1. Is this thing on?

2. Game Design Workshop Orientation GDC 2008

3. About The Workshop Started in 2001Started in 2001 Hands-onHands-on Focused on iterationFocused on iteration Grounded in a formal approachGrounded in a formal approach Intended to be open-endedIntended to be open-ended

4. What It’s NOT about… How to get a job as a game designerHow to get a job as a game designer How to write a design documentHow to write a design document Where game ideas “come from”Where game ideas “come from” How to get your game fundedHow to get your game funded How to use a level editorHow to use a level editor

5. In Other Words... It’s not about the Business (Getting a job, pitching a game, getting funded)It’s not about the Business (Getting a job, pitching a game, getting funded) It’s not about the Profession (Writing documents, tracking bugs, using tools)It’s not about the Profession (Writing documents, tracking bugs, using tools) It’s about the Craft (Making games that are fun)It’s about the Craft (Making games that are fun)

6. What You’ll be Doing Playing gamesPlaying games Analyzing gamesAnalyzing games Critiquing gamesCritiquing games Modifying gamesModifying games Refining gamesRefining games

7. The Faculty Jonathan HamelJonathan Hamel BreakAway Games Clint HockingClint HockingUbisoft Robin HunickeRobin Hunicke Electronic Arts (LA) Frank LantzFrank LantzArea/Code Marc LeBlancMarc LeBlanc Mind Control Software Andrew LekerAndrew Leker Mind Control Software Steve LibrandeSteve Librande Electronic Arts (Spore) Tim StellmachTim Stellmach Vicarious Visions

8. A Few Ground Rules Please attend as much as you canPlease attend as much as you can Collaborate, Share, and EncourageCollaborate, Share, and Encourage Save the “meta-discussion” for the very endSave the “meta-discussion” for the very end Turn the laptop offTurn the laptop off Fail Early. Fail Often.Fail Early. Fail Often. Fail Sooner. Fail Faster.Fail Sooner. Fail Faster.

9. Let the Games Begin! Go to the room matching your poker chip Blue: 3005Blue: 3005 Red: 3007Red: 3007 White: 3020White: 3020

10. SiSSYFiGHT 3000

11. Overview SiSSYFiGHT simulates a playground fight between little girls.

12. Overview Each girl begins with 10 Self- Esteem chips … and the goal of the game is to reduce your opponents’ self- esteem to ZERO!

13. Overview When there are only one or two players left with any self-esteem, they win the game!

14. Setup Each player starts with: 1.Three “Action” cards 2.Six “Target” cards, 1 “No Target” card 3.Ten chips. Each player plays a different color. Choose a color and put it in your badge holder.

15. Rules Each Round: Choose an “Action” and “Target” in secret.Choose an “Action” and “Target” in secret. Reveal cards simultaneouslyReveal cards simultaneously Resolve actionsResolve actions All communication must be public.All communication must be public. When you run out of chips, you’re out.When you run out of chips, you’re out. When one or two people are left, they win.When one or two people are left, they win.

16. Actions Solo:Solo:  Target discards one chip. Team:Team:  If anyone else teams against this target, she discards two chips per attacking player. Defend:Defend:  Not an attack – choose “No Target” as your target.  If no one targets you: lose one chip.  Else, lose half the chips required (round down). 1  0, 2  1, 3  1, 4  2, etc.

17. Coffee at 11:00 Play until thenPlay until then Come back here at 11:15Come back here at 11:15

18. General Observations About Sissyfight?

19. What’s fun about SiSSYFiGHT? What kinds of fun did you experience?What kinds of fun did you experience? Can we get more specific than “fun?”Can we get more specific than “fun?”

20. What’s fun about SiSSYFiGHT? What kinds of fun did you experience?What kinds of fun did you experience? Can we get more specific than “fun?”Can we get more specific than “fun?”  Intrigue: Negotiation, Cooperation, Betrayal  Challenge: Tactics, Problem Solving  Drama

21. How do we get from… Cards Chips Rules

22. To… Intrigue Challenge Drama Cards Chips Rules

23. What’s missing? “Rules”“Fun”

24. The causal link… This is what sets games apart… “Rules”“Fun” “Behavior”

25. Games As Software “Rules”“Fun” “Behavior”

26. Games As Software “Rules”“Fun” “Behavior” CodeRequirements Process

27. A Design Vocabulary “Fun” “Behavior” RequirementsProcess Mechanics

28. A Design Vocabulary “Fun” Requirements Mechanics Dynamics

29. A Design Vocabulary Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics

30. The MDA Framework Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics

31. Definitions Mechanics: The rules and concepts that formally specify the game-as- system.Mechanics: The rules and concepts that formally specify the game-as- system. Dynamics: The run-time behavior of the game-as-system.Dynamics: The run-time behavior of the game-as-system. Aesthetics: The desirable emotional responses evoked by the game dynamics.Aesthetics: The desirable emotional responses evoked by the game dynamics.

