Introduction. Video Game Design and Development Spring part of slides courtesy of Andy Nealen. Game Development - Spring

Transcription

1 Introduction Video Game Design and Development Spring 2011 part of slides courtesy of Andy Nealen Game Development - Spring

2 What is this course about? Game design Real world abstractions Visuals Interaction Design iterations Game Development - Spring

3 What is this course about? Game development Gameplay mechanics Rapid prototyping Many examples FUN! Game Development - Spring

4 Game mechanics=ideas A game's play mechanics determine both its structure and its rules: how you win how you lose what to do to stay alive Game Development - Spring

5 play mechanics are the foundation on which games are built Playing with power Game Development - Spring

6 Basics - fundamental concepts that have become a part of many of today's games Game Development - Spring

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11 Handy features - ideas not absolutely essential to the design but enhance experience. Game Development - Spring

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16 Style - play mechanics that add an exciting touch of artistic flair to games Game Development - Spring

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21 Side by Side -- mechanics that allow other players or even computercontrolled characters to enrich the gaming experience. Game Development - Spring

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24 About myself Andrei Sharf _spring2011.htm Research: Computer graphics, interactive techniques, shape modeling, geometry processing 3D shape acquisition, urban modeling, 4D detection Game Development - Spring

25 Agenda 1. Definition of game and game design 2. Game design in small teams 3. Quick and dirty: rapid prototyping 4. Abstraction of the real world 5. Game feel : principles of virtual sensation 6. Games as systems/simulations in software 7. Prototype design (+ programming) strategies Game Development - Spring

26 Course structure Teams of 3-4 people (start forming this week) Weekly (mandatory) meetings Sunday 16-18: Lecture Monday 10-12: Practice+presentations You will need at least two full days outside of class to work on games (likely more) First 4-5 weeks: one new game prototype per person/week Rest: each team fully develops their favorite and most successful prototype Game Development - Spring

27 Requirements Most importantly: time Almost as important: dedication It would be beneficial to have experience in one or more of the following areas Graphics programming (OpenGL, etc.) General programming and systems design Classical art and painting/sketching/animation Sound and music design Organizational and team leading capabilities Game Development - Spring

28 Submissions 4-5 game prototypes Final game design document Final game prototype Final game beta Final game Game Development - Spring

29 Tools? XNA ( core and concepts will be covered in practical session Other possibilities Straight up OpenGL and C/C++ or Java Unity 3D Flixel (Flash AS3 libraries) SDL ( 2D boy framework ( Whatever works Game Development - Spring

30 Platforms? Again, whatever you like PC / Mac Xbox 360 (via XNA) iphone You will need to take care of your own hardware, and be able to present prototypes in class on a weekly basis Game Development - Spring

31 Contact Andrei Sharf Reception: Monday 12-14, Room 222 Gilad Bauman(TA) Reception: Monday Game Development - Spring

32 What is a game? and what is game design? Game Development - Spring

33 What is a game? Many definitions exist Common in many definitions: Participants (players) Decisions (interactions) Conflicts (opposition) Resource management (game tokens) Pursuit of a goal (or goals) (and all of this in a closed, formal system) Game Development - Spring

34 What is game design? A form of modern day Alchemy If we knew the formula for a great game we would always use it Alchemy has advanced to chemistry, so we can advance to a science too, right? Define rules / guidelines of the game Design interesting interaction Risk and reward (e.g. interesting decisions for player) Advance the plot (score, level, skill, narrative, etc.) Keep the player challenged, not frustrated Game Development - Spring

35 Aspects of video game design What is video game design? Player mechanics and controls? Game rules, dynamics and goals? World and level design? Choice of colors, icons and setting? Interactive sound and music? Intuitive tools and code for designers and coders? Enemy/ally intelligence and behavior? Game Development - Spring

36 Aspects of video game design Answer: All of the above (and more) video game design is inherently interdisciplinary learn as much as you can about all aspects of a video game - you will be a better video game designer! Game Development - Spring

37 Fundamental meaningful play Descriptive Relationship between player action and system outcome Evaluative Discernable Perceive the immediate outcome of player action Explosion, sound effect, game state change Integrated Outcome of an action is woven into the game system Actions on earlier levels influence gameplay later on Game Development - Spring

38 Game Design Team Players For small/medium sized game projects Game Development - Spring

39 Small design teams Team lead / design Organize team Schedule milestones Iterate game design and game rules Study game theory etc. See: Rules of Play, Theory of fun, The Art of Game Design Game Development - Spring

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41 Small design teams Gameplay programmer game AI : refers to rulebased aspects software engineer encode behaviors, path planning, state machines, etc. Works closely with lead game designer Game Development - Spring

42 Small design teams Graphics programmer Rendering technology Work with content creator on procedural content Interface with gameplay programmer (collision detection, events, etc.) Polish the visuals with particle effects, etc. Bizarre Creations Game Development - Spring

43 Small design teams Content creator 2D Sprites (Photoshop) 3D Models Textures, Normalmaps 2D/3D animations Sound design Role of an art director Coherent look-and-feel Adapt style to game mechanics and story Game Development - Spring 2011 God of War, SCEA 43

44 Small design teams None of these roles are carved in stone The previous example is one way of splitting work among a group of four Many successful projects have been completed by groups of two, and also solo developers Tip/trick: realistically adjust your design ambitions to the expected man-hours you will be able to invest Game Development - Spring

45 Resources Stand on the shoulders of giants Game Development - Spring

46 Resources Game development / careers gamecareerguide.com,gamasutra.com, gamedev.net,igda.com Game news kotaku.com,1up.com,gamespot.com tigsource.com,indiegames.com/blog/ Podcasts 1up.com,gamespot.com, brainygamer.net Game Development - Spring

47 Resources Books Fullerton, Game Design Workshop Norman, The Design of Everyday Things Swink, Game Feel Salen/Zimmerman, Rules of Play Schell, The Art of Game Design Koster, A Theory of Fun Research Jesper Juul, Game studies, Game Development - Spring

48 Homework Your very first prototype Game Development - Spring /21/

49 For next week Each participant Select a toolset, and make a very small game! Constraints No sound or music whatsoever Only art assets (bitmaps) allowed: circles and squares what you create in code is up to you Input: at most four keys on a keyboard, or one thumbstick and one button, or simple motion controls or taps on a touch-screen (not both) Game Development - Spring

50 Some Inspirations The Marriage games/marriage.html Simple game rules + simple rendering Interesting mechanics Ikaruga (shooter) Simple polarity principle Looks beautiful, but would be equally playable if not Game Development - Spring

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52 Tips Keep it VERY simple! You only have one week for everything Code quick and dirty You will not be using this code ever again Quickly converge on a toolset + platform Based on previous experience, preference, methods of distribution, etc. Have friends play test your game This will always be helpful throughout the course Game Development - Spring

53 Theory of Fun!!! Raph Koster Game Development - Spring

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