Game Deconstruction 101 How to stop developers reinventing the wheel

Our Backgrounds

So you have been asked to build a game type that you haven’t built before All the team are experts as they have played this sort of game since it was invented. All the team are experts as they have played this sort of game since it was invented.

Design Ours will not have any of the problems found in the bad examples of this style of game. Ours will not have any of the problems found in the bad examples of this style of game. It will have a bunch of new cool features never before seen in this type of game. It will have a bunch of new cool features never before seen in this type of game.

It will be a fresh new look never seen before that will make the game leap off the shelves. It will be a fresh new look never seen before that will make the game leap off the shelves. With the new Hardware we won’t have to worry about poly counts as it’s almost the same as film. With the new Hardware we won’t have to worry about poly counts as it’s almost the same as film. As a matter of fact it will be so like film we could call it an interactive movie………. As a matter of fact it will be so like film we could call it an interactive movie………. Art

Programming We will create such a complete toolset that it will handle anything the game could possibly turn out to be. We will create such a complete toolset that it will handle anything the game could possibly turn out to be. The A.I system will be so versatile that if the designers want the creatures to take a rest and make a cup of tea they just have to tweak some parameters within the system to make it happen. The A.I system will be so versatile that if the designers want the creatures to take a rest and make a cup of tea they just have to tweak some parameters within the system to make it happen. Our engine will be able to move more polys than anything that is available today. Our engine will be able to move more polys than anything that is available today.

Publisher It has to have never been seen before but it has to look like these successful games. It has to have never been seen before but it has to look like these successful games. Can you get out of the car and walk around maybe shoot some stuff. Can you get out of the car and walk around maybe shoot some stuff. I don’t understand this, what is the demographic how can marketing move something that hasn’t been seen before. I don’t understand this, what is the demographic how can marketing move something that hasn’t been seen before. My daughter read the design and thought it was crap. My daughter read the design and thought it was crap. You have one year You have one year

How to deal with this Just because you play a type of game doesn’t mean you understand them. Just because you play a type of game doesn’t mean you understand them. You understand them when you have built one. You understand them when you have built one. If you haven’t built one you have to deconstruct games of the same gameplay type. If you haven’t built one you have to deconstruct games of the same gameplay type.

Analyse this

Problems It’s not as easy as deconstructing film or literature. It’s not as easy as deconstructing film or literature. It takes longer to “finish” a game than a film or book. It takes longer to “finish” a game than a film or book.

Deconstruction 101 There are common elements across ALL games There are common elements across ALL games UI UI Player Control Player Control Graphics Graphics Audio Audio Metagame Metagame

Deconstruction 101 There are elements common to MANY games There are elements common to MANY games AI AI Physics Physics

The Next Step Applying this knowledge Applying this knowledge Any new features are informed by an understanding of someone else’s hard yards Any new features are informed by an understanding of someone else’s hard yards

Programming System development should not drive design. System development should not drive design. The design should be complete enough so the systems reflect the needs of the game, not the desires of the prog team. The design should be complete enough so the systems reflect the needs of the game, not the desires of the prog team. Game play assumptions need to be tested early in the project… Game play assumptions need to be tested early in the project…

Art Building final assets before gameplay is tested is…stupid. Building final assets before gameplay is tested is…stupid. You’ll either have to change everything, which is bad… You’ll either have to change everything, which is bad… Or your assets will drive design, which is worse… Or your assets will drive design, which is worse…

Design Deconstruction allows Designers to have a through understanding of basic gameplay issues before starting on the design. Deconstruction allows Designers to have a through understanding of basic gameplay issues before starting on the design. Deconstruction encourages Designers to explore more than just the top 10%. Deconstruction encourages Designers to explore more than just the top 10%. X affects Y which affects Z which… X affects Y which affects Z which…

Plastic World Ability to test design assumptions Ability to test design assumptions Ability to iterate design Ability to iterate design Ability to finalize programming parameters Ability to finalize programming parameters Ability to finalize art parameters Ability to finalize art parameters And so much more… And so much more…

In Summary Programmers need to build what the game and gameplay require, not a system for its own sake (unless you have a 36 month dev cycle). Programmers need to build what the game and gameplay require, not a system for its own sake (unless you have a 36 month dev cycle). Artists need to be able to develop art as gameplay evolves. Dropping elements in gradually with a final pass when gameplay is proven. Artists need to be able to develop art as gameplay evolves. Dropping elements in gradually with a final pass when gameplay is proven. Designers need to have explored gameplay elements in depth ensuring that programming and art time is not wasted on naïve assumptions. Designers need to have explored gameplay elements in depth ensuring that programming and art time is not wasted on naïve assumptions.

In Short Design it good Design it good Prototype it better Prototype it better Build it best Build it best Win awards Win awards Make lots of money Make lots of money Get some sleep Get some sleep