David Perry on Game Design · A Brainstorming Toolbox by deMaria, Rusel -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

A Word from Rusel DeMaria

Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction

What Is a Game and Why Do We Play? Why Play Games?

Evolutionary Factors Challenge and Mastery Fantasy Secondary Rewards Optimal Arousal Level Subjective Time Shifting Personality Projection Empowerment Social Contact Pride

What Is a Game?

Required Elements

More Game Elements

I. How to Use This Book

1. Using This Book as a Reference

Delving Deeper

2. Brainstorming and Research

Using Brainstorming in Groups Kaleidoscope Brainstorming Process Brainstorming Solo Brainstorming Exercise Brainstorming Examples

Basic Qualities of Weapons

Design a Weapon A Magical Sword

Games and Research What to Look For Research Sources

II. Which Game Will You Make?

3. Hooks

Benefits of a Hook Hook Evaluator v3: DP’s Forty Questions

4. What Publishers Want

Why Do We Need Publishers? Getting Your Game Published Preparation for the Pitch

Design Elements Technical Elements What Adds Real Value to Your Design? Other Factors to Consider

Artistic License Pitching Games to Publishers The 45-Second Elevator Pitch A Good Pitch Good Pitches versus Bad Pitches Elements of a Game Design Submission Getting Work in the Game Industry

5. Game POV and Game Genres

POV: How to View the Game Basic View Options Types of Graphical Views

2D Graphics 3D Graphics

Making 2D Games Future Game Views Visual Styles Game Genres

6. Business Models

In-Game Advertising Around-Game Advertising Finder’s Fee from First Dollar Advert-Games/Advergaming/Re-Dressed Games Try before You Buy Episodic Entertainment/Expansion Packs Buy the Win Insurance Financing Velvet Rope or Member’s Club Subscription Support Tiers Become a “Brand Member” In-Game Stores and Microtransactions Selling Consumables Skill-Based Progressive Jackpots Player-to-Player Wagering and Item Sales/Trades Pay Players to Meet a Challenge Charityware Sponsored Games/Donationware Pay per Play/Pay as You Go/Pay for Time Player-to-Player Trading/Auctions Foreign Distribution Deals Sell Player Access/Co-Registration Offers Freeware Loss Leaders Peripheral Enticement User-Generated Content Pay for Storage Space Host a Private Game Server Rentals Licensing Sell Branded Physical Items Pre-Sell a Game to Its Players Before-Game Advertising Virtual Item Sponsorship Add Download Insurance Feed Me or I Die! Methods of Avoiding Buyer’s Regret

7. Branding

Working with Someone Else’s Brand Picking a Brand Creating a Brand Qualities of Successfully Branded Properties

Some Golden Guidelines from the Toy Industry Not so Licensable

Building Value on a Character Licensed Property

8. Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Trade Secrets Copyrights Trademarks

III. Storytelling

9. Storytelling Techniques

Elements of a Good Story The Basic Story Arc: Games and the Three-Act Structure

Beginning the Story Mid-Story End Game Epilogue/Catharsis

Joseph Campbell Meets Star Wars and The Matrix

The Hero’s Journey

Story and the Player’s Character

Story Visualization and Structure in Games

Linear Story Linear Branching Webs (2D and 3D) Snowflake (2D or 3D) Cubes Empty Box with Toys/Sandbox Emergent Behavior

Ways to Start a Story Ways to End a Story

Bad Endings

Story Techniques Plot Twists Dilemmas

What Is a Dilemma? The Prisoner’s Dilemma Types of Dilemmas

Logical Dilemmas Moral and Ethical Dilemmas Emotional Dilemmas

Timelines

Learning and Information Line Action Line Surprise Space/Area Emotion Frustration Tracking

Relevance Today (Endless New Ideas!) Social Pressures (Grow Every Year) Sources of Current Information Multi-Session Storytelling Keeping Secrets

Simple Mystery and Meta-Mystery

Wrong-Headedness Creating Comedy

Different Strokes Step 1: Characters Step 2: Story Structures Elements of Comedic Story Structures Step 3: Using the Tools of Comedy

