of Art Assets Ê Indicate priority 59
- 60. Technical Document ÊPlatform Ê Software and Hardware Requirements Ê Specific values used Ê Identify which Physics are involved 60
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- 62. Last Notes! ÊGDD has no standard Ê Each video game has its own GDD format depending on the relevance Ê GDD is a living thing, it changes throughout the whole game design process Ê Try googling for “Game Design Document Template” J 62