gdc 2009 game design improv

GameGameGame Game Design Design ImprImprovov

Brenda Brenda BrathwaiteBrathwaiteIan SchreiberIan SchreiberCharles Charles ShamiShami

What is game design improv?What is game design improv?

A chance for you to stretch yourself as an educatoryourself as an educator

and designer.

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

To experience interdisciplinary fellowship and love.

To take a chance on innovationTo take a chance on innovation.

Why Game Design Improv?Why Game Design Improv?

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

• Exploring key design principles

• Creativing designers that are flexible and i i Some see junk Others see Katamariinnovative

• Great icebreaker

Some see junk. Others see Katamari.

Some housekeepingSome housekeeping…

• Complete severalComplete several non-digital challengeschallenges

• Give you 20 examples you canexamples you can use in the classroom when you returnwhen you return

Today’s PlanToday s Plan

• Challenge #1 – Design from IPChallenge #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 #1Challenge #1

Starting Points: Starting with Clean Slate

The Virtually Microscopic

Planet ofPlanet ofOriginal Games

The BigFat World

of IP

Starting PointsStarting Points• Starting with Gameplayg p y

– Sequels

• Starting with TechnologyFi t P Sh t– First-Person Shooters

• Starting with Story– Adventure Games, Booksd e tu e Ga es, oo s

• Starting with IP– TV Shows, Personalities, Movies

• Starting with a Clean Slate– ??

Starting Points: Starting with Gameplay

• Preserve gameplayPreserve gameplay style

• Add new features• Improve existing

features

Starting Points: Starting with Technology

• CraftedCrafted gameplay/story around the technology

• Often dictates genre• Platform choice

affects gameplay

Starting Points: Starting with Story

• Designed around theDesigned around the story

• Adapt technology to p gyneeds of story

Know Your ConstraintsKnow Your Constraints• Genre/Typeyp• Rating• Audience

B d• Budget• Platform• Tone/Style• Tone/Style• The “Incidentals”• Engineg e• Release date• Skill Set Limitations

D iDesignExercise #1Exercise #1

Create a G FGame From

IPIP

What is “IP”?What is IP ?

• IP = intellectualIP = intellectual property

WWE– WWE– MTV

TV Show Heroes– TV Show Heroes– Halo

Starting With IPStarting With IP

• Designed around strengths of IPD i d t• Designed to target IP’s target marketmarket

• IP often dictates genregenre

Group Exercise #1Group Exercise #1

• Need 12 IPsNeed 12 IPs– Six that are good– Six that are very, very bady y

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

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

Group Exercise #1Group Exercise #1

• Core of the gameCore of the game• 3 or 4 features

D fi t h t• Define avatar or character• Platform• Estimate budget• Estimate release date

The Finish LineThe Finish Line

A Message from the PublisherA Message from the Publisher

Change your platform toF b k iPhFacebook or iPhone

You’re DoneYou re Done.

In other newsIn other news…

Your company has closedYour company has closed.

Please collect your “pink slips” and rearrange

yourselves into new groups.yourselves into new groups.

“ But Make It Multiplayer!”…But Make It Multiplayer!

Start HereStart Here

HintsHints

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

H l h l h th• How can players help each other (cooperation)?

• How can players hurt each other (competition)?

RequirementsRequirements

• Multiplayer (2 to 8 players over LAN)Multiplayer (2 to 8 players over LAN)• Can be individuals or teams (your choice)

C titi l ( t ) i• Competitive: one player (or team) wins• You can add a narrative/theme• ETA: 30 mins• Ready set go!Ready, set, go!

The Finish LineThe Finish Line

Challenge #4: Civil WarChallenge #4: Civil War

The ChallengeThe Challenge

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

• Difficulty: Victory condition cannot be• Difficulty: Victory condition cannot be “control enough territory” (Axis & Allies) or “destroy all enemy units” (Risk)destroy all enemy units (Risk).

• Hint: what is the object of the game? How d l hi th t l?do players achieve that goal?

The Finish LineThe Finish Line

Iron Designer ChallengeIron Designer Challenge

The RulesThe Rules

• Create a game using only 100 index cardsCreate a game using only 100 index cards and a pen.

• Create a better game than everyone else• Create a better game than everyone else.• ETA: 30 mins

CongratulationsA WINNER IS YOUA WINNER IS YOU

ContactsContacts

Brenda Brathwaite bbrathwa@scad.edu@bbrathwaite

I S h ib i h ib@ d dIan Schreiber ischreib@scad.edu

Charles Shami cshami@scad.edu@cshami@cshami

www appliedgamedesign comwww.appliedgamedesign.comwww.scad.edu