This slideshow accompanied a talk for the Intro to Game Design at LIU Post on November 18, 2015. The game design of Nintendo's 2006 hit Wii Sports for the Nintendo Wii draws on simplicity, accessibility, and multiplayer interaction. The tennis and baseball modes give players limited control options, relying on motion controls from the Wii Remote for natural sports interaction. The design is such that inexperienced players can achieve some level of success in the games with minimal feedback while veteran players improve their skill level and swing timing. The execution of game design in Wii Sports, along with it being a pack-in title, contributed to the acceptance and success of motion controls in video game sales.

1. Wii Sports - Game Design Choices in
Tennis and Baseball
● A Presentation by Dr. Christopher Hopkins

2. Main Design Areas

3. Main Design Areas
● Simplicity
– Controls
– Mechanics

4. Main Design Areas
● Simplicity
– Controls
– Mechanics
● Accessibility
– All ages
– All skill levels

5. Main Design Areas
● Simplicity
– Controls
– Mechanics
● Accessibility
– All ages
– All skill levels
● Social
– Casual
– Competitive

6. Essence of Tennis
● What are gameplay aspects of tennis?
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7. Essence of Tennis
● What are gameplay aspects of tennis?
– Serving
– Drop Shot
– Indoor/Outdoor
– Singles/Doubles
– Crowd
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8. Essence of Tennis
● What are gameplay aspects of tennis?
– Serving
– Drop Shot
– Indoor/Outdoor
– Singles/Doubles
– Crowd
– Hitting
– Overhead Smash
– Court Type
– Referee and Ball Retrievers
– Grand Slam tournament

9. Essence of Tennis
● What can the player control?
– Serving
– Drop Shot
– Indoor/Outdoor
– Singles/Doubles
– Crowd
– Hitting
– Overhead Smash
– Court Type
– Referee and Ball Retrievers
– Grand Slam tournament

10. Essence of Tennis
● What can the player control?
– Serving – Hitting
– Overhead Smash
– Court Type
– Referee and Ball Retrievers
– Grand Slam tournament

11. Essence of Tennis
● What can the player control?
– Serving – Hitting

13. Tennis Mechanics
● Serving
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● Hitting
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14. Tennis Mechanics
● Serving
– Motion gestures – throw ball up, hit
overhand/underhand, rocket serve
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● Hitting
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15. Tennis Mechanics
● Serving
– Motion gestures – throw ball up, hit
overhand/underhand, rocket serve
– Controller buttons – throw ball up
● Hitting
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16. Tennis Mechanics
● Serving
– Motion gestures – throw ball up, hit
overhand/underhand, rocket serve
– Controller buttons – throw ball up
● Hitting
– Motion gestures – forehand, backhand, lob, spin,
smash

17. Tennis Mechanics
● Serving
– Motion gestures – throw ball up, hit
overhand/underhand, rocket serve
– Controller buttons – throw ball up
● Hitting
– Motion gestures – forehand, backhand, lob, spin,
smash

18. Why?

19. Why?
● Core gameplay
– Serve, hit ball

20. Why?
● Core gameplay
– Serve, hit ball
● Easy actions to map to motion controls
– Serve ball, swing racquet

21. Why?
● Core gameplay
– Serve, hit ball
● Easy actions to map to motion controls
– Serve ball, swing racquet
● minimum action for players to feel invested
(meaningful choice)

22. Essence of Baseball
● What are gameplay aspects of baseball?
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23. Essence of Baseball
● What are gameplay aspects of baseball?
– Batting
– Fielding
– Baserunning
– Stat tracing
– Weather
– Stadium Design
– Coaching
– Player Development
– Leagues
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24. Essence of Baseball
● What are gameplay aspects of baseball?
– Batting
– Fielding
– Baserunning
– Stat tracing
– Weather
– Stadium Design
– Coaching
– Player Development
– Leagues
– Pitching
– Online
– Strategy
– Management
– Crowds
– Uniform Design
– Financial Planning
– Hats
– Warming Up

25. Essence of Baseball
● What can the player control?
– Batting
– Fielding
– Baserunning
– Stat tracing
– Weather
– Stadium Design
– Coaching
– Player Development
– Leagues
– Pitching
– Online
– Strategy
– Management
– Crowds
– Uniform Design
– Financial Planning
– Hats
– Warming Up

26. Essence of Baseball
● What can the player control?
– Batting – Pitching
– Online
– Strategy
– Management
– Crowds
– Uniform Design
– Financial Planning
– Hats
– Warming Up

27. Essence of Baseball
● What can the player control?
– Batting – Pitching

29. Baseball Mechanics
● Pitching
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● Batting
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30. Baseball Mechanics
● Pitching
– Motion gestures – pitch speed, under/overhand
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● Batting
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31. Baseball Mechanics
● Pitching
– Motion gestures – pitch speed, under/overhand
– Controller buttons – pitch type, pitch direction
● Batting
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32. Baseball Mechanics
● Pitching
– Motion gestures – pitch speed, under/overhand
– Controller buttons – pitch type, pitch direction
● Batting
– Motion gestures – swing timing

33. Baseball Mechanics
● Pitching
– Motion gestures – pitch speed, under/overhand
– Controller buttons – pitch type, pitch direction
● Batting
– Motion gestures – swing timing

34. Why?

35. Why?
● Core gameplay
– Throw ball, hit ball

36. Why?
● Core gameplay
– Throw ball, hit ball
● Easy actions to map to motion controls
– Throw ball, swing bat

37. Why?
● Core gameplay
– Throw ball, hit ball
● Easy actions to map to motion controls
– Throw ball, swing bat
● minimum action for players to feel invested
(meaningful choice)

38. Where is...?

39. Where is...?

40. Where is...?

41. Where is...?

42. Where is...?

43. Questions?

44. Questions?
● Dr. Christopher Hopkins
– Official Website
– E-Mail