Making Things Scary Enhancing the Player’s Emotional Response

More Ways to Assess Your Games

Creating Emotional Responses toward Characters Story-Builder Activity

Modifying an Existing Story (Common in the Game Industry) Creating a New Story

A Note on Emergent Stories and Games Creating Stories in Games

10. Movie Genres

Main Genres Sub-Genres Types of Comedies Movie Genres Used in Games

11. Scenarios

Fleeing Something Unexpected Danger Hot Pursuit/The Chase Tit for Tat Preemptive Strikes Struggle for Resources Political Motivations Environmental Goals Cultural Differentiation Cultural Manipulation Mortal Threats Family and Personal Issues The Plot Thickens Collaborating with the Enemy Infiltration Neutralize the Base Making an Area Safe Timed and/or Cyclic Events Ways to Trigger Events and Flags Delayed Gratification Qualification Tests (Tests of Worthiness) Criminal Investigation Reversals of Fortune Party Members

Traditional Classes of Party Members Nontraditional Classes of Party Members Party Member Encounters

Unwanted Sidekicks Is It Safe? The Call for Help Unexpected Location Changes The Obscure Object of Desire Innocent Bystanders Missing Persons Ways to Gain Allies Memory Games Something’s Screwy Time Travel The Observer The Gauntlet Imprisonment Scenarios Godlike Roles Misdirection

IV. Characters

12. Character Design

Dave Perry’s Build-a-Character System Some Characters Are Roles Build a Character

Roles Basic Characteristics Professions The Situation Goals Arc Flaws and Limitations Personal Strengths Basic Emotional States (Moods) Traits Quirks Fears General Activities Hobbies Pets Preferences Sexuality Travel Abilities Stress Management The Spiritual Side Relations to Other Characters Physical Description and Changes Humor

Step-by-Step Examples

A Simple Example

Step 1: Roles Step 2: Basics Step 3: The Family Step 4: Professions Step 5: The Situation Step 6: Goals Step 7: Arc Step 8: Flaws and Limitations Step 9: Strengths Step 10: Basic Emotional States (Moods) Step 11: Traits Step 12: Quirks Step 13: Fears Step 14: General Activities Step 15: Hobbies Step 16: Pets Step 17: Preferences Step 18: Sexuality Step 19: Travel Step 20: Abilities Step 21: Stress Management Step 22: The Spiritual Side Step 23: Relations to Other Characters Step 24: Physical Description and Changes Step 25: Is the Character Funny? Finishing Up

A More Complex Example

Step 1: Roles Step 2: Basics Step 3: The Family Step 4: Professions Step 5: The Situation Step 6: Goals Step 7: Arc Step 8 and 9: Strengths and Flaws/Limitations Step 10: Basic Emotional States (Moods) Step 11: Traits Step 12: Quirks Step 13: Fears Step 14: General Activities Step 15: Hobbies Step 16: Pets Step 17: Preferences Step 18: Sexuality Step 19: Travel Step 20: Abilities and Powers Step 21: Stress Management Step 22: The Spiritual Side Step 23: Relations to Other Characters Step 24: Physical Description Step 25: Is the Character Funny?

Character Descriptions and Gameplay Gender/Type of Character Character Racial/Species Options Strong Character Names Relationships of Characters Jobs Character Goals How a Character Grows...Character Arcs

Revenge Self-Discovery Identity Stranger in a Strange Land Romance War Time Social Drama or Comedy

Character Flaws and Strengths Real People’s Attributes Contrasting Traits Identities Character Traits Quirks Moods Hobbies Religious and Spiritual Practices Phun with Phobias Catchphrases Attributes of Funny Characters Kinds of Heroes, Villains, and Minions

Heroes The Heroic Path Hero Archetypes

Strong Leader Heroes Anti-Hero Heroes Smooth Heroes Super Spies Outsider Heroes Thinker Heroes Impetuous Heroes Inept Heroes Fighting Machines Reluctant Heroes Sidekicks

