1. Games and the Incremental Commitment Model
Taylor Rice
Games and the Incremental Commitment Model

2. Agenda Some Unique Aspects of Game Software
Gameplay Elements and Media
Potential Problems - Character Animation
Can ICSM apply?
Summary

3. Some Unique Aspects of Game Software
Gameplay Elements
Characters
Environments
Sound
Music
Sound Effects
Gameplay
Objectives/Goals
“Fun” Factor

4. Unique Aspects of Game Software
Each of those aspects could have an entire presentation written about them.
For the purposes of this discussion, the focus will be on one aspect:
Gameplay Elements
Characters
Environments
What does all of the above rely on?
Media/Artistic Assets

5. Gameplay elements and media
Look at an example of a game being developed
Once again strictly from a GamePlay Element perspective.

6. Gameplay elements and media
The point of the previous slides?
Art is important!
Utilizing the art in the game becomes critical to a game’s success.
Which of those elements has a large amount of development lurking behind it?
The characters!
They need both media for visual representation and programming behind the scenes to animate them.

7. Potential Problems-Character Animation
Many ways to animate – lets look at one:
Animation has many Frames
A Frame has many pieces
Pieces have a location within the Frame
“Fire Weapon”
Animation
Frames
Pieces

8. Potential Problems-Character Animation
Artists are developing assets for use in the game, and developers are relying on those assets to create representations of characters.
Can be a volatile environment full of change, uncertainty, and unforeseeable demands
Some examples of potential frustration:
New Characters requested
New Animations desired
“Realistic” interaction of characters with environment.

9. So what about icsm?
How can ICSM be utilized so that the development team and art team can work together and have minimal friction in this volatile environment?
ICSM offers an Evolutionary Model for use in environments with:
Emergent requirements
Rapid Change
The need for high assurance
That sounds like us! Lets take a look!

10. So what about icsm? (Cntd)
ICSM Evolutionary Model:
“Increments” are Characters
New Environment Interaction
New
Running Animation
Reliable Character Interaction

11. Summary
Gameplay Element Development is critical when both designing and developing a game.
Media Assets are an integral part of the development process.
The development process can be volatile, with many changes as the game matures.
When Developing the Gameplay Elements ICSM can be used to help adapt to rapid changes.
Specifically the Evolutionary Model.