Games Design Nick Sims

 These are broken down into two sections, visual style and game play. We are going to look at Visual Style What do you think visual means? (20 seconds).  Answer:  A picture, piece of film, or display used to illustrate or accompany something.  Relating to seeing or sight i.e. visual perception  Which answer above relates to a noun and which relates to an adjective? What do you think visual style means in terms of the game?  Write your answers down on the work sheet section A. (40 seconds). Answer: Visual styles relates to how the game appears to the player.

 It focuses on the appearance of the main game world and the components used within that world to enhance the game play.  Your job as a games designer is to focus on all of the visual aspects required to maximise the appearance of your game at the start of the design process. Complete section B of the worksheet.

 Work in pairs  On the A3 sheet draw a circle and write in the circle “Main areas of visual design”  Around this circle, write down as many game elements as possible (like above) which are affected by visuals.  Now give examples for each idea. Main Areas of Visual Design

 2D or 3D realism (Sonic and Mario have been developed over time from simple animated sprites into complex 3D models)  Why are dimensions important to visual style? ◦ To enhance realism so that the visual style is very close to the appearance of a real world  Terrain (land) - simple block representing a floor to realistic terrains (FPS)  Architecture (buildings)  Why should architecture and terrain be realistic? ◦ So that the player actually believes that they are in real- world conditions i.e. combat conditions for Call of Duty  Objects – materials used enhance the appearance of the world ◦ Passive objects – which do not move (just add realism)

 Why is the character important? ◦ Answer: Follow character throughout the game and is on the screen all the time. ◦ Facial expressions and style of clothes etc…  Non-playing characters that need to be designed to enhance the overall visual style of the game i.e. enemies in a game that try to kill the main character.  Why are non-playing characters important? ◦ Answer: to enhance the overall visual style of the game and game play for the user, to improve their experience of the game i.e. enemies in a game that try to kill the main character.

 What is a Feedback Interface? ◦ (onscreen narrative/information messages i.e.  Why is it an important visual element? ◦ Shows: current score, player’s health or number of lives, weapons and compasses/maps on screen during game play, (constantly updated through the game). ◦ Provides hints on how to move through the game

 To enhance the game play for the user as they journey through the game (2D, 3D, first or third person, aerial, scrolling or context sensitive). FPS – an immersive experience  What is Full motion video (FMV)?  Pre-recorded movie quality video - to enhance the game’s visual style and became popular in the 1990’s to visually enhance the narrative of the game.

 What is a genre?  Answer: This is a style or category (of game)  30 seconds – list as many game genres as you can on the back of the A3 sheets.

◦ Racing ◦ Shoot-’em ups (shmups) Third Person/First Person ◦ Commanding ◦ Building ◦ Collecting ◦ Trading ◦ Connecting ◦ Escaping ◦ Finding ◦ Hiding ◦ Puzzle-solving ◦ Stunts ◦ Role-playing ◦ Learning/Education ◦ Action ◦ Adventure

◦ Select a genre – research what it is and record your findings on the Visual Design worksheet Section C. (What are effective search methods when using search engines?) ◦ There are a range of free online games on the following link found in Unit 40 on the VLE: ◦ Select a game from the website as an example, and using the Visual Design worksheet, record the name of the game and the genre. ◦ Play the game – but as you are playing the game, think about what the visual elements discussed and state why these visual elements either enhance the game or… ◦ …it may be that the game does not have a strong visual style. State why and how it should be improved. Use the worksheet given and write correct subject terminology for sections C,D and E.

 Plenary:  Go to kahoot.it  Quiz  What percentage did you get right?

 Each of you have been given a key term.  Research what that key term means.  Find the letter which your key term begins with on the VLE Glossary called “Visual Style and Gameplay”.  Click on the pencil and add your Key Term definition, using your own words, add your name, and click on Save.