Villains Villain Archetypes

The Great Tyrant The Conqueror The Patriarch/Matriarch The Smooth Villain The Mad/Evil Genius The Sociopath The Professional Killer/Assassin The Demon The Defector The Unscrupulous Bastard/Nasty Bitch The False Ally The Avenger The Fanatic The Rival/Personal Enemy The Complete Lunatic The Unseen The Meek Giant Monsters

Minions Minion Archetypes

Functional Character Roles

Mentor Herald Threshold Guardian Shapeshifter Shadow Trickster

Personality Types

The Myers-Briggs Type indicator (MBTI) System The Enneagram

Mental/Emotional Signals: The Other 93%

About Rapport NLP Perspectives: How People Process Information More Observable and Representable Data

Eye Movements Head Movements Other Body Language Vocal Characteristics Mannerisms That Reveal That Someone Is Thinking

Other Ways to Show Character Emotions/States

Anger Fear Sadness Happiness Anxiety/Nervousness Hiding Something Apathy

Physical Changes Facial Expressions

Six Basic Emotions Ways to Greet Someone Ways to Indicate Agreement or Disagreement More on Facial Expressions

Ways to Customize Avatars

Body Face/Head Neck Age indicators Makeup Jewelry Tattoos Glasses Hats and Head Gear Clothing Accessories and Tools Animations

Human Universals

13. Character Roles and Jobs

NPC Roles

Character Roles

NPC Jobs

General Environments Jobs of Nobility Ecclesiastical Jobs Military Shops Ships Spaceships Small Village Laboratories Sports Wilderness Malls Castles Bars and Pool Halls Restaurants Banks Offices Movie Set

Evil Jobs Participatory Player Jobs Character Species/Type

Earthly Origin

Alien (Extraterrestrial)

Spirit Fantasy

Character Race/Ethnicity Player Roles in Multiplayer Games Military Ranks and Divisions

Army, Air Force, Marines Navy and Coast Guard Army Sizes Additional Unit Types

ACR: Armored Cavalry Regiment ACR(L): Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light) Separate Brigade Corps Aviation Brigade Corps Artillery Military Intelligence Brigade (MPs) Air Defense Artillery Brigade Engineer Brigade Signal Brigade Chemical Brigade Military Police Brigade Special Forces Group Ranger Regiment Special Operations Aviation Regiment Psychological Operations Tactical Support Battalion (PSYOP) Civil Affairs Brigade Corps Support Command (COSCOM) Medical Brigade Personnel Group Finance Group (Some Positions) Transportation Group (Some Positions) Quartermaster Group During Military Occupation In Areas of Concentration (AOCs) Explosive Ordinance Group Psychological Operations Group (Psyop)

14. Enemies

Types of Enemies

Villains Minions

More on Bosses Enemy Fighting Styles Boss Battles

Boss Battle Examples

Ways to Make More Interesting Enemies Ways to Encounter Enemies Ways to Avoid Enemies How to Make You Hate Them

15. Character Abilities

Introduction Range of Human Abilities Superhero Abilities List

Ways Superheroes Obtain Abilities List of Superhero Abilities

Useful Superhero Jobs/Knowledge Statistical Abilities

Strength (STR) Dexterity (DEX) Constitution (CON), Stamina (STM) or Endurance (END), Vitality (VIT) Intelligence (INT), Will (WIL) Speed (SPD), Quickness (QUI) Wisdom (WIS), Piety (PIE) Charisma (CHA), Personality (PER) Luck Mana, Spell Points Experience (EXP or XP) Other Statistical Abilities

Sight Hearing Detection Focus Leadership Stealth

Fighting Abilities

Fighting and Games Worldwide Martial Arts Systems Weapons of the Body Basic Techniques Hands/Wrists/Fingers

Punches Specific Technique Variations

Shoulders Elbows Feet

Kicks Stepping Running

Knees Shins Hips Body Head Blocks Joint Locks and Breaks Holds Throws Bluffing and Intimidation Cheating and Dirty Tricks Attack Approaches Human-to-Human Vulnerabilities and Attacks

