The Technology Pipedream – A Development Fallacy The Role of Technology in Game Design & Development Ivan Beram – General Manager

TALK OVERVIEW Its point: to convince you that technology is a means to an end, not the end First off: who am I… what is Intrigue? What is technology? What is gameplay? First Playable What consumers (gamers) want Where we can go wrong The middleware road The middleware reality Conclusion Q & A

X-ISLE: A TECHNOLOGY DEMO TRYING TO BE A GAME FAR CRY: FIRST GAMEPLAY DEMO – E FAR CRY: THE FINAL PRODUCT TODAY

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is…and a tech-demo is…

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is…and a tech-demo is… Like a physics engine – or better yet, a smaller component like vehicular physics

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is…and a tech-demo is… Like a physics engine – or better yet, a smaller component like vehicular physics Loosely integrated together at best

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is…and a tech-demo is… Like a physics engine – or better yet, a smaller component like vehicular physics Loosely integrated together at best Lacks any real functionality – interactive use in creating gameplay

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is…and a tech-demo is… Like a physics engine – or better yet, a smaller component like vehicular physics Loosely integrated together at best Lacks any real functionality – interactive use in creating gameplay A shallow experience for the viewer / user

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is…and a tech-demo is… Like a physics engine – or better yet, a smaller component like vehicular physics Loosely integrated together at best Lacks any real functionality – interactive use in creating gameplay A shallow experience for the viewer / user Singular purpose: prove the tech works

WHAT IS GAMEPLAY? Gameplay is…and a gameplay-demo is…

WHAT IS GAMEPLAY? Gameplay is…and a gameplay-demo is… Highly integrated into the game-system as a whole, interacting and interwoven with other systems / technology

WHAT IS GAMEPLAY? Gameplay is…and a gameplay-demo is… Highly integrated into the game-system as a whole, interacting and interwoven with other systems / technology Has a clear functionality which creates / supports the titles interactivity and immersion – gameplay!

WHAT IS GAMEPLAY? Gameplay is…and a gameplay-demo is… Highly integrated into the game-system as a whole, interacting and interwoven with other systems / technology Has a clear functionality which creates / supports the titles interactivity and immersion – gameplay! Is not a shallow experience but one with depth of interaction.

THE FIRST PLAYABLE But, your first gameplay “prototype” may not necessarily have complete systems

THE FIRST PLAYABLE But, your first gameplay “prototype” may not necessarily have complete systems Instead implement as much as necessary so as to give that impression to the viewer – eg publishers, investors, journalists

THE FIRST PLAYABLE But, your first gameplay “prototype” may not necessarily have complete systems Instead implement as much as necessary so as to give that impression to the viewer – eg publishers, investors, journalists Your goal instead becomes to prove the gameplay / concept – as apposed to just the technology utilised

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT Yes, gamers are consumers and they want interactivity! – so do publishers

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT Yes, gamers are consumers and they want interactivity! – so do publishers Functional means: ease- of-use (useability)

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT Yes, gamers are consumers and they want interactivity! – so do publishers Functional means: ease- of-use (useability) Active entertainment, not passive entertainment – like film

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT Yes, gamers are consumers and they want interactivity! – so do publishers Functional means: ease- of-use (useability) Active entertainment, not passive entertainment – like film Not just graphical “wow” effects – pretty pictures on a screen

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT Yes, gamers are consumers and they want interactivity! – so do publishers Functional means: ease- of-use (useability) Active entertainment, not passive entertainment – like film Not just graphical “wow” effects – pretty pictures on a screen But something: functional, interactive and immersive!

What is a game system? It is comprised of: BACK-END Core supporting architecture and management base ENGINE CORE FRONT-END Components that communicate game system to player and allow for interaction INTERFACE SHELL WHERE WE CAN GO WRONG

GOING WRONG CONTINUED… Some tech fits in both categories, having both a front and back end

GOING WRONG CONTINUED… Some tech fits in both categories, having both a front and back end Also, some tech compliments another by either providing front or back end functionality

GOING WRONG CONTINUED… Some tech fits in both categories, having both a front and back end Also, some tech compliments another by either providing front or back end functionality “Deficiencies” arise when tech is missing either its front or back end aspects– without one you lose the functionality of the other. Or, when a tech / system that provided the front or back-end functionality does not exist, creating the same result.

