Where we are now
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At this point you’ve got your game
concept/idea and you need to turn this
into a working document (specification)
You will know the environment in which
the player will reside and what choices
they will make, so now its time to pin
down the details
What a game isn’t
(apparently)
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A bunch of cool features – these are a
necessity, but do not in themselves, make a
game – adding unnecessary features is
known as gold plating
Fancy graphics – high quality graphics are
required in games in today’s industry but will
not save a game if the core creativity is
lacking
The danger focusing on fancy graphics and
indeed cool features can distract the
development team from putting more depth
in the game
What a game isn’t (cont.)
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Puzzles – games can be broken down into
sets of linked puzzles – to many puzzles in a
game however can divert from the main story
and a puzzle isn’t a game in itself
Setting and Story – a good setting and story
draws the player in and impels him through
the action, but again it will amount to nothing
if the game play is not there
None of these features are sufficient in and of
themselves to make a game
Game Play
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Assuming your idea isn’t rubbish, you must
focus on what you need to do to make your
game successful
A good game is one that you can win by
doing the unexpected and making it work,
this is known as the surprise and delight
factor, this is almost the definition of Game
Play
All well designed games require the
development of strategies to play them
effectively
Game Goals
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Collect Something (Point scoring)
Gain Territory (Classic War Games)
Get Somewhere first (Racing)
Removing a series of obstacles (Beating
opponents, finding keys to open doors)
Discovery (Exploration or Problem Solving)
Eliminate Other Players (Multiplayer)
When you are designing multiple objectives
into your game, make sure they interact,
otherwise you are designing two games in
parallel which don’t combine to make a whole
Questions - Game spec
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What are the aims of the game?
How will the player achieve those aims?
What will the game be like to play?
Key features of game play?
Game spec
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Features – these are what make your game
unique and they emerge from rules, some
features are required to make the game
work, others enhance your enjoyment and
others are game play substitutes
Game play – explains to the developers how
the game is supposed to work, provides a
vision statement that can be referred to
throughout development and helps you focus
on the integral features
Game spec (cont.)
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Interface – primary function is to help the
player play the game and should help the
player forget there are any restrictions his
control of the game
Rules – at this stage you can only take a
guess at the rules that will create the game–
you will be continually adding and amending
rules throughout game development
Game Spec cont. 2
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Level design – is a major part of core game
play, contributes greatly to the style,
background and story of the game. How
they are constructed can either enhance the
game play or detract from it
Level design should provide an opportunity to
show off the games merits and not close of
valid choices using a non-linear approach