What Every (new) Designer Should Know: What Every (new) Designer Should Know Scott Brodie November 2006


Slide2: We are so lucky to be in games right now.


Slide3: Games are mainstream…30 Billion mainstream.


Slide4: But yet so little has been defined…


Slide5: The industry is volatile, raw, competitive, and changing.


Slide6: We have to be prepared, skilled, confident, and outgoing.


Slide7: My goal is to provide some insight into: The art of game design Surviving in the Industry Keeping up


Slide8: What you should know about - Design


Slide9: What is a game?


Slide10: Games are young, so no definition has been Agreed upon yet. But we know… They involve rules. They involve goals. They involve choices.


Slide11: But Gameplay DOES have a definition: 'A series of interesting choices' - Sid Meier


Slide12:


Slide13:


Slide14: But Fun DOES have a definition: 'Fun is learning' – Raph Koster


Slide15: Right now, you’re having fun.


Slide16: Right now, you’re having fun. You’re attempting to understand and connect patterns


Slide17: Right now, you’re having fun. You’re attempting to understand and connect patterns You’re trying to master the challenge presented


Slide18:


Slide19: Games become un-fun when: You’re overwhemled or frustrated with choices. You’re not presented with much of a challenge. You’re not prepared for a challenge (it’s cheating!)


Slide20: Essential game elements have been identified: Preparation Sense of Space Mechanics Challenges Range of abilities (strategies) required Skill required in using abilities.


Slide21:


Slide22: Experiences vs. Story (Gears Vids)


Slide23: What you should know about – The Game Industry


Slide24: It’s awesome.


Slide25: It’s awesome. …but it sucks too.


Slide26: To make games you CANNOT: Just want a job. Be an introvert...unless you’re John Carmack smart. Not like games. Not be flexible.


Slide27: To make games you have to: Absolutely love games. Be extremely good at communicating. Be skilled. Understand how to learn.


Slide28: Oh yeah…get good at finishing stuff. And don’t think too hard…just go for it.


Slide29: A sense of humor goes a long way too. 'To get away with something, you need to be likeable.' -George Carlin


Slide30: Understand that the game industry has a big barrier to entry. But once you’re in, it’s pretty small.


Slide31: Great Resources: Blogs – Communicate directly with developers. A Theory of Fun. www.gamasutra.com www.igda.org Etc.


Slide32: What you should know about – The Future


Slide33: What you should know about – The Future AAA games are dying.


Slide34: What you should know about – The Future AAA games are dying. The format of a 'real' game is in question.


Slide35: What you should know about – The Future Is bejeweled a real game?


Slide36: What you should know about – The Future If it’s not, I’ll still take the 20 mil in revenue it earned. Is bejeweled a real game?


Slide37: What you should know about – The Future Be aware of new game formats: Downloadable Casual Interactive Storytelling Episodic Gaming


Slide38: What you should know about – The Future Finally, I believe system thinkers will be rewarded


Slide39: What you should know about – The Future Finally, I believe system thinkers will be rewarded As tech becomes decreasingly important, design will emerge as something of more value.


Slide40: Thank You: Contact me: brodies1@msu.edu Website: www.brodiegames.com Any Questions?