Game Design Theory Pertemuan 3 Matakuliah: T0944-Game Design and Programming Tahun: 2010

Game Design Game design is the process of: –Imagining a game –Defining the way it works –Describing the elements that make up the game. (conceptual, functional, artistic, and others) –Transmitting that information to the team that will build the game.

Game: Art, Science, or Craft? Art –The creativity that possessed only by a talented few. –Game is an imaginations, is an aesthetic expressions. Science –Concentrate on the methodology –Game is a set of techniques, a process of thought. Craft –The goal of game is to entertain through play, and designing a game requires both creativity and careful planning. –Game contains both artistic and functional elements, so can be enjoyable to play.

Ground Rules of Game Design Core Mechanics Storytelling and Narrative Interactivity Core Mechanics Storytelling Narrative Interactivity

Core Mechanics Rules are the foundations of game-play. The core mechanics are the translation of the designer’s vision into a consistent set of rules that can be interpreted by a computer. Is the “science” part of game design. Is the heart and soul of the game.

Storytelling and Narrative All games tell a story. Narrative means that part of the story that is told by game designer or author to the players. Narrative is the non-interactive, presentational part of the story. Narrative in games are often quite linear, unaffected by the player’s action and unchanging from one playing to the next.

Interactivity Interactivity is the way that the players sees, hears, and acts within the game ’ s world. Presenting the gaming experience. Making the game playable. Interactivity starts at the user interface.

Anatomy of Game Designer Imagination Technical Awareness Analytical Competence Mathematical Competence Aesthetic Competence General Knowledge Writing Skills Drawing Skills The Ability to Compromise

Imagination Imagination is essential to creating artificial universe that a game exists. Imagination comes in various forms: –Visual and auditory New buildings, trees, animals, creatures, clothing, people. –Dramatic imagination Characters, plots, scenes, motivation, emotion, climaxes, and outcomes.

Imagination Imagination comes in various forms: –Conceptual imagination Relationship between ideas, their interactions and dependencies. –Lateral Thinking Process of looking for alternative answer, taking an unexpected route to solve the problem.

Technical Awareness Is a general understanding of how computer programs actually work. Knowing the limitations imposed by the selected platform will result in an achievable design.

Analytical Competence Game design requires a keen logical and analytical mind, and the ability to manipulate nebulous concepts with a high level of mental agility and critical analysis.

Mathematical Competence Designer must have basic math skills. Ensure that there are no dominant strategies or fighting units to unbalance the game is actually quite math- intensive.

Aesthetic Competence Designer should have general aesthetic competence and some sense of style. Little fundamental of art: –The Principles of Composition –Colors Coordinate and Clash

General Knowledge A base level of general knowledge is valuable for a game designer, as is the ability to research what is might not know. The more source material a game designer can assimilate, the better the final game design will be. Movies, books, encyclopedia are some source of game materials.

Writing Skills This means being clear, concise, accurate, unambiguous, and readable writing skills. Comes in several forms: –Technical writing –Fiction writing (narrative) –Dialogue writing (drama)

Drawing Skills Basic drawing and sketching is highly valuable for game designer. “A picture is worth a thousand words” The image will remain in our memories long after we forget the details.

The Ability to Compromise The most important skill for a professional game designer. The game designer is constrained by genre and license.

Discussion Ideal world of game design versus publisher ’ s demand.