32. The Designer/Player Relationship   Designer Player MechanicsAestheticsDynamics

33. The Player’s Perspective  Player MechanicsAestheticsDynamics

34. The Designer’s Perspective  Designer MechanicsAestheticsDynamics

35. MDA A “Taxonomy” of Design KnowledgeA “Taxonomy” of Design Knowledge  Aesthetics  Dynamics  Mechanics  …and the interactions between them.

36. Aesthetics of SiSSYFiGHT Fellowship: Negotiation, Cooperation, BetrayalFellowship: Negotiation, Cooperation, Betrayal Challenge: Tactics, Problem SolvingChallenge: Tactics, Problem Solving Narrative: DramaNarrative: Drama

37. Dynamics of SiSSYFIGHT EqualityScourge Competition, Random Attacks Cooperation, Team Attacks

38. Mechanics of SiSSYFiGHT Turn-basedTurn-based Hit PointsHit Points Public CommunicationPublic Communication Simultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action

39. SiSSYFiGHT Fiction Does SiSSYFiGHT do a good job of conveying its subject matter?Does SiSSYFiGHT do a good job of conveying its subject matter? How can it do better?How can it do better?

40. SiSSYFiGHT Fiction What other fictional genre or subject matter could the mechanics of SiSSYFiGHT simulate?

41. Exercise Choose a fictional genre and/or setting that might fit this game.Choose a fictional genre and/or setting that might fit this game. Adapt the game to your chosen subject matter.Adapt the game to your chosen subject matter. Keep in mind the aesthetic qualities we identified in the breakdown.Keep in mind the aesthetic qualities we identified in the breakdown. How can the rules of the game be changed to best support your fiction?How can the rules of the game be changed to best support your fiction?

42. Brainstorming Everyone Grab a Sticky PadEveryone Grab a Sticky Pad

43. When I Say “Go…” 1.You will have 90 seconds. 2.Write down as many genre ideas as you can. 3.One to a sticky note. 4.Keep it Short (  5 words) 5.No idea is too dumb. 6.Work in silence.

44. Ready? Go!Go!

45. Pens Down! With your group: Get on your feet!Get on your feet! Find some wall spaceFind some wall space Stick your ideas to the wallStick your ideas to the wall Put like ideas togetherPut like ideas together Look for critical massLook for critical mass Narrow down a fiction to work on.Narrow down a fiction to work on.

46. Exercise: You’ve chosen a setting or fiction for SiSSYFiGHT.You’ve chosen a setting or fiction for SiSSYFiGHT. Adapt the game to your chosen subject matter.Adapt the game to your chosen subject matter. Keep in mind the aesthetic qualities we identified at the beginning.Keep in mind the aesthetic qualities we identified at the beginning. How can the rules of the game be changed to best support your fiction?How can the rules of the game be changed to best support your fiction?

47. Lunch at 12:30 Work until thenWork until then Sign up for Electives in 3005Sign up for Electives in 3005 Come back here at 2:00Come back here at 2:00

48. Welcome Back Continue working with your groupContinue working with your group Be ready to present at 3:00Be ready to present at 3:00

49. Exercise: You’ve chosen a setting or fiction for SiSSYFiGHT.You’ve chosen a setting or fiction for SiSSYFiGHT. Adapt the game to your chosen subject matter.Adapt the game to your chosen subject matter. Keep in mind the aesthetic qualities we identified at the beginning.Keep in mind the aesthetic qualities we identified at the beginning. How can the rules of the game be changed to best support your fiction?How can the rules of the game be changed to best support your fiction? Be ready to present at 3:00!

50. Discussion Let’s compare solutions. What different approaches did we take?Let’s compare solutions. What different approaches did we take?

51. Discussion How did the game dynamics support your subject matter? Were the game dynamics and the subject matter ever in conflict? How did your choice of subject matter influence your process?

52. Any Final Observations?

53. The MDA Framework Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics

54. Understanding Aesthetics We need to get past words like “fun” and “gameplay.”We need to get past words like “fun” and “gameplay.” What kinds of “fun” are there?What kinds of “fun” are there? How will we know a particular kind of “fun” when we see it?How will we know a particular kind of “fun” when we see it?

55. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as art object SensationSensation

56. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as make-believe SensationSensation FantasyFantasy

57. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as unfolding story SensationSensation FantasyFantasy NarrativeNarrative

58. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as obstacle course SensationSensation FantasyFantasy NarrativeNarrative ChallengeChallenge

59. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as social framework SensationSensation FantasyFantasy NarrativeNarrative ChallengeChallenge FellowshipFellowship

60. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as uncharted territory SensationSensation FantasyFantasy NarrativeNarrative ChallengeChallenge FellowshipFellowship DiscoveryDiscovery

61. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as soap box SensationSensation FantasyFantasy NarrativeNarrative ChallengeChallenge FellowshipFellowship DiscoveryDiscovery ExpressionExpression

62. Eight Kinds of “Fun” Game as mindless pastime SensationSensation FantasyFantasy NarrativeNarrative ChallengeChallenge FellowshipFellowship DiscoveryDiscovery ExpressionExpression SubmissionSubmission

63. Clarifying Our Aesthetics Charades is “fun” Team Fortress is “fun” Final Fantasy is “fun”

64. Charades is Fellowship, Expression, Challenge Team Fortress is Competition, Schadenfreude, Challenge, Sensation, Fantasy Final Fantasy is Fantasy, Narrative, Expression, Discovery, Challenge, Masochism Each game pursues multiple aesthetics. Again, there is no Game Unified Theory. Clarifying Our Aesthetics

65. Clarifying Our Goals As designers, we can choose certain aesthetics as goals for our game design.As designers, we can choose certain aesthetics as goals for our game design. We need more than a one-word definition of our goals.We need more than a one-word definition of our goals.

