Game Design Mashup

Games for ……….

Inspiration

Design ChallengesGDC ’04, ‘05 3 Designers – One Theme

Romance Emily Dickenson

Goals

Approach a hard problemFrom a new perspectiveWith a sense of humorThink big!

The Mashup

Old, New, Borrowed… Blue? Familiar but differentGroundedReflective

Games for Granny

The Audience Mainstream Casual Female Gray

Who is really out there?How can we reach them?

Contestants

Demis Hassabis Republic, Evil Genius

Nick Davies* Project Gotham Racing

Keita Takahashi Katamari Damacy (1&2)

Contestants

Demis Hassabis Republic, Evil Genius

Nick Davies* Project Gotham Racing

Keita Takahashi Katamari Damacy (1&2)

*one day notice

Contest

15 minutes each…Discussion…Vote by applause…Prizes!

Games For GranniesGDCE 2005

Demis Hassabis

Approach

• What do grannies like?

• What can’t we do?

• Some rejects

• The idea

Grannies like…

• Hobbies: Knitting/reading/gardening

• Reminiscing/telling stories

• Playing bridge

• Watching soap operas

• Gossiping

• Grandchildren

Aims

• Out are…– Complex controls– Anything too fantastical– Gratuitous violence/sex/language

• Should be…– Familiar setting– Social/friendly– Simple

The Hobby Simulator

• Real-time knitting guide

• Landscape gardening program

• Rejected due to:– Being too obvious– Not as good as the real thing

War Story Constructor

• Use Half-Life 2 or Battlefield engine

• Instructions via voice input

• Unlimited add-on packs

• Grandkids could actually play it

• Rejected due to:– Difficult AI– Problematic making it simple enough

Bridge Online

• TV based

• Voice input – dial in conference call

• Simple interface same as poker sites

• Social and competition

• Rejected: a bit dry

The Village

• The world’s first MMO Gossip Simulator• Set in a present day city block or village• Grannies effectively play themselves• Aim is to gain as much info as possible• Missions:

– Decimate reputations of those you dislike– Enhance reputations of those you like– Spread gossip to as many as possible

The Village (cont.)

• AI characters play key actors

• Ongoing content released

• Upgrades and ‘special’ abilities

• Bonus points for needless interference

• Daily TV show – new ‘missions’

• Grandkids play in the same game world

Summary

• The world’s first MMO Gossip Simulator

• Think Shenmue meets Sims Online meets Eastenders

• Also includes:– Bridge online and real-time knitting

Games for Granny (or Grandad?)

What’s different about Granny?

She has slower reaction time She has weaker eyesight She is harder of hearing She has slower Hand Eye co-ordination

Conclusion – It sounds a bit like being drunk

What’s the same about Granny?

She wants to be entertained. She wants to interact with like minded

people. She wants to be challenged.

Conclusion – Granny is just like you and me

What Subject Matter?

Relevant to their interests. Relevant to a different moral era. Relevant Licence. Relevant Music

Conclusion – The subject matter already exists

The Interface

Simple Controller– Simple Button Layout– Large Buttons– Comfortable to Hold

Conclusion – The interface already exists

The Gameplay Ideas

Simulators – Sim City, The Sims, Train Simulator.

Mental Games – Chess, Sudoku. Unique Interface – Buzz!

Conclusion - The gameplay ideas already exists

The Conclusion

You can’t please all of the Grannys all of the Time.

There is no ‘Stereotypical Granny’ Games that Granny would like already exist

in the market place. Not a revolution in gameplay, more a

revolution in marketing.

However…

Ballroom Dancing RevolutionTM:It’s a popular past time

It’s the right paceIt has relevant music

It’s good exerciseIt needs a partner

However:– It also needs a dance mat the size of a

gymnasium– It will probably cause broken hips

Discussion

Similarities? Differences? Comments?

By Applause….

Demis?

By Applause….

Demis?Nick?

By Applause….

Demis?Nick?Keita?

Prize!!

Something “remixed”Inspire new ideasOld-fashionedUseful

Prize!!

www.thisintothat.com

And, of course…

Sharffen Berger ChocolatesIndependent, Bay AreaRecently acquired by Hershey!

Conclusions

Hard problems New perspectives Sense of humor

There are new audiences out there!