Game Deconstruction 101Game Deconstruction 101

How to stop developers How to stop developers reinventing the wheelreinventing the wheel

Our BackgroundsOur Backgrounds

So you have been asked to build a game type So you have been asked to build a game type that you haven’t built before that you haven’t built before

• All the team are experts as they have played this sort of All the team are experts as they have played this sort of game since it was invented.game since it was invented.

DesignDesign

• Ours will not have any of the problems found in the bad Ours will not have any of the problems found in the bad examples of this style of game.examples of this style of game.

• It will have a bunch of new cool features never before seen It will have a bunch of new cool features never before seen in this type of game.in this type of game.

• It will be a fresh new look never seen before that will make It will be a fresh new look never seen before that will make the game leap off the shelves.the game leap off the shelves.

• With the new Hardware we won’t have to worry about poly With the new Hardware we won’t have to worry about poly counts as it’s almost the same as film.counts as it’s almost the same as film.

• As a matter of fact it will be so like film we could call it an As a matter of fact it will be so like film we could call it an interactive movie……….interactive movie……….

ArtArt

ProgrammingProgramming

• We will create such a complete toolset that it will handle We will create such a complete toolset that it will handle anything the game could possibly turn out to be.anything the game could possibly turn out to be.

• The A.I system will be so versatile that if the designers want The A.I system will be so versatile that if the designers want the creatures to take a rest and make a cup of tea they just the creatures to take a rest and make a cup of tea they just have to tweak some parameters within the system to make have to tweak some parameters within the system to make it happen.it happen.

• Our engine will be able to move more polys than anything Our engine will be able to move more polys than anything that is available today.that is available today.

PublisherPublisher

• It has to have never been seen before but it has to look like It has to have never been seen before but it has to look like these successful games.these successful games.

• Can you get out of the car and walk around maybe shoot Can you get out of the car and walk around maybe shoot some stuff.some stuff.

• I don’t understand this, what is the demographic how can I don’t understand this, what is the demographic how can marketing move something that hasn’t been seen before. marketing move something that hasn’t been seen before.

• My daughter read the design and thought it was crap.My daughter read the design and thought it was crap.

• You have one yearYou have one year

How to deal with thisHow to deal with this

• Just because you play a type of game doesn’t mean you Just because you play a type of game doesn’t mean you understand them.understand them.

• You understand them when you have built one.You understand them when you have built one.

• If you haven’t built one you have to deconstruct games of If you haven’t built one you have to deconstruct games of the same gameplay type.the same gameplay type.

Analyse thisAnalyse this

ProblemsProblems

• It’s not as easy as deconstructing film or literature.It’s not as easy as deconstructing film or literature.

• It takes longer to “finish” a game than a film or book.It takes longer to “finish” a game than a film or book.

Deconstruction 101Deconstruction 101

• There are common elements across ALL There are common elements across ALL gamesgames

• UIUI

• Player ControlPlayer Control

• GraphicsGraphics

• AudioAudio

• MetagameMetagame

Deconstruction 101Deconstruction 101

• There are elements common to There are elements common to MANY gamesMANY games

• AIAI

• PhysicsPhysics

The Next StepThe Next Step

• Applying this knowledgeApplying this knowledge

• Any new features are informed by an Any new features are informed by an understanding of someone else’s understanding of someone else’s hard yardshard yards

ProgrammingProgramming

• System development should not System development should not drive design.drive design.

• The design should be complete The design should be complete enough so the systems reflect the enough so the systems reflect the needs of the game, not the desires of needs of the game, not the desires of the prog team.the prog team.

• Game play assumptions need to be Game play assumptions need to be tested early in the project…tested early in the project…

ArtArt

• Building final assets before gameplay Building final assets before gameplay is tested is…stupid.is tested is…stupid.

• You’ll either have to change You’ll either have to change everything, which is bad…everything, which is bad…

• Or your assets will drive design, Or your assets will drive design, which is worse…which is worse…

DesignDesign

• Deconstruction allows Designers to Deconstruction allows Designers to have a through understanding of have a through understanding of basic gameplay issues before basic gameplay issues before starting on the design. starting on the design.

• Deconstruction encourages Deconstruction encourages Designers to explore more than just Designers to explore more than just the top 10%.the top 10%.

• X affects Y which affects Z which…X affects Y which affects Z which…

Plastic WorldPlastic World

• Ability to test design assumptionsAbility to test design assumptions

• Ability to iterate designAbility to iterate design

• Ability to finalize programming Ability to finalize programming parametersparameters

• Ability to finalize art parametersAbility to finalize art parameters

• And so much more…And so much more…

In SummaryIn Summary

• Programmers need to build what the game Programmers need to build what the game and gameplay require, not a system for its and gameplay require, not a system for its own sake (unless you have a 36 month dev own sake (unless you have a 36 month dev cycle).cycle).

• Artists need to be able to develop art as Artists need to be able to develop art as gameplay evolves. Dropping elements in gameplay evolves. Dropping elements in gradually with a final pass when gameplay gradually with a final pass when gameplay is proven.is proven.

• Designers need to have explored gameplay Designers need to have explored gameplay elements in depth ensuring that elements in depth ensuring that programming and art time is not wasted on programming and art time is not wasted on naïve assumptions.naïve assumptions.

In ShortIn Short

• Design it goodDesign it good

• Prototype it betterPrototype it better

• Build it bestBuild it best

• Win awardsWin awards

• Make lots of moneyMake lots of money

• Get some sleepGet some sleep