+ Game Design Concepts

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 1: Generate an Idea The first step in the game design process is coming up with an idea for your game. You do this by figuring out the motivation of your target audience and decide what kind of game these players would like to play.

+ Game Development Step 1: Generate an Idea Motivation for playing a game can take many forms. To the right are some of the needs that playing video games fulfills and some of the reasons people play games: Quest Learning Challenge Competition Thrill

+ Quest Learning Challenge Competition Thrill A quest involves a task that a player or group of players must accomplish in order to gain a reward. Success may result in an increase in player experience, a badge or game currency such as gold coins. Examples include World of Warcraft and the Lego video games. Game Development Step 1: Generate an Idea

+ Quest Learning Challenge Competition Thrill A good game involves learning. Players can experience challenges and obstacles they can’t easily face in real life because the consequences of losing aren’t severe. In turn, as they learn to overcome the challenges, they gain more self confidence which is an important part of the learning process. Game Development Step 1: Generate an Idea

+ Quest Learning Challenge Competition Thrill Some players want a challenge even if it is difficult. Providing a goal, even if it is a hard to reach goal will provide some players hours of playtime. Sometimes the challenge may be frustrating, but that provides the player an even greater sense of satisfaction when they beat it. Game Development Step 1: Generate an Idea

+ Quest Learning Challenge Competition Thrill Some games provide a set of interesting tasks allow players to compete against each other. Competition allows players to compare their gaming abilities and to see who among them is best. Competition can also be a single player competing against a computer character. Game Development Step 1: Generate an Idea

+ Quest Learning Challenge Competition Thrill Games provide the player an experience they might not normally be able to do in real life. Few of us can become a racecar driver or travel into outer space to fight aliens and save the planet, but in a game, the player can experience the thrill of all that and more in a safe environment where the risks are not real. Game Development Step 1: Generate an Idea

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 2: Elaborate on your Idea Once you have a good idea, you should consider several other factors as you elaborate on your idea. One factor to consider is your target audience. When considering what kind of game you will develop, think about the age, gender, culture and even nationality of your intended audience.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 2: Elaborate on your Idea Another important consideration is the skill level of the players. Are you going to write a game for casual gamers, hard-core gamers or something in between? This choice affects everything else. Most kids, for example, couldn’t afford the equipment necessary for a hard-core gaming experience and might have a hard time convincing their parents to buy it for them.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 2: Elaborate on your Idea The type of game you select is also important. The type of game is called a genre. Several of the more popular genres include: Action, Adventure, Educational, Sports, Simulation, Role-Playing Game (RPG), Fantasy, Card & Board Games. Can you think of examples of these genres?

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 2: Elaborate on your Idea Another consideration is how many players you will permit to play your game. Games can be single player games, multiplayer games, or massively multiplayer online role- playing games where hundreds or even thousands of players may be playing together at the same time.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 2: Elaborate on your Idea The bottom line is that you need to think of every aspect of the game and give your ideas a solid framework from which you can build. When you are ready, you may move to step 3 which is writing your mission statement.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 3: Writing the Mission Statement: Your Mission Statement should describe the objective of your game, the challenges your players need to overcome and the resources they have to work with.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 3: Writing the Mission Statement Mission Statement Example: In the fictitious game, Water Works, the pool boy needs to build enough pools for all of the citizens of Metropolis by managing his employees in building, maintaining and repairing the pools and stopping all of the street hoodlums from filling the pools with laundry soap. To accomplish this goal, he will be able to earn pool bucks with which he can hire employees to gradually build and maintain more and more pools in the city.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 4: Creating a Storyline A storyline is just what it sounds like, the basic story of the game. An interesting storyline is the most effective tool a game designer has to draw in the player and keep them playing the game. It must be interesting and fun.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 4: Creating the Storyline Storyline Example: In "Super Mario Bros : A player controls Mario or Luigi, a character in the game. The player makes him walk, run, or jump, while avoiding traps, overcoming obstacles, and collecting treasures in order to save the princess from the dragon.” (Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2014)

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 5: Defining the Gameplay Elements Once you have your storyline down, you are ready to define the gameplay elements. This involves determining the scenes or visual theme, the characters or other objects that will be part of the game and the audio elements. It also involves making decisions about how your players will interact with the game.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 5: Defining the Gameplay Elements The elements of your game must be connected to your theme and overall concept. For example, if you are setting your game in a specific location or time, this will affect your choice of colors, scenes, objects and sounds. It may also affect the characters or avatars in the game. It would be unusual to find an astronaut in the desert, for example.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 5: Defining the Gameplay Elements Another important element of the gameplay elements is the User Interface (UI). This includes the menus, icons, game layout, text attributes, etc. The most successful games tie all of these elements of the User Interface into their theme so the game is smooth and fun for the user to play.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 6: Defining the Game Mechanics The final step in game design is defining the Game Mechanics. The Game mechanics are the nuts and bolts of your game. They include the rules, goals, activities and tasks of the game and the most importantly how a player actually wins. Most games have an ultimate objective and this is one of the most important of all of the game mechanics.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Step 6: Defining the Game Mechanics In considering the ultimate objective of your game, it is also good to break it down into smaller quests or goals so the players get satisfaction in the short term while playing the game. Mini-quests (such as collecting objects or completing levels) provide the player with a sense of satisfaction as they seek to master the end objective of the game.

+ Game Development – Getting Started Summing it all up If it seems like there’s a lot to do to create a good game, you’re right, but the best games have a simple idea that is fun. It doesn’t have to be extremely complicated for players to want to play. If you think you have that great idea, you may only be one step away from starting to make your own incredible game!

+ Credits Pool Image: -picture-happy-magic-water-park#_ Retrieved 12/10/ picture-happy-magic-water-park#_ Game Design Fundamentals: Microsoft Official Academic Course MTA Exam , John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2014