GOING WRONG CONTINUED… Developers forget that games are not the real-world, and we need to give the player various concessions so they can interact with the game

GOING WRONG CONTINUED… Developers forget that games are not the real-world, and we need to give the player various concessions so they can interact with the game Developers forget that various aspects are already “modelled” for the player, and need to be modelled for the AI instead – so as to be realistic and “fair”

GOING WRONG CONTINUED… Developers forget that games are not the real-world, and we need to give the player various concessions so they can interact with the game Developers forget that various aspects are already “modelled” for the player, and need to be modelled for the AI instead – so as to be realistic and “fair” Developers also tend to forget what game they are trying to create, they lose focus, and forget what they are trying to achieve – lack of leadership and experience

THE MIDDLEWARE ROAD Becoming a technology middleware provider is a common reasoning for not creating tech the right way – by making use of it in a functional manner within a quality title.

THE MIDDLEWARE ROAD Becoming a technology middleware provider is a common reasoning for not creating tech the right way – by making use of it in a functional manner within a quality title. It is seen as less hard-work, perhaps more innovative and important, and lucrative

THE MIDDLEWARE ROAD Becoming a technology middleware provider is a common reasoning for not creating tech the right way – by making use of it in a functional manner within a quality title. It is seen as less hard-work, perhaps more innovative and important, and lucrative Without the development context a title gives, there would be no pressure placed on tech to be robust – bug free and complete

THE MIDDLEWARE ROAD Becoming a technology middleware provider is a common reasoning for not creating tech the right way – by making use of it in a functional manner within a quality title. It is seen as less hard-work, perhaps more innovative and important, and lucrative Without the development context a title gives, there would be no pressure placed on tech to be robust – bug free and complete We would even find that the fundamentals, the architecture of our tech is flawed, undermining further functionality that can be achieved with it

THE MIDDLEWARE REALITY TRUTH: No one (or not enough to be profitable) will licence your technology if it has not been proven in a commercially successful title. Otherwise it is seen as risky, and rightly so if you are not an experience dev team – experienced developers are not stupid! They want proven tech and great support.

TRUTH: It will take you longer to breakeven (in profit and dev costs) this way than it will with one successful title – which will probably make you in excess of 80 million, one license only makes k depending on who you are (NDL or Epic) and what you have to offer in tech and support THE MIDDLEWARE REALITY

THE REALITY CONTINUED… TRUTH: You will have to sell licenses – or more depending on pricing – just to breakeven, and this may not cover ongoing costs to support the tech and your customer’s projects

THE REALITY CONTINUED… TRUTH: You will have to sell licenses – or more depending on pricing – just to breakeven, and this may not cover ongoing costs to support the tech and your customer’s projects TRUTH: There are many established and reputable providers, that have competitive tech, pricing and support – with numerous successful titles – that you will have to compete with

THE REALITY CONTINUED… TRUTH: You will have to sell licenses – or more depending on pricing – just to breakeven, and this may not cover ongoing costs to support the tech and your customer’s projects TRUTH: There are many established and reputable providers, that have competitive tech, pricing and support – with numerous successful titles – that you will have to compete with TRUTH: You never know who is waiting around the corner with more competitive technology – eg Croteam, GSC (S.T.A.L.K.E.R.), Valve (Source Engine) – that has been showcased in a successful commercial title!

CONCLUSION Tech alone does not make a game! Technology does not create gameplay, it is how you use it. Consumers are more savvy today, and want quality of experience, not graphics

CONCLUSION Tech alone does not make a game! Technology does not create gameplay, it is how you use it. Consumers are more savvy today, and want quality of experience, not graphics Tech alone is not profitable! Even middleware providers must showcase their tech in a commercially successful title – either doing this themselves or through a joint-venture

CONCLUSION Tech alone does not make a game! Technology does not create gameplay, it is how you use it. Consumers are more savvy today, and want quality of experience, not graphics Tech alone is not profitable! Even middleware providers must showcase their tech in a commercially successful title – either doing this themselves or through a joint-venture Do you make interactive-entertainment titles, or, interactive-entertainment technology? Tech can always be licensed for your title, and does not need to be “cutting-edge” but merely competitive for the genre

CONCLUSION Tech alone does not make a game! Technology does not create gameplay, it is how you use it. Consumers are more savvy today, and want quality of experience, not graphics Tech alone is not profitable! Even middleware providers must showcase their tech in a commercially successful title – either doing this themselves or through a joint-venture Do you make interactive-entertainment titles, or, interactive-entertainment technology? Tech can always be licensed for your title, and does not need to be “cutting-edge” but merely competitive for the genre Focus on interactivity foremost, and give your technology a functional purpose – "function before form”