Game Design Workshop · 3rd Edition by Fullerton, Tracy -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Preliminaries Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Image Credits and Copyright Notices Introduction

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 End Notes

Part 1: Game Design Basics

Chapter 1: The Role of the Game Designer

An Advocate for the Player

Playtesters

Passions and Skills

Communication Teamwork Process Inspiration Becoming a Better Player Creativity

A Playcentric Design Process

Setting Player Experience Goals Prototyping and Playtesting Iteration

Step 1: Brainstorming Step 2: Physical Prototype Step 3: Presentation (Optional) Step 4: Software Prototype(s) Step 5: Design Documentation Step 6: Production Step 7: Quality Assurance

Prototypes and Playtesting in the Industry

Designing for Innovation Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10

Chapter 2: The Structure of Games

Go Fish versus Quake

Go Fish Quake Comparison

Players Objectives Procedures Rules Resources Conflict Boundaries Outcome Formal Elements

Engaging the Player

Challenge Play Premise Character Story Dramatic Elements

The Sum of the Parts Defining Games Beyond Definitions Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Chapter 3: Working with Formal Elements

Players

Invitation to Play Number of Players Roles of Players Player Interaction Patterns

1. Single Player versus Game 2. Multiple Individual Players versus Game 3. Player versus Player 4. Unilateral Competition 5. Multilateral Competition 6. Cooperative Play 7. Team Competition

Objectives

1. Capture 2. Chase 3. Race 4. Alignment 5. Rescue or Escape 6. Forbidden Act 7. Construction 8. Exploration 9. Solution 10. Outwit Summary

Procedures

Connect Four Super Mario Bros. Comparison System Procedures Defining Procedures

Rules

Rules Defining Objects and Concepts Rules Restricting Actions Rules Determining Effects Defining Rules

Resources

Lives Units Health Currency Actions Power-Ups

Inventory

Special Terrain Time

Conflict

Obstacles Opponents Dilemmas

Boundaries Outcome Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36

Chapter 4: Working with Dramatic Elements

Challenge

A Challenging Activity That Requires Skill The Merging of Action and Awareness Clear Goals and Feedback Concentration on the Task at Hand The Paradox of Control The Loss of Self-Consciousness The Transformation of Time Experience Becomes an End in Itself

Play

The Nature of Play Types of Players Levels of Engagement

Premise Character Story World Building The Dramatic Arc Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22

Chapter 5: Working with System Dynamics

Games as Systems

Objects Properties Behaviors Relationships

System Dynamics

Tic-Tac-Toe Chess Mastermind versus Clue Economies Simple Bartering Complex Bartering Simple Market Complex Market Metaeconomy Emergent Systems

Interacting with Systems

Information Structure Control Feedback

Tuning Game Systems Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17

Part 2: Designing a Game

Chapter 6: Conceptualization

Where Do Ideas Come From? Brainstorming

Brainstorming Best Practices

State a Challenge No Criticism Vary the Method Playful Environment Put It on the Wall Go for Lots of Ideas Don’t Go Too Long

Alternate Methods

List Creation Idea Cards Mind Map Stream of Consciousness Shout It Out Cut It Up Surrealist Games Research

Editing and Refining

Technical Feasibility Market Opportunity Artistic Considerations Business/Cost Restrictions

Turning Ideas into a Game

Focus on the Formal Elements Practice, Practice, Practice Feature Design

Battle for Middle Earth 2 Battlefield 2 Karaoke Revolution

Feature Storyboards

Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5

Chapter 7: Prototyping

Methods of Prototyping

Physical Prototypes Battleship Prototype More Examples Up the River Prototype Prototyping a First-Person Shooter

Arena Map Units Movement and Shooting Rules

Perspective on Physical Prototyping

Prototyping Your Original Game Idea

Visualizing Core Gameplay Building the Physical Prototype

1. Foundation 2. Structure 3. Formal Details 4. Refinement

Refining Your Visualization

Making the Physical Prototype Better Beyond the Physical Prototype Conclusion Further Reading 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14

Chapter 8: Digital Prototyping

Types of Digital Prototypes

Prototyping Game Mechanics Prototyping Aesthetics Prototyping Kinesthetics Prototyping Technology

Designing Control Schemes Selecting Viewpoints

Overhead View Side View Isometric View First-Person View Third-Person View

Effective Interface Design

Form Follows Function Metaphors Visualization Grouping Features Consistency Feedback

Prototyping Tools

Programming Languages Game Engines Level Editors

Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 8.21 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Chapter 9: Playtesting

Playtesting and Iterative Design Recruiting Playtesters

Self-Testing Playtesting with Confidants Playtesting with People You Do Not Know Finding the Ideal Playtesters Playtesting with Your Target Audience

Conducting a Playtesting Session

Introduction (2–3 Minutes) Warm-Up Discussion (5 Minutes) Play Session (15–20 Minutes) Discussion of Game Experience (15–20 Minutes) Wrap-Up Methods of Playtesting

The Play Matrix Taking Notes Basic Usability Techniques

Do Not Lead Remind Testers to Think Out Loud Quantitative Data

Data Gathering Test Control Situations Playtesting Practice

Connect Four

1. Create the Prototype 2. Prepare Your Questions and Script 3. Recruit Testers 4. Playtesting 5. Alternate the Grid Size 6. Alternate the Objective 7. Alternate Turn Procedure 8. Alternate Number of Players

Final Analysis

Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.10 Figure 1

Chapter 10: Functionality, Completeness, and Balance

What Are You Testing For?

