02|Introduction to Game Design Eriq Muhammad Adams J |

What’s a game ? Is this a game ? Nope

What’s a game ? (cont.)  But, How ‘bout this ? +

What’s a game ? (cont.)  Then a game :  Requires at least one player  Has rules  Has a victory condition

So, what’s a video game ?  A video game is a game that’s played on a video screen

One first thing you’ve to know to start design a game ?  Game’s objective  You should be able to sum it quickly and clearly  In example :  Battleship: sink all of your opponent ’ s ships.  Operation: successful operations earn “ Money. ” Failures set off alarms.

Brief look at video game history  1950s, MIT comp. labs students & Brookhaven National Lab employees design game :(OXO(1952), Spacewar!(1962), and Colossal Cave(1976)) on black and white oscilloscope screen

Brief look at video game history (cont.)  1970s, Atari Founders (Ted Dabney and Nolan Bushnell) create a first arcade game : Computer Space.

Brief look at video game history (cont.)  1980s, Pac - Man (Namco, 1980) and Donkey Kong (Nintendo, 1982) and 3 popular game machines appear.

Brief look at video game history (cont.)  1990s-now, Home systems era (PC and console)

Game genres  Action : require hand/eye coordination to play.  action-adventure, action-arcade, platformer, stealth, fighting, hack ‘n’ slash.  Shooter : focus primarily on firing projectiles at enemies.  FPS, shoot ‘em up, TPS.  Adventure : focus on puzzle solving, and item collection and inventory management.  Construction/management : build and expand a location with limited resources

Game Genres (cont.)  Life Simulation : building and nurturing relationships with artificial life forms.  Pet Simulation  Music/rhythm : match a rhythm or beat to score.  Puzzle : based on logic and pattern completion.  Sports : based on athletic competitions  Sports management

Game Genres (cont.)  Strategy : thinking and planning  RTS, Turn-based, Tower Defense  Vehicle Simulation : simulate piloting/driving a vehicle.  Driving, Flying

Who makes video game ?  Programmer

Who makes video game ? (cont.)  Artist

Who makes video game ? (cont.)  Designer

Who makes video game ? (cont.)  Producer

Who makes video game ? (cont.)  And the rest : Composer, Sound Designer, writter

Game publishing  Product Manager : manage team on production schedule.  Creative Manager : game designer or writter who are working in publishing.  Art Director : artist who are working in publishing.  Technical Director : programmer who are working in publishing  And the rest : business development staff, lawyer, brand manager, public relations manager, quality assurance manager, game reviewers, licensors, talent recruiters.

How to be a game designer ?  You’ve to love (playin’) video games.  Learn a game design subject.  Learn from other game designer.  Practice! Practice! Practice!

Assignment #1  Review game :  Title  Genre  Platform  Unique Point  Gameplay  Opinion  Resource : tigsource, experimentalgameplay, indie game challenge, global game jam, independent game festival, ludum dare.

References  Level Up! : The Guide to Great Video Game Design, Scott Rogers, 2010, Wiley.