Head Eyes Neck Nose Septum Ears Temple Front Teeth Side of the Jaw Joints (Generally) Collarbone/Clavicle Sternum/Chest Back Kidneys Floating Ribs Abdomen/Solar Plexus Pelvic Area Groin Coccyx/Tailbone Radius Bone Inner Thigh Knees Shins Foot Other Vulnerable Areas

Fatality Systems

Magic Abilities

Ways to Deliver Magic Tools of Magic Color Coding Direct Magical Attacks Area of Effect (AOE) Spells Trap Spells (Damage Type) Controlling: Taking the Enemy Temporarily Out of Action Transformations and Summons Buffs and Debuffs Healing/Self-Repair Other Magic Travel

Known Superhero List

16. Speech

Dialog Input Phonetic Alphabets Military Time Nicknames Slang

’20s Slang ’30s/’40s (Detective) Slang ’60s/’70s Slang ’80s Slang ’90s Slang Surfer Slang Skateboarder Slang British Slang Cockney Rhyming Slang Australian Slang Yiddish Terms Rasta Slang Modern (2005 or So) Street Slang Cops and Criminals Slang

Buzzwords

Medical Terminology

Historical Terms Medical Modern

Military Terms

Pilots Nautical General Military

Some Political Terms Crime Terminology Cavers/Climbers

Speech Patterns

Volume Tone of Voice Speed of Delivery Rhythm Musicality Word Choice and Construction

Representational Systems

Visual Words Auditory Words Kinesthetic Words Nonspecific Words (Auditory Digital)

Speech Distortions

Nominalization Mind Reading Cause-Effect Making Connections Presuppositions Universal Quantifiers Modal Operators Lost Performatives Simple Deletions Comparative Deletions Unspecified Nouns and Verbs

Interactive Conversation Common Hand and Body Expressions SWAT Communications

10 Series Hand Signals

Police and Military Codes

Military Police Codes Common Police Codes

Abbreviations Basic Numeric Codes Specific Numeric Codes “10” Codes DEA Radio Codes EMS Codes Common Radio Protocols

Foreign Languages and Foreign Dialogue Colorful Language: Scatological Terminology and Other Dirty Words

V. Worlds

17. Game Worlds

What Is a World? Types of Worlds

Point of View

Perception of Freedom

Basics of Creating Freedom Principles of Player Freedom What Restricts the Player?

Ways to Make a World Feel Alive and Real

Interactivity with the Environment

The General Environment Vehicles Other Machines Buildings Shops Natural World NPCs Random Objects and Effects

Using Physics

Basic Physical Properties Temperature Mass versus Volume Motion Electromagnetic Waves Potential and Kinetic Energy

Randomness Cause and Effect Continuity NPCs Animation and Effects Lighting

Dynamic Response Systems Sounds Terrain Variation Time Nature (Weather and Events) Nature (Flora) Nature (Fauna) Nature (Environmental Effects) Law and Order Sex Appeal Subtleties and Details Construction and Player-Created Content

What Is Reality? (Common Reality Distortions) Dangerous Places Places to Get Lost In Environmental Effects on Locations Good Places to Attack or Defend Moving or Transient Locations Weather Types and Phenomena Location Surfaces

Mix and Match Locations

Location Sizes Money and Commerce Politics

Types of Political Structures Ways Political Worlds Can Be Things the Player Can Do to Gain Favor or Influence (in a Political Setting)

Creating Your World

18. Travel

The Functions of Travel in Games Methods of Travel Travel Dos and Don’ts Types of Vehicles Driving and NPCs Rules/Methods of Police Pursuit

Typical Police Pursuit Rules (Based on City of Detroit) Methods of Police Pursuit More Ideas for Police Interactions

Secret Routes Ways to Display Maps What to Display on a Map

19. Objects and Locations

Some Qualities an Object Can Have

Size Shape Material Qualities Material Types Color Mass/Weight Movement Temperature Value Aesthetics Age Condition

Other Qualities of Objects in Games Relevance to the Game Objects by Locations

Street and Vehicle Objects

Basic Freeway Elements City Streets Objects Roadside Objects Vehicle Objects Road Surfaces

