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Why Game Design?. Playing and designing games is good for learning. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Why Game Design?
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Playing and designing games is good for learning
“The success of complex video games demonstrates that games can teach higher-order thinking skills such as strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, and adaptation to rapid change. These are the skills U.S. employers increasingly seek.”
-Federation of American Scientists
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The game design learning pathway
Designing a successful game involves
•Systems thinking•Creative problem solving•Art and aesthetics•Writing and storytelling•User experience design•Communication and collaboration•Cultural literacy
Builds a motivation for STEM learning and careers
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More than just writing code
game design
art
music & sound
business
programming & engineering
Making a successful game involves collaboration across a combination of artistic, technical, business and other disciplines
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Build masteryMaking games requires a mastery of the subject material explored in the game world including characters, settings, history, science and
culture
designing Civilization requireda deep understanding of history;all of the game the algorithms &
rewards have point-of-view
designing Spycraft requireda deep understanding of
post Cold War politics& morality
designing Tony Hawk Pro Skater required a deep
understanding of physics &contemporary culture
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Plus… get recognized as one of the nation’s top young game designers
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Game Design 101
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Games are systems
Just like mechanical, natural and social systems, games are systems. The game designer arranges the elements of the system to create a fun experience for the player through the balance of challenges and rewards.
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Elements of a game system
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Elements of a game system (continued)
•Space – the part of the world where the game takes place. Can be part of the real world (e.g. soccer field) or virtual (as in video games).•Goals – what players try to achieve to win the game.•Mechanics – the actions that happen in the game. The ‘verbs’ of the game (e.g. running, jumping, racing, solving).•Components – the things that are part of the game. Can be physical (e.g. ball, base, umpire) or virtual (e.g. avatar, enemy, power-up).•Rules – indicate the things that can (and cannot) happen in the game.
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Exercise: the elements of… basketball
Can you identify an example of the space, goals, mechanics, components and rules of basketball?
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The elements of game systems are connected
Like the gears in a machine, the elements of a game are connected. Making a change to one affects the rest of the system.
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Exercise: modifying the greatest game ever
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Game Revision
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The iterative design process
Game design is an iterative process. Even the best designers don’t get it right on the first try: they play lots of games, plan their designs, make their games, get feedback from users, analyze data and use it to improve the game… over and over.
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Design and iterate on a physical game
Design a game using only the objects in this bag (see activity
plan)
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The game creation process
Pre-production Production Post-production
Many professional game developers use a process like this one to make their games. It can happen over a day at a game jam or over years on a AAA title. Thinking about these steps can help you make a better game.
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Pre-production
PHASE PURPOSE MILESTONES & RESULTSPre-concept Market research to validate
your ideaGameplay notes, market research report, preliminary budget
Concept Create the game design and visual concepts
Game Design Document (GDD), visual samples, style guide, technology plan
Planning & Prototypes Know that you can actually make the game and have a plan for it
Project plan, budget, prototypes of key features/mechanics
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Production
PHASE PURPOSE MILESTONES & RESULTSVertical Slice Validate that your game is fun
and engaging for playersPlayable demonstration of one complete ‘slice’ of the game experience at near final quality
Production Make the game No new features being added
Alpha Polish of all game features All features complete
Beta Eliminate all bugs Submittable build
Submissions Submit final version of game for distribution
‘Gold Master’ package
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Post-production
PHASE PURPOSE MILESTONES & RESULTSPost-release support Ongoing bug fixing and user
support after launchPost-release patches and update builds
Constant playtesting and iteration happen during production and post-production as user feedback is used to improve the game.
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The Game Design Document
The Game Design Document is a key outcome of the game design process. It tells the people who will make the game how to realize the designer’s vision. Check out the resource materials for more info and examples.
PlatformGenre
Audience
Mechanics
Controls
Visual Style
Characters
& Storyline
CoreGameplay
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Game Design Tools
College/Professional
High School
Middle School
Elementary School Game Design
ModdingTools
C++
Programming
Scaffolded/Constrained Unscaffolded/Unconstrained
There are lots of great tools for learning game design and making games. Some are designed for beginners who want to learn (no programming!). Others let you make games like the pros!