don’t mess with great gameplay! how wipeout innovated on psp clark davies, designer studio...
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Don’t Mess With Great Gameplay!
How Wipeout Innovated On PSP
Clark Davies, Designer
Studio Liverpool
There are very few brand new concepts. Often it is a case of arranging old pieces
together in new and different ways. Communication to the player is key.
- Tetsuya Mizuguchi
Introduction
• The Need For Player Empowerment
• Focus On Hardware
• Creative Tools / Customisable Features• Building The Community
• Wrap-up
The Need For Player Empowerment
How Games Innovate Over Time
• 99%ers
How Games Innovate Over Time
• Sea changers
How Games Innovate Over Time
• Evolvers
How Wipeout Evolved Over Time
• PlayStation era
• Anti-grav racing, speed classes, airbrakes, weapons
• Energy system, pitlanes
• Boost mechanic
How Wipeout Evolved Over Time
• PlayStation 2 era
• Off-road sections
• ‘Surface locked’ ship handling
• Upgrade system
• Zone mode
How Wipeout Evolved Over Time
• PlayStation Portable era
• Refocus
• DLC
• Track building
• Graphic design
• Handling and mechanics
Number 2 on Metacritic PSP
1 million+ sales
Evolution For Wipeout Pulse
• Improve accessibility
Handling model refined AI difficulty introduced
Evolution For Wipeout Pulse
• Implement new features
Online playStructured solo game
Evolution For Wipeout Pulse
• Responding to feedback
• Focus group test results:• Novice gamers needed ‘safe’ introduction
• Solo events given prominence
• Zone mode as emergent tutorial
The Next Step
Focus On Hardware
Hardware Strengths = New Features
• Multiple file format support
MP3 music playback JPEG photo mode
Hardware Strengths = New Features
• Upgradeable firmware
PLAYSTATION®Network support
Hardware Strengths = New Features
• Wifi – data sharing
• Built in web browser
Handheld philosophy
• Bite size gameplay– Short races, shallow menus
• Automatic saving and loading• Every gameplay session is positive
– Loyalty points
• Customisable controls
Creative Tools For Players
Ship Skin Editor
• Flash application• Simple interface• Outsourced• Cut and paste features
Custom Grid Editor
• Create your own single player campaign• Additional functionality
– Larger grids– Custom tournaments– Adjustable targets
• Share grids over wifi• Fansites
Building The Community
The Online Fan Base
• Wipeoutzone.com– Forums– Manual leaderboards
• European fan-meet– Ad-hoc play– Pulse announced
Wipeout-game.com
• 8 month timescale• PSN integration• Profile upload• Team allegiance + stats tracking• Ongoing project• Relaunch for HD
Moderation
• Ship skins– Online moderation– In-game moderation
• Website– PSN integration
Wrap-up
Feature comparison
Wipeout Pulse
NFS Pro Street
Crazy Taxi
Burnout Dominator
Test Drive Unlimited
Juiced 2
Sega Rally
Ad-hoc multiplayer X X X X X X X
Online multiplayer X X X X
MP3 playback X X
Photo X
PlayStation Network X
Community website X
Data sharing X X
DLC X X X
Customisation X X X
Conclusions
• Innovation doesn’t have to be driven by gameplay• Applying existing features to the handheld space is valid• A player-centric philosophy is a suitable replacement for
narrative
Thanks for your time!
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