Household Objects

Typical Bathroom Objects Typical Kitchen Objects Other Typical Objects

Common Signs Office Objects Gym/Health-Club Objects Hospital and Medical Objects Dental Office Objects Police Station Objects Fire Station Objects School/College/University Objects Sewer Objects Library Objects Shop/Market/Miscellaneous Store Objects Research/Tech Facility Objects Weapons Facility Objects Military Base Objects Airport Objects Factory Objects Warehouse Objects Medieval Village Objects Castle Objects

Medieval Foods Provisions List

Theater Objects TV Studio Objects Amusement Park Objects Objects on a Train Objects on a Cruise Liner Objects Inside a Mine Objects Inside a Museum Open-Air Market Objects Spacecraft Objects Futuristic Objects

Tools of Magic Good Places to Hide Objects Objects with Cultural Meaning List of Machines The Many Uses of Ordinary Items

Ordinary Things That Can Be Weapons Accessory Objects

Individual Objects Carried by Specific NPCs

Policeman Fireman Businessman/Lawyer/Accountant Soldier

Things You Can Also Love

20. Music and Sound

Music

Early Game Music Modern Game Music The Core of the Score Functional versus Decorative Music

Background Music Situational Music

Related to Action Emotional Effects Point of View

Ways to Score

Character Themes Contextual

Intros, Endings, and Interstitials/Cut Scenes Incidental Music Orchestrations and Arrangements Ways to Affect the Player’s Experience

Sounds

Ambient Sounds Sounds as Clues Sound and Location Effects and Feedback

VI. Experience Design

Section A The Elements of Experience 21. Experiential Design

Experiential Design Activities

Game Activities

Basic Game Activities More Game Activities

Movements and Positions Attacks State of Being Socialize Resource Management Objects Doors Vehicles Economics Menu System Create a Character Manage Inventory User Interface Strategize

Quests/Missions: Using This Book to Create Content

Creating a Quest/Mission More Quest Examples

Things to Do in Games

Things You Can Do in FPSs

Single or Multiplayer Multiplayer

Things You Can Do in RTSs Things You Can Do in RPGs

NPC Quest Examples

Things to Do in Arcade/Action Games

What Can We Learn from Sports Games?

Basic Sports Principles Sports Lists

Team Sports Individual Sports Racing Social Sports Illegal or Dangerous Sports

Incorporating Sports Ideas into Non-Sports Games

Defining Fun

Play Styles What Is Fun

Interaction Challenge Community Emotion Expression Exploration

More of What Is Fun What Is Not Fun

22. Game Conventions and Clichés

General Clichés Enemy Clichés Weapons Objects and the Environment NPC Clichés Martial Arts Clichés RPG Clichés FPS Clichés Action Adventure (Platformer) Clichés RTS Clichés Fighting Game Clichés Racing Game Clichés Simulation Game Clichés Puzzle Game Clichés MMO Clichés

Section B Goals and Rewards 23. Goals

Introduction to Goals Player-Created Goals Multiple Goals Long-Term Goals Intermediate Goals Moment-to-Moment Goals (Feedback Systems)

Feedback Systems and Situational Awareness Other Moment-to-Moment Goals

24. Rewards, Bonuses, and Penalties

Known and Unknown Rewards Indirect Rewards Shared Rewards Incremental Rewards Milestone Rewards End-of-Game Rewards Bonus Goals and Rewards Penalties

Section C Obstacles 25. Barriers, Obstacles, and Detectors

Introduction to Barriers and Obstacles Barriers

Hindrance Barriers and Partial Barriers Barrier Examples Passing Barriers Keeping Contained Within a Map

Obstacles Methods of Detection

26. Traps and Counter Traps

General Solutions Physical Containment

Common Solutions to Locked Doors and Other Containment Scenarios

Containment by Threat

Common Solutions to Containment by Threat Containment by Threat Scenarios

Restraint (Physical)