Foundation Structure Formal Details Refinement

Is Your Game Functional? Is Your Game Internally Complete?

Solution #1 Solution #2 Solution #3 Solution #4 Discussion Loopholes Loopholes versus Features Dead Ends Wrapping Up Completeness

Is Your Game Balanced?

Balancing Variables Balancing the Dynamics Reinforcing Relationships Dominant Objects Dominant Strategies Balancing Positions Symmetrical Games Asymmetrical Games Asymmetrical Objectives Ticking Clock Protection Combination Individual Objectives Complete Asymmetry Balancing for Skill Balancing for the Median Skill Level Balancing Dynamically Balancing Computer-Controlled Characters

Techniques for Balancing Your Game

Think Modular Purity of Purpose One Change at a Time Spreadsheets

Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14

Chapter 11: Fun and Accessibility

Is Your Game Fun?

Challenge

Reaching and Exceeding Goals Competing against Opponents Stretching Personal Limits Exercising Difficult Skills Making Interesting Choices

Play

Living Out Fantasies Social Interaction Exploration and Discovery Collection Stimulation Self-Expression and Performance Construction/Destruction

Story Analyzing Appeal

World of Warcraft Monopoly Tetris

Improving Player Choices

Types of Decisions Dilemmas

Cake-Cutting Scenario The Prisoner’s Dilemma

Puzzles Rewards and Punishments Anticipation Surprise Progress The End

Fun Killers

Micromanagement Stagnation Insurmountable Obstacles Arbitrary Events Predictable Paths

Beyond Fun Is Your Game Accessible? Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16

Part 3: Working as a Game Designer

Chapter 12: Team Structures

Team Structure

Publisher versus Developer

Developer’s Team

Game Designer Producer Programmers Visual Artists QA Engineers Specialized Media Level Designer

Publisher’s Team

Producer Marketing Team Executives Quality Assurance Usability Specialists User Research and Metrics

Team Profile All Contribute to the Design Team Building Team Communication

Conducting Meetings Agile Development

Conclusion Further Reading End Note 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6

Chapter 13: Stages and Methods of Development

Stages Defined

Concept/Contract

The Team The Project Plan The Idea

Preproduction Production QA/Polish Ongoing Production

Using Agile Development Agile Project Planning

Goals Priorities Schedule Budget Scoping and Revising Milestones and Approvals

Conclusion Further Reading 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4

Chapter 14: Communicating Your Designs

Visualization Flowcharts Tables and Spreadsheets Concept Art Description Formats for Design Documents Contents Design Macros Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7

Chapter 15: Understanding the New Game Industry

The Size of the Game Industry Platforms for Distribution

Consoles Sony PlayStation 3 and 4 Microsoft Xbox 360 and Xbox One Nintendo Wii and Wii U Computer (PC and Mac) Mobile (Phone and Tablet)

Genres of Gameplay

Action Games Strategy Games Role-Playing Games Sports Games Racing/Driving Games Simulation/Building Games Flight and Other Simulations Adventure Games Educational Games Children’s Games Casual Games Experimental Games

Publishers

Electronic Arts Microsoft Sony Computer Entertainment Nintendo

Developers The Business of Game Publishing

Element 1: Development

Industry Trends Developer Royalties Base Deal Royalty Calculation Affiliate Label Deal

Element 2: Licensing

Content Licensing Console Licensing Agreements

Element 3: Marketing Element 4: Distribution

Conclusion Further Reading End Notes 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4

Chapter 16: Selling Yourself and Your Ideas to the Game Industry

Getting a Job at a Publisher or Developer

Educate Yourself Academic Programs Play Games Design Games and Levels Know the Industry Networking Organizations Conferences Internet and E-Mail Starting at the Bottom Interning QA

Pitching Your Original Ideas

Pitch Process Pitch Materials

1. Sell Sheet 2. Game Demo 3. Gameplay Video 4. Game Design Overview 5. Company Prospectus 6. Storyboards 7. PowerPoint Presentation 8. Technical Design Overview 9. Competitive Analysis

What Happens after the Pitch

Independent Production Conclusion Further Reading

Conclusion

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