Games Design
Nick Sims
These are broken down into two sections, visual style and
game play.
We are going to look at Visual Style
What do you think visual means? (20 seconds).
 Answer:
 A picture, piece of film, or display used to illustrate or
accompany something.
 Relating to seeing or sight i.e. visual perception
 Which answer above relates to a noun and which relates to
an adjective?
What do you think visual style means in terms of the game?
 Write your answers down on the work sheet section A. (40
seconds).
Answer:
Visual styles relates to how the game appears to the
player.
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It focuses on the appearance of the main
game world and the components used within
that world to enhance the game play.
Your job as a games designer is to focus on
all of the visual aspects required to maximise
the appearance of your game at the start of
the design process.
Complete section B of
the worksheet.
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Work in pairs
On the A3 sheet draw a circle and write in the
circle “Main areas of visual design”
Main Areas of Visual
Design
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Around this circle, write down as many game
elements as possible (like above) which are
affected by visuals.
Now give examples for each idea.
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2D or 3D realism (Sonic and Mario have been
developed over time from simple animated sprites
into complex 3D models)
Why are dimensions important to visual style?
◦ To enhance realism so that the visual style is very close to
the appearance of a real world
Terrain (land) - simple block representing a floor to
realistic terrains (FPS)
Architecture (buildings)
Why should architecture and terrain be realistic?
◦ So that the player actually believes that they are in realworld conditions i.e. combat conditions for Call of Duty
Objects – materials used enhance the appearance of
the world
◦ Passive objects – which do not move (just add realism)
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Why is the character important?
◦ Answer: Follow character throughout the game
and is on the screen all the time.
◦ Facial expressions and style of clothes etc…
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Non-playing characters that need to be
designed to enhance the overall visual
style of the game i.e. enemies in a game
that try to kill the main character.
Why are non-playing characters
important?
◦ Answer: to enhance the overall visual style of
the game and game play for the user, to
improve their experience of the game i.e.
enemies in a game that try to kill the main
character.
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What is a Feedback Interface?
◦ (onscreen narrative/information messages i.e.
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Why is it an important visual element?
◦ Shows: current score, player’s health or number of
lives, weapons and compasses/maps on screen
during game play,
(constantly updated
through the game).
◦ Provides hints on
how to move
through the game
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To enhance the game play for
the user as they journey through
the game (2D, 3D, first or third
person, aerial, scrolling or
context sensitive). FPS – an
immersive experience
What is Full motion video (FMV)?
Pre-recorded movie quality
video - to enhance the game’s
visual style and became popular
in the 1990’s to visually
enhance the narrative of the
game.
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What is a genre?
Answer: This is a style or category (of game)
30 seconds – list as many game genres as
you can on the back of the A3 sheets.
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Racing
Shoot-’em ups (shmups) Third Person/First Person
Commanding
Building
Collecting
Trading
Connecting
Escaping
Finding
Hiding
Puzzle-solving
Stunts
Role-playing
Learning/Education
Action
Adventure
Use the
worksheet
given and
write correct
subject
terminology
for sections
C,D and E.
◦ Select a genre – research what it is and record
your findings on the Visual Design worksheet
Section C. (What are effective search methods
when using search engines?)
◦ There are a range of free online games on the
following link found in Unit 40 on the VLE:
http://www.miniclip.com/games/en/
◦ Select a game from the website as an
example, and using the Visual Design
worksheet, record the name of the game and
the genre.
◦ Play the game – but as you are playing the
game, think about what the visual elements
discussed and state why these visual
elements either enhance the game or…
◦ …it may be that the game does not have a
strong visual style. State why and how it
should be improved.
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Plenary:
Go to kahoot.it
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Quiz
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What percentage did you get right?
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Each of you have
been given a key
term.
Research what
that key term
means.
Find the letter
which your key
term begins with
on the VLE
Glossary called
“Visual Style and
Gameplay”.
Click on the
pencil and add
your Key Term
definition, using
your own words,
add your name,
and click on Save.