66. Some examples… Formulating an “Aesthetic Model” For each aesthetic goal: Write a formal definitionWrite a formal definition List criteria for successList criteria for success List modes of failureList modes of failure Serves as an “aesthetic compass”Serves as an “aesthetic compass” These are often reusableThese are often reusable

67. Goal: Competition Definition: A game is competitive if players are emotionally invested in defeating each other.Definition: A game is competitive if players are emotionally invested in defeating each other. Success:Success:  Players are adversaries.  Players want to win. Failure:Failure:  A player feels that he can’t win.  A player can’t measure his progress.

68. Goal: Pirate Fantasy Definition: A pirate fantasy conforms to the genre conventions of pirate movies, and permits the player to engage in certain kinds of anti-social pirate behavior.Definition: A pirate fantasy conforms to the genre conventions of pirate movies, and permits the player to engage in certain kinds of anti-social pirate behavior.

69. Success:Success:  Empowerment  Independence  Greed  Treachery  Prey upon Weak Goal: Pirate Fantasy Failure:Failure:  Vulnerability  Compassion  Generosity

70. Goal: Drama Definition: A game is dramatic if: Its central conflict creates dramatic tension.Its central conflict creates dramatic tension. The dramatic tension builds towards a climax.The dramatic tension builds towards a climax.

71. Goal: Drama Success:Success:  A sense of uncertainty  A sense of inevitability  Tension increases towards a climax Failure:Failure:  The conflict’s outcome is obvious (no uncertainty)  No sense of forward progress (no inevitability)  Player doesn’t care how the conflict resolves.

72. Understanding Dynamics What about the game’s behavior can we predict before we go to playtest?What about the game’s behavior can we predict before we go to playtest? How can we explain the behavior that we observe?How can we explain the behavior that we observe?

73. Formalizing Game Dynamics Rules Input Output State (Player) (Graphics/ Sound) The “State Machine” Model Examples: Chess, Team Fortress

74. Some examples… Models of Game Dynamics Again, no Grand Unified TheoryAgain, no Grand Unified Theory Instead, a collection of many Dynamic Models.Instead, a collection of many Dynamic Models. Dynamics models are analytical in nature.Dynamics models are analytical in nature.

75. Chance in 36 Die roll Example: Random Variable This is a model of 2d6:This is a model of 2d6:

76. An Ideal Thermostat Room Too Cold Too Hot Thermometer Controller Cooler Heater Example: Feedback System A feedback system monitors and regulates its own state.

77. Example: Operant Conditioning The player is part of the system, too!The player is part of the system, too! Psychology gives us models to explain and predict the player’s behavior.Psychology gives us models to explain and predict the player’s behavior.

78. Chance in 36 Die roll Example: Random Variable This is a model of 2d6:This is a model of 2d6:

79. Where Models Come From Analysis of existing gamesAnalysis of existing games Other Fields:Other Fields:  Math, Psychology, Engineering… Our own experienceOur own experience

80. Understanding Mechanics There’s a vast library of common game mechanics.There’s a vast library of common game mechanics.

81. Examples CardsCards  Shuffling, Trick-Taking, Bidding ShootersShooters  Ammunition, Spawn Points GolfGolf  Sand Traps, Water Hazards

82. Mechanics vs. Dynamics There’s a grey areaThere’s a grey area  Some behaviors are direct consequences of rules.  Others are indirect.  “Dynamics” usually means the latter. Dynamics and Mechanics are different views of games.Dynamics and Mechanics are different views of games. Dynamics emerge from Mechanics.Dynamics emerge from Mechanics.

83. MDA A “Taxonomy” of Design KnowledgeA “Taxonomy” of Design Knowledge  Aesthetics  Dynamics  Mechanics  …and the interactions between them.

84. MDA in SiSSYFiGHT Simultaneous turns + attack actions 

85. MDA in SiSSYFiGHT Simultaneous turns + attack actions  EqualityScourge Competition, Random Attacks Cooperation, Team Attacks

86. MDA in SiSSYFiGHT Simultaneous turns + attack actions  EqualityScourge Competition, Random Attacks Cooperation, Team Attacks  Betrayal!

87. Coffee at 4:00 At 4:15, find your Elective A room:At 4:15, find your Elective A room:  World of Rulecraft: 3005  Seven Deadly Sins: 3007  Coopetition: 3020