CMPS /2/2012

Today's Agenda Professional Tip #1 Announcements More information on assignments, class schedule Videos from previous projects Prototyping

Professional tip #1 Your Reputation is Important! (And it starts building now!)

Reputation Words Trustworthy Hard-Working Honest Creative Flexible Pleasant Respectful Supportive Reasonable Enthusiastic Positive Punctual Problem-Solver Insightful

Announcements?

Course Schedule is Live (Including all Assignment Due Dates) Be aware of these dates:  NEXT TUESDAY (7/9)! Meet in the DARC for a special panel. Games to follow.  October 18 th we will be meeting somewhere else, TBD  October 23 rd we will be meeting somewhere else, TBD  November 13 th – Greenlight Presentations to Outside Judges; Room TBD

SVN SVN for the class is now set up. Information on how to access is on our course web-site (click “SVN Information on left hand menu) Get set up with SVN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – don't risk not being able to turn in your slides on time!

Prototype 1 Assignment Review 1) By 5pm TOMORROW – Turn in your slides for your first pitch via SVN  3 slides, each will be displayed for 20 seconds 2) This coming Thursday, Oct. 4 th, be on time and ready to present. 3) After pitches, you will form a group of 3 – 4 people to make a prototype of a concept. You cannot leave until you turn in your team, concept and when you will meet to work.

Prototype 1 Assignment Review 4) Create a Prototype 5) BEFORE NEXT THURSDAY: Playtest prototype with people outside group 6) Create 4-5 slides which describe prototyping process and things learned from playtesting. These slides are due by before class next Thursday via SVN. 7) Next Thursday (10/11) Bring prototypes and set up on tables to play. 8) Play as many prototypes as you can.

Questions?

Videos of Previous Projects

10 Minute Break – Stretch!

Paper/Physical Prototyping

Why Paper? Its fast!  Throw a prototype together very quickly, with easy to find materials  No bugs between you and a functional prototype! Tip: Only make it look as nice as you need to evaluate gameplay

Why Paper? Its Physical!  Brain works differently when working with physical materials – encourages creative thinking. Not solving two problems at the same time frees up brain space  You are not bound by engine restrictions

Why Paper? Its Flexible!  Can quickly and easily swap rules and pieces in and out  Can iterate quickly and try new things without “breaking” anything.

Why Paper? Its Communal!  Working around a board, etc. keeps everyone equally involved Working on a screen privileges the typist  Anyone can make pieces/rules on the fly  Production of prototype is excellent group brainstorming time

What do we need? Basic Toolkit. Sheets of Paper  Construction paper, cardstock, printer paper, etc. Blank index cards Colored Markers Scissors Glue Sticks Some kind of counters Coins, gaming stones, poker chips, etc. A set of polyhedral dice A way to take notes

Helpful Bonus Supplies Distinct counters for “playing pieces” More dice! Overhead Transparencies Dry Erase Markers Post-Its Craft store paper cutter X-Acto Knife and Self-Healing Mat Cardboard Anything specific to your game

Where to get things? Dollar store!  Gaming stones, different counters, cheap markers and glue Office Supply Store, i.e. Palace, Office Max  Paper, Transparencies,dry erase markers, glue, scissors, Post-its, index cards Craft Store, i.e. Beverly's  Counters (look in plant section), Cool Papers, Paper cutter, X-Acto and mat

Where to get really cool things Educational Supply Store, i.e. Kaleidoscope  Buckets of cool counters (“Math Manipulatives”), dice, play money, spinners, arts and crafts stuff Flea Market  Old games to cannibalize, all kinds of amazing stuff

Basic Rules of Paper Prototyping Keep it quick!  Don't get too hung up on how it looks Exception: Make sure information is conveyed visually that needs to be Make it playable  Anything the player can futz with in real game, try to make it futzable Create it cooperatively – Whole team involved

Basic Rules of Paper Prototyping Play-test, play-test, play-test  And take notes! Iterate, iterate, iterate! Paper Prototyping is a collaborative creative process, so be respectful and sensitive to your team mates' ideas.  Be willing to try things you don't think will work

For Section this Week Thursday Morning, Friday Afternoon, next Tuesday sections Prototype workshopping! Bring at least a basic prototyping kit YES YOU MUST AT LEAST START WITH PAPER!  Read Fullerton Chapter 7. If you are still baffled, come see us sooner rather than later.

You can make anything with Paper...