How to DoGame Designand know just enough to be dangerous

Brenda Brathwaite@bbrathwaite

What is this workshop about?

A chance for you to stretch yourself as an person

and designer.

To challenge yourself to do things you normally wouldn’t do

To experience interdisciplinary fellowship and love.

To take a chance on a little improv.

Why Game Design Improv?

• Bringing non-digital game prototyping to the masses and classes

• Exploring key design principles

• Creating designers that are flexible and innovative

• Great icebreaker

Some see junk. Others see Katamari.

Today’s Plan

• Challenge #1 – Design from IP• Challenge #2 – A message from the publisher

Break

• Challenge #3 – “…But make it multiplayer!”• Challenge #4 – Civil War Battle• Challenge #5 – The Iron Designer Challenge

Challenge #1

Starting Points: Starting with Clean Slate

The Virtually Microscopic

Planet ofOriginal Games

The BigFat World

of IP

Starting Points• Starting with Gameplay

– Sequels

• Starting with Technology– First-Person Shooters

• Starting with Story– Adventure Games, Books

• Starting with IP– TV Shows, Personalities, Movies

• Starting with a Clean Slate– ??

Starting Points: Starting with Gameplay

• Preserve gameplay style

• Add new features• Improve existing

features

Starting Points: Starting with Technology

• Crafted gameplay/story around the technology

• Often dictates genre• Platform choice

affects gameplay

Starting Points: Starting with Story

• Designed around the story

• Adapt technology to needs of story

Know Your Constraints• Genre/Type• Rating• Audience• Budget• Platform• Tone/Style• The “Incidentals”• Engine• Release date• Skill Set Limitations

DesignExercise #1

Create a Game From

IP

What is “IP”?

• IP = intellectual property– WWE– MTV– TV Show Heroes– Halo

Starting With IP

• Designed around strengths of IP

• Designed to target IP’s target market

• IP often dictates genre

Group Exercise #1

• Need 12 IPs– Six that are good– Six that are very, very bad

• Roll d6 to determine column you’re in and which IP you get

• Break into teams• ETA: 30 mins• Present idea and discuss challenges

Group Exercise #1

• Core of the game• 3 or 4 features• Define avatar or character• Platform• Estimate budget• Estimate release date

The Finish Line

A Message from the Publisher

Change your platform toFacebook or iPhone

You’re Done.

In other news…

Your company has closed.

Please collect your “pink slips” and rearrange

yourselves into new groups.

Challenge #4: Civil War

The Challenge

• Create a board game to simulate and resolve a real battle from the Civil War.

• You cannot use battling in your game.• Difficulty: Victory condition cannot be

“control enough territory” (Axis & Allies) or “destroy all enemy units” (Risk).

• Hint: what is the object of the game? How do players achieve that goal?

Hints

• How do players interact with the game?• How do players interact with each other?• How can players help each other

(cooperation)?• How can players hurt each other

(competition)?

Contacts

Brenda Brathwaite bbrathwa@scad.edu@bbrathwaite

Drop biz cards for slides & 20 exercises

www.appliedgamedesign.comwww.scad.edu

The Finish Line

Start Here

Requirements

• Multiplayer (2 to 8 players over LAN)• Can be individuals or teams (your choice)• Competitive: one player (or team) wins• You can add a narrative/theme• ETA: 30 mins• Ready, set, go!

The Finish Line

“…But Make It Multiplayer!”

Iron Designer Challenge

The Rules

• Consider your least liked training exercise.• Make a game about it.• Make it fun.• ETA: 30 mins

CongratulationsA WINNER IS YOU