What Makes a Good
Computer Game?
Video transcript for ‘What Makes a Good Computer Game?’
I love computer games! There are millions of them out there, being made for
every possible device.
It’s big business. So I’ve come here, to the BBC to speak to someone who’ll
help me figure out what makes a good computer game.
Hiya Claire, thank you for meeting me.
So, you work here what do you actually do?
Claire:
I’m a technical lead for the Children’s Games and Apps team and
we make games for CBeebies & CBBC. Do you wanna come and take a
look?
Sameena: Yeah sure! So Claire, how long have you worked in computer
games?
Claire:
I’ve worked in computer games for 12 years and since I’ve been
working at CBBC and CBeebies we’ve probably made about 50 games
Sameena: Wow that’s a lot.
Claire:
So yeah, we’ve been working on Justin’s House, Tracy Beaker &
more recently we’ve been doing the Wolfblood app.
Sameena: What do you think makes a good computer game?
Claire:
So there’s a lot of things that you need to think about when you
make a computer game.
Claire:
I think it’s all about gameplay to a certain extent. You need to
think about how to create the world you want to experience and how the
game objects are all going to interact with each other.
Claire:
There’s the story that you’re actually trying to tell as well – how
the game holds together, how you move from scene to scene and complete
all the challenges to complete the game.
bbc.co.uk/schoolscomputing
© BBC 2014
What Makes a Good Computer Game?
Video transcript for ‘What Makes a Good Computer Game?’ continued
Claire:
A challenge is a really important part to the game. To have a
really simple set of rules that you can follow and a challenge that you can
actually achieve. If you don’t feel like you have a goal to overcome or if you
can’t play with friends or against the clock, there’s not really any urge to
keep on playing.
Sameena: Cool, well have you got an example you can show me?
Claire:
Yeah sure, shall I show you Fly High and Huggie?
Smaeena: Yeah.
Claire:
OK cool. So, what you’re supposed to do is you’re supposed to
collect as many bugs as you can and you’re supposed to avoid all the
obstacles, the obstacles will slow you down so it’s against the clock
basically.
Sameena: So I’ve to get the…
Claire:
Watch out for him, watch out for him.
Sameena: OK – yes yes, oh they’re really good yeah.
Sameena: Oh I’ll bet that hurt.
Claire:
And in the middle, in the middle, in the middle.
Sameena: Yes! Yes! I’ve won, I’ve won, I’ve won, I’ve won. I’m really good
at games! I’m brilliant!
Sameena: Told you I love computer games!
bbc.co.uk/schoolscomputing
© BBC 2014