Other Physical Restraint Scenarios

Betrayal/Treachery

Common Solutions to Betrayal Traps Betrayal and Treacherous Traps

Mental Traps Removal Injury/Direct Damage

Common Sensors Common Direct Damage Counters Injury/Direct Damage Scenarios

Herding and Control Trap-Maker Questions

27. Puzzles

What Is a Puzzle? Dilemmas Puzzles in Games

Putting Pieces Together Missing Persons, Creatures, or Things Hard Choices Kill Tasks Getting It Right Unusual Objects You Can Carry or Move Ordering Things Buttons and Switches Keys Configurations Sequence of Tasks Follow the Leader Timing Challenges The Obscure Object of Desire You Can’t Do That...Yet Barriers Thinking Outside the Box Managing Chaos (Too Much Too Fast) Moral Dilemmas Riddles Signs and Wonders Devices Sudden Responsibilities Sudden Loss of Power Whodunit Mental Puzzles

Puzzle-Based Games Codes and Cryptography A Puzzle Story Puzzle Maker

Goals Methods You Might Use Tools, Skills, and Objects Output

Section D Time 28. Controlling Pacing

Introduction to Pacing Interest Level and Goals Does Focus Equal Pacing? Activity Levels Emotional Impact Intensity Pacing by Genre

Action Games (Platform, Arcade, FPS) Battle Sims (Games That Involve Warlike Battle Simulations)

In the Action The General’s Perspective

RPGs and Adventures Strategy Games MMOGs

Pacing of the Game Experience

Skills Development Difficulty Item Values Information Acquisition and Story Development Tasks/Missions/Quests Taking Turns Game Rewards

29. Time Limits and Time Manipulation

Time Limits in Games Time Manipulation

Section E Communication 30. Ways to Communicate with the Player

Introduction Clues and Information

General Ways to Convey Clues and Information Specific Examples of Clues and Information

Rules Story Elements Foreshadowing Atmosphere

Sounds Music Light Effects Terrain Imagery City/Town/Village Imagery Views Weather Effects Other Life Forms Dungeons Other Effects Physics

Emotion Misdirection: Ways to Mislead the Player Influencing Player Movement

Section F Common Problems 31. Common Game Design Problems

Ways to Start a Game How to Contain a Player How to Destroy a Planet Ways to Kill a Character Ways to Play With the Players’ Emotions Customizing/Personalizing the Game Ways to Make a Game Replayable Qualification Tests Things You Can Do with NPCs Ways to Protect a Character or Place

Escorting a Character Protecting a Place

Stealthy Ways to Play The Various Mechanics of Mini-Games

32. Ways to Die

Direct Causes of Death

Animal Attack Boiling Biological Weapons Bleeding to Death Burning (Immolation) Bursting Capture and Slow Death Chemical Weapons Conversion/Transformation Critical Hit Crushing Death Dehydration Deletion Disappearance Disease or Illness Disembowelment Drowning (in any Liquid) Elemental Causes/Natural Disasters Exhaustion Execution/Assassination Explosion Freezing to Death Friendly Fire G-Forces Gravity Grinding Death Impact Impalement Imploding Internal Invader Laughing to Death Life Force Removed Liquefaction Magic and Supernatural Causes Mechanical Failure or Malfunction Medical Failure Melting or Vaporization Metaphysical Revelation Mind Control Molecular Breakdown Mutation Mystery Mythical Death Blows Natural Causes Nausea Overwhelmed Pinching/Restriction Poison Projectile Death Radioactivity Rapid Aging Scared to Death Shock (Electrical) Shock (Mental) Sleep Deprivation Sliced and Diced Spinning Spirit/Body Separation Spirit Death Splitting Starvation Stretching Suicide Suffocation/Asphyxiation/Strangulation Taste (Direct Death) The Bends Tickling Time Travel or Dimensional Accident Turned Inside Out Turning into Bait Vehicular Death Vibration Writer’s Pun Fooled You!

Indirect Causes of Death

Altered Physical Laws Bad Luck Blinding

Causes of Blindness Indirect Causes of Death Due to Blindness

Boredom Broken Heart Deafness Hallucination Insanity Loyalty Death Neglect Sleep Smell Stupidity (Darwin Awards) Taste Touch

Torture Methods

Physical Torture Denial and Deprivation Mental Torture